The Power of Tourism

Canada is seizing the opportunity to showcase the spirit and hospitality of its people and the natural wonder of its attractions to the world. The tourism industry is poised to draw many more visitors to Canada.

Photo: Northwest Territories Tourism

The Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), launched the Canadian Tourism Commission's (CTC) new video, the Power of Tourism, earlier this month at Canada-e-Connect 2011 in Toronto. This event, hosted by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, looks into online and web-based trends, tools and technologies that can help drive growth in the tourism sector.

The video is designed to engage and rally members of the tourism industry and to provide information on the economic potential of tourism in Canada today. The Power of Tourism is also available on the Canadian Tourism Commission website.

Tourism makes a significant contribution to Canada's economy. It represents 2 percent of gross domestic product and 3.8 percent of employment and involves all regions, both urban and rural, including Canada's North.

From the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to being granted Approved Destination Status by China, 2010 was a phenomenal year for Canada. International awareness of Canada as a tourism destination has never been higher.

The result is that Canada is better positioned now than ever before to compete for an increased share of the growing market of international travellers. To take advantage of the increasing awareness, the CTC has tapped into the social media sphere through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr, using these channels to support Canada's growing tourism industry and to entice more visitors to come to Canada.