• Destination Canada CEO and Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada launch 'A World of Opportunity' at Canada's signature international tourism marketplace, Rendez-vous Canada, in Edmonton
• New tourism strategy is a roadmap to make Canada a top 7 global destination by 2030
• Aims to generate $160 billion in annual revenue by 2030

EDMONTON, AB, May 16, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, Destination Canada, launched its new tourism strategy, 'A World of Opportunity' which sets a firm focus on transforming the sector and catapulting Canada back into the top 7 global destinations by 2030.

Destination Canada President and CEO, Marsha Walden, and The Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism, officially presented the tourism roadmap designed to increase Canada's global competitiveness and bring in up to $160 billion in annual revenue by 2030, transcending the traditional constraints that currently cap the tourism industry's potential at $140 billion.

Canada's global competitiveness has continued to slip since 2009. The World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Development Index, which measures the impact of factors and policies which enable sustainable development of tourism and its contribution to over 100 countries worldwide - ranked Canada as 13th – a drop of three places and marking the first time Canada has fallen out of the top ten. 

"This is a pivotal moment for the tourism industry in Canada. We know tourism is already outpacing the global and Canadian economies but without a transformative shift, we risk stagnation and vulnerability to future economic shocks," says Marsha Walden, President and CEO, Destination Canada. "But we can't do it alone, to truly transform, there must be collective action. This is why Canadians are at the heart of this strategy. Together, we can drive transformative growth, inspire civic and national pride in what we have to offer, create sustainable, meaningful experiences for our guests and yield tangible benefits for our communities from coast to coast to coast."

Transformative growth for the sector will be achieved through four strategic drivers, each backed by coordinated initiatives and actions. These include:

• Sector Advancement | A Competitive Canada
  • None of the ambitious goals can be reached unless Canada is more competitive. Destination Canada has consulted with industry to identify 7 levers that can boost the sectors competitiveness.
• Brand Leadership | Driving the Brand
  • Creating a more sustainable and balanced tourism landscape through strategically targeting and geographically dispersing guests to expand seasonality and provide local opportunities.
• Destination Development | Propelling Investment and Supply
  • Working with communities and corridors to create long-term destination development strategies, and identify needed tourism infrastructure as well as the products, services, workforce and access required to meet the expectations of our guests and the needs of local communities.
• Collective Intelligence | Leading with Data
  • Expanding the accessibility of data and insights, empowering businesses large and small, to compete with the world.

"Canada is a tourism superpower – because we have what the world wants," said the Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism. "Destination Canada's 'A World of Opportunity' strategy will help our tourism sector reach its full potential, bringing more visitors to our country and creating jobs & opportunities in communities nationwide. It also aligns perfectly with our Federal Tourism Growth Strategy. In a world where nations are investing in tourism, we're ensuring that Canada can compete with the best."

"Tourism operators can innovate their offerings and align with the goals outlined in the 2030 Strategy, such as enhancing sustainability, promoting local experiences, and expanding seasonality," said Beth Potter, President and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. "By differentiating themselves through unique and authentic offerings, SMEs can attract more visitors and contribute to the diversification of Canada's tourism offerings."

"By forming partnerships, operators can expand into new markets, share resources, and develop innovative solutions to common challenges facing the sector," added Potter.

"We have an amazing opportunity ahead of us to reach 160 billion dollars by 2030. This is especially exciting as we can triple Indigenous tourism in this country, create thousands of new jobs and support hundreds of new businesses. It's time to work together to market, develop and grow tourism in this country. That is true economic reconciliation in action," said Keith Henry, President and CEO, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada.

At Destination Canada, we believe that tourism enhances the wealth and wellbeing of Canadians and enriches the lives of visitors. Our mission is to influence supply and build demand for the benefit of locals, communities and visitors through leading research, alignment with public and private sectors, and marketing Canada nationally and abroad.

Knowing that diversity is our greatest asset, we promote Canada as a premier four-season leisure and business tourism destination around the country and world in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, United Kingdom and the United States.

In addition, our Business Events team leverage in-depth global market analysis to target international clusters aligned with Canada's priority economic sectors.

Destination Canada is a Crown corporation wholly owned by the Government of Canada.

www.destinationcanada.com

SOURCE Destination Canada