Tourism Jobs: 1 out of every 8 is Tourism!

Tourism accounts for more than 117,900 direct jobs in British Columbia, representing approximately one in every 20 jobs in the province. When you include indirect tourism employment this number swells to 266,000, almost one out of every eight jobs in the province.

In 2003, tourism generated more than four per cent of real GDP and about seven per cent of employment. Fifty one per cent of the jobs in tourism are in the accommodation and food industry. The transportation (18 per cent) and retailing (16 per cent) sectors are other big tourism employers. It is estimated that between 2007 and 2015, British Columbia will need to fill a minimum of 54,000 new tourism jobs.

Revenue: $9.8 Billion

BC's tourism industry generated approximately $9.8 billion in revenues in 2005 and over $5.8 billion in GDP in 2004, making tourism one of the largest resource industries in the province.

BC is the Place to Be

In 2006, tourism represents a booming industry in British Columbia with over 88 tourism-related development projects that are worth more than $17 billion.

BC room revenues at hotels, motels and other establishments reached $1.7 billion in 2005, the highest level since 1995. Restaurants enjoyed a total of commercial receipts amounting to over $6.1 million. Moreover, air passenger traffic at Vancouver airport rose to over 16.4 million travellers, 4.4 per cent higher than in 2004, with increased volumes on all types of flights.

International Travellers

Overseas travel to BC in 2005 jumped five per cent, building on a substantial increase of 16.6 per cent as recorded in 2004. In 2005, more than 22.8 million guests travelled throughout British Columbia and over 6.6 million of this total were international visitors.

Cross Border Tourists

Americans play a considerable role in the BC tourism industry with more than 4.8 million overnight visitors coming from the United States in 2005.

Global Tourism Industry is Fastest Growing Industry in the World!

The global tourism industry is the fastest growing in the world which, in 2004, is expected to have generated almost $5.5 trillion (US) in economic activity (total demand). It represents 10.4 per cent of world GDP and is responsible for employing more than 214 million people. In 2004, international tourist arrivals worldwide exceeded all records with 763 million global travellers, an increase of 73 million that represented a volume growth equivalent to a new &#lsquo;destination&#rsquo; of virtually the size of France.

Sources:
BC Statistics
Tourism British Columbia
World Tourism Organization