(London) Canada’s travel and tourism sector is poised for a major post-pandemic rebound, a new report reveals.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the industry is expected to contribute $162.6 billion to the Canadian economy in 2023, up more than 17% from last year.
Conducted in partnership with Oxford Economics, the council’s latest research highlighted that the sector is approaching its previous peak of 173.9 billion, recorded in 2019.
If forecasts materialize, the activity would generate some 90,000 additional jobs to reach 1.64 million this year, recovering almost all of the travel and tourism jobs cut during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Julia Simpson, who leads the council representing more than 200 businesses, says a return of overseas visitors to Canada’s biggest cities will fuel the recovery.
The country’s transportation and hospitality businesses have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic, which has closed borders, restricted travel and limited restaurant operations.