Local Impact
Tourism businesses are vital to every community and region across Canada.
Nationwide, the tourism sector generates $132.9 Billion in economic activity and contributes $52.5 Billion to Canada’s annual GDP. It employs 2.1 Million people in more than 280,000+ businesses. Tourism is at the heart of communities, helping sustain local livelihoods and strengthening our national economy.
Beyond the numbers, tourism is a powerful way of connecting people and regions, celebrating Canada’s multicultural identity, and fostering national pride. Tourism shares our stories with the world and builds respect and engagement between cultures, especially with Indigenous communities.
Use the tool below to discover how tourism directly impacts your local community — through job creation, business development, and economic growth.
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Top Tourism Ridings
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Electoral District
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Ottawa Number
Circonscription Électorale
Total Employment
Total Tourism Workers
Total Tourism Businesses
Accommodations
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Food & Beverage
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Travel Services
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Tourism is made up of five core sectors — accommodation, food and beverage, travel services, recreation and entertainment, and transportation — each playing an essential role in the strength and sustainability of Canada’s visitor economy.
But more than that, each sector touches people’s lives in meaningful ways. It’s the family-owned motel that supports three generations. The local café that hires students every summer. The tour guide who shares their heritage and culture with pride. The event that fills downtown with energy and brings neighbours together. The ferry that connects isolated communities to opportunity.
Tourism isn’t a single industry — it’s a network of livelihoods, stories, and local economies working together. When these sectors are strong, communities are vibrant, workers are supported, and Canada thrives.
Recreation & Entertainment
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Transportation
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Faces Behind the Places
Data provided by 
Discrepancies reflect differences between 2021 Census data and 2024 Business Register data.