Minister Joly in British Columbia to talk tourism and middle-class jobs

The tourism industry accounts for over 300,000 direct and indirect jobs in British Columbia

OTTAWA, Aug. 20, 2018 /CNW/ - Tourism brings prosperity and good middle-class jobs to communities in British Columbia and across Canada. That's why the visitor economy is an important part of the Government of Canada's long-term plan to strengthen the middle class and grow the economy.

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, today began a visit to British Columbia to meet with stakeholders and discuss the government's vision for tourism. She highlighted the importance of working with Indigenous communities and the huge opportunities presented by the 2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism.

During the trip, Minister Joly will speak at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade's session on opportunities for growing tourism in British Columbia.

Minister Joly will also meet with tourism and travel industry stakeholders, including David Goldstein, President and CEO of Destination Canada; Keith Henry, President and CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada; Ty Speer, President and CEO of Tourism Vancouver; and representatives of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.

Quote

"I am back in British Columbia to listen to tourism industry stakeholders and to work with them so that we can harness the full potential of the visitor economy for Canadians. B.C. offers a unique mix of cosmopolitan nightlife, rugged coastlines and majestic mountain views?no wonder more than 5.7 million overnight visitors came to experience our westernmost province last year. In communities across British Columbia and Canada, tourism provides good jobs for the middle class and opportunities for economic growth that cannot go unrecognized. That's why our government is committed to the success and growth of Canada's tourism industry. We know that when the tourism industry does well, our whole economy benefits."
? The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

Quick facts

• One in ten jobs in Canada?about 1.8 million jobs?is associated with the visitor economy.
• Tourism directly supported over 736,000 jobs across Canada last year.
• The tourism industry is the largest employer of Canadian youth.
• Tourism is Canada's number one service export, with international revenues reaching $21.3 billion in 2017.

Associated links

• Canada-China Year of Tourism 2018
• Canada's Tourism Vision

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SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada