Canada’s new Tourism Strategy, announced last week, is focused on job creation for the middle class, with a goal of creating 54,000 new jobs by 2025. The strategy, which is based on the three pillars listed below, seeks to increase international arrivals in winter and shoulder seasons by over 1 million and to increase tourism spending in communities outside Canada’s three largest cities.
Strategy Pillars
- Building Tourism in Canada’s Communities
- Attracting Investment to the Visitor Economy
- A Renewed Focus on Public-Private Collaboration
In support of the first pillar, the Government has announced the Canadian Experiences Fund, a $58.5 million investment dispersed over two years with a goal of “enhancing the products and experiences Canada offers to tourists.” Investment will be made in five key areas:
- Winter and shoulder-season tourism
- Indigenous tourism
- Rural and remote tourism
- Farm-to-table/Sea-to-Table and Culinary tourism
- Inclusive tourism, especially for LGBT2Q+ travellers
Here in Kelowna and the Central Okanagan, the fund disbursement will be managed by Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD). Application for funds is available to any business or organization whose projects or events, in the areas listed above, line up with program requirements.
For more information on the availability of the funds and to discuss the application process, contact the Regional WD Office, located in Vancouver, by phone at 1-888-338-9378 or by email.
Click here for more information on the Tourism Strategy. We will keep you informed with any news or additional details surrounding the strategy and the fund as they are shared with us.
