Have you ever wondered how important Tourism is to Waterloo Region?
Tourism brings outside dollars into our region, which results in economic development and job creation.
DYK: One in 11 jobs in Canada relies on the Tourism industry!
Tourism is a people business. It brings people together in different places for an experience or an event. However during the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism has largely been brought to a halt.
September 27, 2022 is World Tourism Day. This year’s theme is Rethinking Tourism and aims to inspire the debate around rethinking tourism for development, including through education and jobs, and tourism’s impact on the planet and opportunities to grow more sustainably.
While tourism was the industry first hit, the hardest hit, and will be the last to recover from the pandemic, it remains vital to Canada – not only for its ability to generate economic activity, but also for showcasing Canada’s values as a nation: resilience, peace, tolerance, and inclusivity. These values are needed on the world stage now more than ever. Tourism counts!
How does tourism contribute to Waterloo Region?
- Creates employment
- Promotes cultural awareness and helps preserve local culture
- Encourages volunteerism (festivals, events and tournaments)
- Builds community pride in the local population
- Increases product development, spending and infrastructure improvements which benefit the local population
Quick Facts about Tourism in Waterloo Region*
- 5 million visitors in 2019
- More than $350 million spent in 2019 by tourists to Waterloo Region. Local restaurants, retailers, accommodations, transportation, the arts, and recreation all benefit from the dollars spent here
- Tourism resulted in over 1.6 million overnight stays in 2019
- 2,583 local tourism-related businesses employ 26,820 people**
- Waterloo Region is a bronze certified sustainable tourism destination
*Statistics reflect 2019 figures which are the latest available from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport*
**Statistics from Tourism Industry Association of Ontario Tourism Business & Jobs Per Riding**