Chair's Message
TIABC RECOGNIZES WORLD TOURISM DAY
Today marks World Tourism Day, designated by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as a day to focus on Tourism for Inclusive Growth. Tourism is a recognized pillar of most…if not all…the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), particularly in the areas of no poverty, gender equality, decent work, economic growth, and to reduce inequalities.
The Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia (TIABC), along with our national (TIAC), provincial and territorial counterparts (PTTIA) support the UN’s sustainable development goals and see tourism as a path toward addressing many issues both here at home, as well as abroad. In fact, BC’s tourism sector helps to address many societal issues and provides a multitude of benefits to the province that extend beyond revenues and GDP.
It’s important to recognize that the industry is also a catalyst for advancing priorities such as reconciliation, environmental sustainability, and development of community amenities, as well as generating good paying jobs for women, people with disabilities, minorities, new Canadians, Indigenous people, and other underrepresented segments of society.
TIABC maintains that in order for the industry to again fully realize its significant contribution to communities around the province, it must recover and rebuild after the devastating impacts of COVID-19 through innovation, partnerships with Indigenous groups, investment in infrastructure, widespread adoption of digitization, further implementation of sustainable business practices, and access to and recruitment of workers from all walks of life. The organization is also calling for continued support from government at all levels to help bridge the gap between survival and recovery for many tourism businesses as the ramifications of COVID linger.
In 2019, BC’s tourism industry generated an estimated $22.3 billion in revenue and contributed 3.4% of $8.7 billion in GDP to the province’s economy. Normally, the tourism industry directly employs upwards of 150,000 people that work in one of more than 19,000 businesses. In 2020, projected revenues were less than $7 billion, with similar numbers anticipated for 2021.
At a global level, forecasts suggest a loss of over $4 trillion to global GDP by the end of this year. Prior to the pandemic, Canada’s visitor economy generated some $105 billion in revenue and employed 1.8 million people (1 in 10 residents). This year, revenues are projected to drop by $50 billion resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of jobs across the country.
World Tourism Day is a chance for all of us to reflect on the importance of tourism, and contemplate how we as a vital sector can emerge from the pandemic stronger and more resilient to again become a major contributor to solving some of the key challenges that face our province and country in the months and years ahead.
Vivek Sharma
Chair, TIABC
TIABC advocates for the interests of British Columbia’s visitor economy. As a not-for-profit tourism industry association, TIABC works collaboratively with its members – private sector tourism businesses, industry associations and destination marketing organizations to ensure the best working environment for a competitive tourism industry. TIABC’s vision is for the tourism industry to be recognized as one of British Columbia’s leading and sustainable industries.
