Today marks the kick-off of Tourism Week 2025, which is hosted annually by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and tourism associations across the country, including the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) and Destination BC (DBC). Now in its 15th year, National Tourism Week (NTW) encourages all tourism partners to come together to celebrate tourism, which is vital to the Canadian economy and to the social and cultural fabric of communities across the nation. 

NTW's continuing theme, CANADA: Powered by Tourism, highlights the fact that tourism is a cornerstone of the Canadian economy. As noted on the TIAC website, tourism fuels the creation of 1 in 10 jobs nationwide, infusing over $100 billion in expenditure into the Canadian economy. According to DBC, there are over 16,900 tourism-related businesses in BC. In 2023, these businesses employed 125,700 people, a +7.9% increase over 2022.

Here are some additional facts about the Central Okanagan's tourism industry:

  • According to Tourism Kelowna's most recent economic impact survey, tourism is a $2.4 billion industry that generates close to 13,000 jobs, $598 million in wages and salaries, and $226 million in tax revenues for local, provincial, and federal programs and infrastructure.
  • In Destination BC's recently released Resident Perceptions of Tourism Survey, 80% of Kelowna and area residents agree that visitors positively contribute to the local economy. Beyond economics, 75% of residents feel that tourism positively contributes to their quality of life.

National Tourism Week 2025 - Graphic

We encourage you to showcase your business’ contributions through your channels during Tourism Week. Here are a few ideas for you to consider:

  • Upload a 20- to 30-second video showcasing the importance of tourism and its contribution to your community, as well as highlighting the unique travel experiences available there.
  • Showcase the work of a long-standing team member, welcome new faces, or give a shout-out to those who have made a difference over the past year.
  • Share a quote or testimonial from a customer or supplier.
  • Share uplifting stories or interesting tidbits about your business to further connect with visitors and locals.
  • Take photos of other tourism activities in the region that you can share (attractions, tourism employees, visitor centre, welcome signage, etc.)

When sharing content on social media, be sure to include the following hashtags:

#TourismWeekCanada2025
#TourismKelowna
#BCTourismCounts
#TourismCounts

Additional information and resources for Tourism Week are available at the following links:

You can also follow TIAC, TIABC, and Destination BC on social media:

Share, like, and retweet content from these channels and Tourism Kelowna's LinkedIn channel to help spread the word about Tourism Week. Click here to learn more about the value of tourism from the perspective of area residents and local businesses.