Canada 150 proved to be a boom for Canadian tourism
The 150th anniversary of Canada as a confederation was a celebrated event, promoted by the Canadian government as Canada 150. Huge celebrations took place across the country with the biggest bash being at Parliament Hill in Ottawa where thousands of people gathered to join the celebrations. The tourism industry recorded the highest number of tourists during this period.
The number of tourists increased after the event
The event proved a boon for the tourism industry as tourism boomed overnight. Tour operators from all over Canada planned for big events and extra visitors with the number of visitors exceeding the expectations not just with international travellers but also with many Canadians wanting to explore the unseen parts of their country.
Ottawa-Gatineau witnessed an overnight boost in tourist visits by 5.5 percent because of Canada 150. Ottawa ranked highest in the list of tourism increases, with Montreal coming a close second with an increase of 5.1 percent. There were hundreds of events organized in communities across Canada to celebrate the anniversary, which attracted visitors and contributed to the tourism industry in a huge way. There were a large number of events, some of which were free to attend while some were paid, attracting tourists with a bigger budget.
Destination Canada campaign instills sense of pride
Destination Canada, which is a federal crown corporation, ran a campaign aimed at Canadian millennials to instill a sense of pride amongst them for their country and have them represent the country both at home and abroad by becoming lifetime ambassadors. The organization reported a significant increase in the number of Canadians who vacationed within the country in the same year.
Canada 150 promotions and advertising excelled at attracting tourists and represented this year as the year to visit the country. Tour operators were well prepared for the big event with cruise lines having larger ships, rails having an increased capacity than usual and they created more Canadian sized packages to suit the tourists.
Canada 150 expected to continue boosting tourism
The event recorded the highest annual revenue for some business and is expected to continue in the future as well. The Confederation Centre for the Arts in Charlottetown also reported a record year. Charlottetown, known as the birthplace of the Confederation, saw some packed performances inside the centre while the evenings were reserved for free shows outside.
Canada 150 gives Canadians the opportunity to get involved in their communities and celebrate together their shared values, achievements, majestic environment and their country’s place in the world. The major themes of the anniversary were diversity and inclusion, reconciliation with indigenous peoples, environment, and youth.
The event was a great platform to discover great Canadians who joined hands to promote Canada 150 in their community. Canada 150 ambassadors are trendsetters and influencers, who together form an inspiring group of Canadians from across the country as well as globally. The event being a milestone in the history of Canada proved to be a setting milestone for the tourism industry with never seen before growth figures which are expected to rise further in the coming years.
