Summary
- National Tourism Day is celebrated every year on May 7.
- The core idea behind the fixing of one day for the national tourism industry was to recognise the economic impact of the tourism industry.
- The combined revenue from both domestic and international markets was $129.6 billion in 2024.
- Canada wants to be among the top 10 global tourist destinations by 2030.
- Canada also wants to increase its tourism revenues from $130 billion to $160 billion by 2030.
National Tourism Day is celebrated every year on May 7. It is part of the National Travel and Tourism Week, which was first celebrated in the United States in May 1983.
Some travel and tourism organisations also celebrate it in Canada. However, Canada celebrates its own National Tourism Week from April 7-11, 2025, to promote the Canadian tourism industry.
Why is National Tourism Day Celebrated?
The core idea behind the fixing of one day for the national tourism industry was to recognise the economic impact of this industry on the overall economy.
The tourism industry of Canada creates 1 in 10 jobs nationwide and injects a minimum of $100 billion annually.
Canada values its tourism industry not only because it generates large revenues but also because it deeply influences the cultural linkages throughout this diverse nation, according to the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC).
The sheer impact of the tourism industry on the culture and economy of Canada makes it important that the country should celebrate National Tourism Day annually.
How is the Canadian Tourism Industry Doing?
The tourism industry has been recovering from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, the tourism industry came to a standstill because travelling was officially discouraged all over the world to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Before the pandemic, Canada received 22 million international overnight visitors in 2019. There has been a very good recovery, but the country has not completely come off the pandemic effects.
This is evident from the fact that the tourist arrivals in Canada were only 19.9 million in 2024, significantly less than the 2019 numbers.
The combined revenue of the Canadian tourism industry was $129.6 billion in 2024. Out of this, about $100 billion came from domestic tourism, while the rest came from international tourism. This means the Canadian tourism industry is overwhelmingly dependent on the domestic market.
Canada wants to increase its tourism revenues to $160 billion by 2030, though the country needs to make some real efforts to achieve this target, according to Destination Canada.
Canada also wants to be among the top 10 global tourist destinations by 2030. However, despite being one of the safest countries in the world, Canada still faces some challenges, such as the high cost of travelling and global warming.
Some of the top global markets where tourists come to Canada are the US, South Korea, Mexico, Japan, France, Germany, the UK, and Australia.
Both private-sector and public-sector organisations in Canada want to spend more on marketing campaigns in these markets to attract more visitors in the coming years.
How Can the Tourism Industry Be More Competitive?
Tourist experts believe Canada is going through an important phase. The country needs a transformative shift; otherwise, it faces a risk of stagnation.
Destination Canada, in its 2024 report, came up with four strategic drivers to promote tourism. These include:
- Sector Advancement: A Competitive Canada
Canada needs to be more competitive to achieve any success in the tourism sector.
- Brand Leadership: Driving the Brand
It is important to create a more sustainable and balanced tourism plan.
- Destination Development: Propelling Investment and Supply
There is a need to create long-term strategies with the involvement of local communities.
- Collective Intelligence: Leading with Data
More data collection and insights are needed for an increasingly competitive world.
Conclusion
Canada is a vast country, and it has so much to offer to international tourists. The country has been one of the top global tourist destinations for a long time. However, the global tourism market has become much more competitive in the last two decades.
The top 10 players from Europe and Asia are offering more incentives to international tourists to increase tourism. Some of these markets have shorter travel distances, while others are much cheaper than Canada.
In short, Canada needs to be competitive to increase its global rankings, and therefore it is crucial to celebrate National Tourism Day.
Join Edison College’s diploma in Hospitality & Tourism Management
Due to its natural advantages, Canada is and will remain a top global tourist destination. The government is also investing more to make the industry more competitive. If you are interested in this industry, you can opt for the Hospitality & Tourism Management diploma offered by Edison College.
Edison College also offers a two-year diploma in Hospitality & Tourism Management with Co-op. This includes a one-year placement in the industry so that students can get professional training before entering the workforce.
Contact us for more information.
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