Canada ranks 15th in world tourism: report
There’s no two ways about it: Canada is one of the most beautiful countries on earth.
But while we appreciate that notion, does the rest of the world?
New tourism numbers released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development yesterday suggest yes, though to a modest extent.
Based on the latest figures, Canada ranks a respectable 15th in the world for inbound tourism dollars. Canada brought in some $17 billion in 2008, just edging out Switzerland – but scoring behind Malaysia and Turkey – for the no. 15 spot.
The U.S. (about $136 billion), as you might imagine, soars above the next closest tourism hotbed – Spain, at number 2, with just over $60 billion.
Where outbound tourism is concerned, Canadian travellers are an omnipresent breed. Canuck tourists rank 8th in the world, according to the survey, spending just less than $30 million across the globe in 2008.
But despite all these figures, perhaps there’s no better picture of the Canadian tourism industry – said by some to be faltering – than its impact relative to our national economy.
Canadian tourism accounts for just 2 per cent (compare to 10.5 per cent in Spain) of the country’s GDP, and less than 4 per cent (compare to almost 13 per cent in Spain) of our total employment.
Troubling numbers? Tough to say, given the data pool perhaps being stained by the global recession. But what seems for sure is that Canadian tourism is declining, crappy economy be damned.
And there is no bigger detriment to the industry than a little gold-coloured, bronze-plated coin that’s recent strength is causing a flurry of problems.
The Windsor Star reports American trips to Canada, for example, were down almost 10 per cent last year, and the loonie is largely to blame.
“As someone who has spent most of my life in the States I can tell you that ‘your money goes further’ has been one of the main attractions for Americans visiting Canada,” said Bill Anderson, a cross-border transportation research chair at the U of Windsor.
“That is pretty much out the window now.”
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Maggie | Feb 19, 2022 10:34:47 AM
I think there are many reasons for Canada's tourism to falter. It's not just about the loonie, and bad economy. There are other reasons too such as by-laws, and regulations that stifle a good time. In Canada we don't have many rights anymore. We have health care individuals, and business taking Canadians rights apparently for our own good, and to protect businesses that can't make the grade. In Canada we can't smoke (basically in our homes only, and soon they'll send the S.S.to make sure were not, with the help of our neighbours turning people in...sound familiar?), and the government goes along with the lobbyists on this one for two reasons: one because the health care individuals (nurses and doctors) have lobbied the government and basically paid them off, and two because the government foots the health care in this country, and since the health care individuals said smoking was bad for you, the government plays along with them because the government thinks it will save money in the long run. But if you care so much then what about the tar sands? You don't want Canadians sucking on a cigarette because of tar, then what about the unfiltered tar sands and inhaling that? Oh yes, I forgot, that's big, big money. Also in Canada we are not allowed to have yardsales anymore unless we have permission or pay for a license in some parts of Ontario. Other parts of Ontario you are allowed to have 2 or 3 yardsales a year. This is protectionism. People who lease spots to have their place of business complained that they couldn't make any money and it was the fault of the people having the yardsales. Also the government thought it was a good way of getting in on the action to make some money too. Well, I own a business and I have yardsales, and I can vouch I'm not making money at either!!! There's nothing to protect. No one's buying because there is no money to spend, and the people who have some money don't spend it. For example, Canada along with micro-managing our everyday lives, is also sporting the elderly. Demographically the baby boomers are retiring and have the cash, but people who are retiring do not spend money unless it's on health care, and a few trips to different parts of the world. As a business person dealing in antiques and used goods, I've noticed that the elderly do not spend money, unless it's on meds, cars, and food. Instead these individuals are into downsizing because their cashing out. If you want to see a town die, just open up an old age home. If your town wants to cater to the old, then that's it, kiss your @#$ good-bye. In Canada, everyone is pushing healthcare, become a doctor or nurse or PSW because apparently that's where the money is, but this is not helping businesses that depend on the living and having fun. Watch Canada scramble when all the baby boomers die off. There will be too many doctors, nurses, and PSW workers, then what will they do then when they are all out of jobs? The point is this: Don't expect too many tourism dollars when your catering to the dying, and you have micro-managed everything to the point where no one can enjoy themselves. Very few people go out anymore due to the by-laws on smoking, and drinking, and the fact our economy sucks!
People who do have money to go out stay home because there's no one out in the bars socializing and having a good time...I don't think Canadians have sex anymore either, that's why you see advertising for men and women on the t.v. trying to sell a bottle of pills to get you in the mood or get it up. It's very sad. I certainly would not want to visit Canada...and I live here!!!
Posted by: Maggie | Feb 19, 2022 10:51:18 AM
P.S. if you don't smoke, don't drink, and don't have sex then come to Canada. And if you want to see the beauty of our mountains, lakes, rivers, etc. then you better hurry up because they will be gone soon. Were allowing everyone in the world to come and harvest our natural resources, and it's a free-for-all, but they have to destroy the beauty in order to get to them. Tar sands, permits for hydro dams given out by the thousands, logging, mining, etc. etc. We'll have to change our national anthem soon because all of this will be gone soon, and we're not strong and free, were elderly and oppressed! It's sad, and depressing...
Posted by: Christopher | Feb 19, 2022 11:17:00 AM
I don't think that it is that extreme as the previous comments but we really do need to look at the barriers to tourism and avoid doing anything further to damage tourism. We used to offer a GST rebate for visitors, maybe that could be expanded to help offset the rising dollar. This would infact be revenue neutral as people who do not come here don't pay GST anyway. On the subject of bars, we know about smoking but many states have similar laws so that card is a bit moot. I am more concerned about the new movement to restrict drivers to .05 instead of .08. Seriously, this will hit not only bars but resto's and cafes as well. Have a glass of wine at dinner and you could loose your licence! Great way to promote tourism. I am all for the removal of drunks off the road but a .05 limit will not solve the problem. The problem is cronic drunks who have so many DUI offences that they don"t have a licence but drive anyway. Another knee jerk reaction to a serious problem that targets the wrong group, a bit like the gun registry.
Maybe these new laws will make
Canadian's stay home and be tourists in Canada because they will not be able to go to the US as they will show up on offended databases, so will be denied entry. One way to promote tourism within Canada
Posted by: Brian | Feb 19, 2022 11:24:13 AM
I totally agree with the the prior two posts. You only have to follow the money to see those who sell us out. We seem like sheep jumping off the cliff .............we need the will to stand up and be our selves again before it is all lost.
Posted by: Johnson | Feb 19, 2022 11:28:26 AM
Honestly, I don't think Canada is a good place for oversea tourists:
Firstable, I was impressed in special low effective and rude government employees incl. Airport, Custom Office, Police, etc. Personally I agree that the Custom officers at Vancouver and Toronto airports are the SCAR on the face of beautiful cities as well as Vancouver RCMP and Toronto city police. After all no one wants to be killed at airports because of their poor English and French;
Second, too high tax for tourist. Our government already canceled the policy of tax return for oversea tourists even that the price of most products incl. alcohol and Cigar in Canada is already higher than other tourism countries. Tourists want to Cheap Luxury products instead of used or cheap gifts. However, local born canadian is too CHEAP;
Third, talking about beauty mountains, lakes, rivers, etc. I agree! However, in most countries there have those stuff as well. But in Canada our national, provincial parks are NOT well-organized and they are NOT affordable for most backpackers. Our government should provide convenient and cheap way to those places just like in Europe and Asia.
So anyway I always take a trip to other countries but never invite my oversea friends to visit my home country.
Posted by: Don | Feb 19, 2022 11:29:45 AM
Even Canadians can not afford to vacation in Canada. Look at the cost of flights to various places in the world and it is cheaper to fly to England or Mexico than it is to go from Western Canada to Eastern Canada.
Posted by: BA | Feb 19, 2022 11:33:44 AM
Maggie, your posts exhibit all the cynical and paranoid characteristics of the rambling schizophrenics who put their manifestos under my car's wiper on a Saturday night. The complete lack of paragraph breaks is a dead givaway that you're headed for a career as the local manic, preaching fear-of-God type of stuff on the street corner.
Of all the things you mention, none of them would be more of a deterrent to a return visit by a tourist than a run-in with a tin-foil hat wearing raving lunatic in their grill, screaming about Big Brother government interference.
Time to up the meds.
Posted by: Lisa | Feb 19, 2022 11:36:43 AM
Thank you Maggie for your comments. Wonderfully said.
I'm born and raised in Canada...but definitely NOT proud to be one.
Posted by: Brian | Feb 19, 2022 11:39:49 AM
Christoper
On the subject of bars, we know about smoking but many states have similar laws so that card is a bit moot. Christoper you are typical thinking we are the USA, their tourism is down too. We get tourism from all over the world you might also learn that many European countries are over turning smoking laws. The fudged numbers about second hand smoke kills are just starting to take hold even non-smokers are being to realise this and how they have been duped. Follow the Money
Posted by: FrankTalker | Feb 19, 2022 1:21:14 PM
The price of lodging in Canada is way too high. In the States there are tons of clean motel chains with rooms for only $29.99. Up here I can't find a darn place under $80. Take that difference and put it over a week or two and add the higher gas taxes to it and you've got quite a price difference for a road trip.
Posted by: Maggie | Feb 19, 2022 2:20:28 PM
Mr. BA,
Thanks for your comment. Your not the only one with a BA. I didn't realize that I was being graded for my punctuation, etc. However, everyone in my family (except one) has a degree, and my brother is a professor. As for the meds, yes, if I want them, or if I needed them, then I certainly would know where and how to get them. Just look at the t.v. and it will lead you to your local pusher-the doctor.
Posted by: john Ryder | Feb 19, 2022 2:25:10 PM
Include taxes in the posted price of goods. Overseas visitors object to finding that ,for instance, a jacket which they had thought was going to cost them $200 is actually $228 when they reach the till. They take a hotel room advertized at $120 per night and, after a stay of 10 days, are presented with a bill of $1368. instead of the expected $1200.
We used to warn North American travellers in Europe to beware of extra hidden charges in restaurants, hotels etc.. But now, in m0ost European countries, the price you see is the price you pay. Even tipping seems to have been pretty well eliminated in several places. All this makes an enormous difference when people are deciding whether to return to a country previously visited. We should try to see ourselves as we see others, or as others see us. If tourists are annoyed by extra, unexpected costs, believe me, they won't come back. There are many other beautiful, mountainous, exciting countries in the world, often far more exotic and enticing than ours which are striving to lure the tourists of the world in their direction.
Posted by: Alarmed!!! | Feb 19, 2022 2:48:52 PM
We don't need tourists to make money. I for one live in a tourist area and I hate tourists! I give the finger everytime I see a tourist bus roll by. We have oil and ranching,farming, dimonds, gold, rare earth metals, uranium almost every comodity in demand by the rest of the world. Oh yeah when the oil runs out we will still have the rest mentioned. Good bye to tourists I say.
Posted by: mot | Feb 19, 2022 3:48:08 PM
Thats priceless Maggie,
Lets eliminate all resource based industry in this country...the staple of our economy by the way, along with all the employment associated with it. An economics graduate you are not! you should consider graduate school as you appear to be a frustrated, unemployed owner of a worthless BA. What does the "not having sex" comment supposed to mean??? further more, what has that got to do with lower inbound tourism percentages?
Posted by: proud to be canadian | Feb 19, 2022 3:52:24 PM
As a Canadian who lived in the States for 17 years and then returned to Canada - reason not to be shared, as this post is about declining tourism - I firmly believe that tourism is declining due to lack of marketing. I am in the tourism industry and have many clients in the US and abroad, and many individuals really don't know enough about Canada to determine why they should come here over another sexy, exciting location. Why? Because the CTC and other parties need to rethink marketing. We are not seen as an exotic, sexy, exciting country. Yes, people are always looking for a value when they travel - now more than ever with the sinking economy - but they will generally select a location for vacation or visiting or hosting conferences based upon what they feel would be enticing. Having lived for so long in the US (5 different States), I saw very little marketing coming out of my home country. Yes, Vancouver/Toronto/Montreal would have exposes, but elsewhere...no. Canadians are not in general thought of being exciting folks...and we can't continue resting on the laurels of our national parks! We need to promote more than just vast mountain ranges and ocean. What really would lure in guests?
Posted by: sandy | Feb 19, 2022 3:53:05 PM
Other than ranching,farming........tourism is the only "comodity" mentioned that won't one day run out. We need to take care of our land........for ourselves as well as tourists. A lot of our natural resources have already been sold to foreign counties ............they are buying us up at yardsale prices. The land and water and air are being polluted on a monumental scale. do any of you really think these foreign companies care? Our government has the authorities running around arresting truckers for smoking in their trucks (micro-managing because THEY CAN) while our country is being polluted . Smoke stacks are belching , these foreign companies want to strip mine and open pit mine, rape and pillage the land and pollute our waters more in the process and our government would have us believe they care about our health ...........so much so that they are legistlating our rights away to PROTECT us from ourselves. Arrest truckers , arrest parents who smoke in their cars with children present............Next it will be our homes.......the micro-managing has gone too far........WAKE UP
Posted by: sandy | Feb 19, 2022 4:03:21 PM
to BA and MOT
you two need to take a valium .....you both sound hatefully rabid.
Posted by: sandy | Feb 19, 2022 4:12:13 PM
p.s.
i am all for harvesting our natural resources............but 'responsibly.'
Posted by: Dan | Feb 19, 2022 4:48:37 PM
It's expensive to drink, eat and have fun! So why vacation here?
oh lets throw in some more tax in as well, sounds like a good idea!
I am far from a proud canadian
Posted by: Paul | Feb 19, 2022 6:15:11 PM
Let's take Ottawa, I have been there 5 times and honestly every single museum ,tourist attraction is the same in 2009 as it was in 1995 the first time I was there ,seems that we need to take te boring out of attractions and add some intrique and controversy. Give Canadian history and the cities something more than a native connection.