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Chapter 1. History and Overview

1.3 Canada Overview

Origins of tourism in canada.

Tourism has long been a source of economic development for our country. Some argue that as early as 1534 the explorers of the day, such as Jacques Cartier, were Canada’s first tourists (Dawson, 2004), but most agree the major developments in Canada’s tourism industry followed milestones in the transportation sector: by rail, by car, and eventually, in the skies.

Railway Travel: The Ties That Bind

A black steam train pulls several cars beneath a blue sky.

The dawn of the railway age in Canada came midway through the 19th century. The first railway was launched in 1836 (Library and Archives Canada, n.d.), and by the onset of World War I in 1914, four railways dominated the Canadian landscape: Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) , Canadian Northern Railway (CNOR), the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR), and the Grand Trunk Pacific (GTP). Unfortunately, their rapid expansion soon brought the last three into near bankruptcy (Library and Archives Canada, n.d.).

In 1923, these three rail companies were amalgamated into the Canadian National Railway (CNR), and together with the CPR, these trans-continentals dominated the Canadian travel landscape until other forms of transportation became more popular. In 1978, with declining interest in rail travel, the CPR and CNR were forced to combine their passenger services to form VIA Rail (Library and Archives Canada, n.d.).

The Rise of the Automobile

The rising popularity of car travel was partially to blame for the decline in rail travel, although it took time to develop. When the first cross-country road trip took place in 1912, there were only 16 kilometres of paved road across Canada (MacEachern, 2012). Cars were initially considered a nuisance, and the National Parks Branch banned entry of automobiles, but later slowly began to embrace them. By the 1930s, some parks, such as Cape Breton Highlands National Park, were actually created to provide visitors with scenic drives (MacEachern, 2012).

It would take decades before a coast-to-coast highway was created, with the Trans-Canada Highway officially opening in Revelstoke in 1962. When it was fully completed in 1970, it was the longest national highway in the world, spanning one-fifth of the globe (MacEachern, 2012).

Early Tourism Promotion

As early as 1892, enterprising Canadians like the Brewsters became the country’s first tour operators, leading guests through areas such as Banff National Park (Brewster Travel Canada, 2014). Communities across Canada developed their own marketing strategies as transportation development took hold. For instance, the town of Maisonneuve in Quebec launched a campaign from 1907 to 1915 calling itself “Le Pittsburg du Canada.” By 1935, Quebec was spending $250,000 promoting tourism. Other provinces such as Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia followed suit, also enjoying the benefits of establishing provincial tourism bureaus (Dawson, 2004).

National Airlines

Our national airline, Air Canada, was formed in 1937 as Trans-Canada Air Lines. In many ways, Air Canada was a world leader in passenger aviation, introducing the world’s first computerized reservations system in 1963 ( Globe and Mail , 2014). Through the 1950s and 1960s, reduced airfares saw increased mass travel. Competitors including Canadian Pacific (which became Canadian Airlines in 1987) began to launch international flights during this time to Australia, Japan, and South America ( Canadian Geographic, 2000). By 2000, Air Canada was facing financial peril and forced to restructure. A numbered company, owned in part by Air Canada, purchased 82% of Canadian Airline’s shares, with the result of Air Canada becoming the country’s only national airline ( Canadian Geographic, 2000). The 2000s saw Air Canada experiencing a roller-coaster performance from verging near bankruptcy in 2002, to reorganizations and fleet modernizations up to 2007, and another downturn due to the global recession in 2008 (ACE Aviation, 2011; Air Canada, 2007; CBC News, 2009). Air Canada experienced a number of transformations from interior and interior aircraft redesigns and further fleet upgrades from 2013 to 2017 (Air Canada, 2016). Once a rival airline, Air Transat was subsequently taken over by Air Canada in 2019 (CBC News, 2019). The near halt of the global tourism industry during the pandemic of COVID-19 in 2020 severely affected Air Canada, which posted a whopping $1 billion loss in its first quarter, cutting thousands of jobs, slashing 90% of its flight schedule, and foreseeing a tough and later rebound (Reynolds, 2020).

Parks and Protected Areas

A look at the evolution of tourism in Canada would be incomplete without a quick study of our national parks and protected areas. The official conservation of our natural spaces began around the same time as the railway boom, and in 1885 Banff was established as Canada’s first national park. By 1911, the Dominion Forest Reserves and Parks Act created the Dominion Parks Branch, the first of its kind in the world (Shoalts, 2011).

Canoes floating on a pristine blue lake with towering mountains and trees in the background.

The systemic conservation and celebration of Canada’s parks over the next century would help shape Canada’s identity, both at home and abroad. Through the 1930s, conservation officers and interpreters were hired to enhance visitor experiences. By 1970, the National Park System Plan divided Canada into 39 regions, with the goal of preserving each distinct ecosystem for future generations. In 1987, the country’s first national marine park was established in Ontario, and in the 20 years that followed, 10 new national parks and marine conservation areas were created (Shoalts, 2011).

The role of parks and protected areas in tourism is explored in greater detail in Chapter 5 (Recreation) and Chapter 8 (Environmental Stewardship).

Global Shock and Industry Decline

As with the global industry, Canada’s tourism industry was impacted by world events such as the Great Depression, the World Wars, socio-political turmoil, and global outbreak of disease.

Global events such as 9/11, the SARS outbreak, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the economic recession of 2008 took their toll on tourism receipts but have successfully seen short-term rebounds. However, nothing has been more impactful to the tourism industry as the corona virus of 2019 (COVID-19), which was first found in China in late 2019 and eventually declared as a pandemic by March 2020 as it spread globally. Tourism was placed in a standstill as global travel restrictions were imposed to prevent the spread of infection. Aggravated with a nose dive of consumer confidence in travel, many tourism businesses and operators big and small were forced to close. The UNWTO predicted a 60% to 70% drop in tourist numbers, as well as a loss of a staggering USD 910 billion to USD 1.2 trillion in export revenues, and up to 120 million jobs put at risk (UNWTO, 2020b). According to the UNWTO (2020b), COVID-19 created the worst crisis in the history of global tourism since records began in 1950.

A man and woman wearing face masks and summer clothes walk past a harbour.

Tourism in Canada Prior to COVID-19

In 2018, tourism created $102 billion in total economic activity and 1.8 million jobs according to the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (2018a). Up to 2019, Canadian tourism reached its 3rd consecutive year of breaking records by welcoming 22.1 million inbound visitors (TIAC, 2020). Tourism is a major player in the workforce, where 1 in 11 jobs in the country is directly involved with travellers, as stated by TIAC (2018a).

Spotlight On: The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC)

Founded in 1930 and based in Ottawa, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is the national private-sector advocate for the industry. Its goal is to support policies and programs that help the industry grow, while representing over 400 members including airports, concert halls, festivals and events, travel services providers, and businesses of all sizes. For more information, visit the Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s website .

The United States is Canada’s biggest tourism market, which we welcome more than all international travellers combined. Thanks to our immediate proximity, open borders, and ease of travel, we are actually both each other’s top market. As 68% of all inbound visitors to Canada in 2018, American travellers are also big spenders at $663 per trip and typically seek natural attractions, historical sites, and food and drink when they enter the country (TIAC, 2018b).

Aside from the United States, Canada continues to see strong visitation from the United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Brazil, and China. In 2018, we welcomed 6.9 million travellers (excluding the US), more that doubling since 2011 (Statistics Canada, 2019). Canadians travelling domestically accounted for 78% of tourism revenues in the country, though spend less at $244 per trip (TIAC, 2018c).

Spotlight On: Destination Canada

Housed in Vancouver, Destination Canada , previously the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), is responsible for promoting Canada in several foreign markets: Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It works with private companies, travel services providers, meeting professionals, and government organizations to help leverage Canada’s tourism brand, For Glowing Hearts . For more information, visit the Destination Canada website .

As organizations like TIAC work to confront barriers to travel, Destination Canada is active abroad, encouraging more visitors to explore our country. In Chapter 8 , we’ll delve more into the challenges and triumphs of selling tourism at home and abroad.

The great news for British Columbia is that once in Canada, most international visitors tend to remain in the province they landed in, and BC is one of three provinces that receives the bulk of this traffic (Destination Canada, 2019). In fact, BC’s tourism industry is one of the healthiest in Canada today. Let’s have a look at how our provincial industry was established and where it stands now.

Image Credits

Canadian Pacific 4-4-0 A-2-m No 136 by Peter Broster is licensed under a CC BY 2.0 Licence .

Moraine Lake, Canada by Matthew Fournier is licensed under the Unspash Licence .

Marina Bay, Singapore by Victor He is licensed under the Unspash Licence .

A national railway company widely regarded as establishing tourism in Canada and BC in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

UN agency responsible for promoting responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism worldwide.

A membership-based advocacy group formerly known as the Council of Tourism Associations of BC (COTA).

Destination Canada, is a Crown corporation previously known as the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC). Destination Canada is responsible for promoting Canada in both domestic and foreign markets. Destination Canada also works with private companies, travel services providers, meeting professionals, and government organizations to help leverage Canada’s tourism brand and provide the industry with valuable visitor data.

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Chapter 1. History and Overview

Learning Objectives

Specify the commonly understood definitions of tourism and tourist
Classify tourism into distinct industry groups using North American Industry Classification Standards (NAICS)
Define hospitality
Gain knowledge about the origins of the tourism industry
Provide an overview of the economic, social, and environmental impacts of tourism worldwide
Understand the history of tourism development in Canada and British Columbia
Analyze the value of tourism in Canada and British Columbia
Identify key industry associations and understand their mandates

What Is Tourism?

Before engaging in a study of tourism , let’s have a closer look at what this term means.

Definition of Tourism

There are a number of ways tourism can be defined, and for this reason, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) embarked on a project from 2005 to 2007 to create a common glossary of terms for tourism. It defines tourism as follows:

Tourism is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes. These people are called visitors (which may be either tourists or excursionists; residents or non-residents) and tourism has to do with their activities, some of which imply tourism expenditure ( United Nations World Tourism Organization , 2008).

Using this definition, we can see that tourism is the movement of people for a number of purposes (whether business or pleasure).

Definition of Tourist

Building on the definition of tourism, a commonly accepted description of a tourist is “someone who travels at least 80 km from his or her home for at least 24 hours, for business or leisure or other reasons” (LinkBC, 2008, p.8). The United Nations World Tourism Organization (1995) helps us break down this definition further by stating tourists can be:

Domestic (residents of a given country travelling only within that country)
Inbound (non-residents travelling in a given country)
Outbound (residents of one country travelling in another country)

The scope of tourism, therefore, is broad and encompasses a number of activities.

Spotlight On: United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

UNWTO is the United Nations agency responsible “for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism” (UNWTO, 2014b). Its membership includes 156 countries and over 400 affiliates such as private companies and non-governmental organizations. It promotes tourism as a way of developing communities while encouraging ethical behaviour to mitigate negative impacts. For more information, visit the UNWTO website : http://www2.unwto.org/.

NAICS: The North American Industry Classification System

Given the sheer size of the tourism industry, it can be helpful to break it down into broad industry groups using a common classification system. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) was jointly created by the Canadian, US, and Mexican governments to ensure common analysis across all three countries (British Columbia Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, 2013a). The tourism-related groupings created using NAICS are (in alphabetical order):

Accommodation
Food and beverage services (commonly known as “F & B”)
Recreation and entertainment
Transportation
Travel services

These industry groups are based on the similarity of the “labour processes and inputs” used for each (Government of Canada, 2013). For instance, the types of employees and resources required to run an accommodation business — whether it be a hotel, motel, or even a campground — are quite similar. All these businesses need staff to check in guests, provide housekeeping, employ maintenance workers, and provide a place for people to sleep. As such, they can be grouped together under the heading of accommodation. The same is true of the other four groupings, and the rest of this text explores these industry groups, and other aspects of tourism, in more detail.

The Hospitality Industry

When looking at tourism it’s important to consider the term hospitality . Some define hospitality as “t he business of helping people to feel welcome and relaxed and to enjoy themselves” (Discover Hospitality, 2015, ¶ 3). Simply put, the hospitality industry is the combination of the accommodation and food and beverage groupings, collectively making up the largest segment of the industry. You’ll learn more about accommodations and F & B in Chapter 3 and Chapter 4, respectively.

Before we seek to understand the five industry groupings in more detail, it’s important to have an overview of the history and impacts of tourism to date.

Global Overview

Origins of tourism.

Travel for leisure purposes has evolved from an experience reserved for very few people into something enjoyed by many. Historically, the ability to travel was reserved for royalty and the upper classes. From ancient Roman times through to the 17th century, young men of high standing were encouraged to travel through Europe on a “grand tour” (Chaney, 2000). Through the Middle Ages, many societies encouraged the practice of religious pilgrimage, as reflected in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and other literature.

The word hospitality predates the use of the word tourism , and first appeared in the 14th century. It is derived from the Latin hospes , which encompasses the words guest, host , and foreigner (Latdict, 2014). The word tourist appeared in print much later, in 1772 (Griffiths and Griffiths, 1772). William Theobald suggests that the word tour comes from Greek and Latin words for circle and turn, and that tourism and tourist represent the activities of circling away from home, and then returning (Theobald, 1998).

Tourism Becomes Business

Cox & Kings, the first known travel agency, was founded in 1758 when Richard Cox became official travel agent of the British Royal Armed Forces (Cox & Kings, 2014). Almost 100 years later, in June 1841, Thomas Cook opened the first leisure travel agency, designed to help Britons improve their lives by seeing the world and participating in the temperance movement. In 1845, he ran his first commercial packaged tour, complete with cost-effective railway tickets and a printed guide (Thomas Cook, 2014).

The continued popularity of rail travel and the emergence of the automobile presented additional milestones in the development of tourism. In fact, a long journey taken by Karl Benz’s wife in 1886 served to kick off interest in auto travel and helped to publicize his budding car company, which would one day become Mercedes Benz (Auer, 2006). We take a closer look at the importance of car travel later this chapter, and of transportation to the tourism industry in Chapter 2.

Fast forward to 1952 with the first commercial air flights from London, England, to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Colombo, Sri Lanka (Flightglobal, 2002) and the dawn of the jet age, which many herald as the start of the modern tourism industry. The 1950s also saw the creation of Club Méditérannée (Gyr, 2010) and similar club holiday destinations, the precursor of today’s all-inclusive resorts.

The decade that followed is considered to have been a significant period in tourism development, as more travel companies came onto the scene, increasing competition for customers and moving toward “mass tourism, introducing new destinations and modes of holidaying” (Gyr, 2010, p. 32).

Industry growth has been interrupted at several key points in history, including World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. At the start of this century, global events thrust international travel into decline including the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center in New York City (known as 9/11), the war in Iraq, perceived threat of future terrorist attacks, and health scares including SARS, BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy), and West Nile virus (Government of Canada, 2006).

At the same time, the industry began a massive technological shift as increased internet use revolutionized travel services. Through the 2000s, online travel bookings grew exponentially, and by 2014 global leader Expedia had expanded to include brands such as Hotels.com, the Hotwire Group, trivago, and Expedia CruiseShip Centers, earning revenues of over $4.7 million (Expedia Inc., 2013).

A more in-depth exploration of the impact of the online marketplace, and other trends in global tourism, is provided in Chapter 14. But as you can already see, the impacts of the global tourism industry today are impressive and far reaching. Let’s have a closer look at some of these outcomes.

Tourism Impacts

Tourism impacts can be grouped into three main categories: economic, social, and environmental. These impacts are analyzed using data gathered by businesses, governments, and industry organizations.

Economic Impacts

According to a UNWTO report, in 2011, “international tourism receipts exceeded US$1 trillion for the first time” (UNWTO, 2012). UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai stated this excess of $1 trillion was especially important news given the global economic crisis of 2008, as tourism could help rebuild still-struggling economies, because it is a key export and labour intensive (UNWTO, 2012).

Four students dressed in formal business attire.

Tourism around the world is now worth over $1 trillion annually, and it’s a growing industry almost everywhere. Regions with the highest growth in terms of tourism dollars earned are the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and Africa. Only the Middle East posted negative growth at the time of the report (UNWTO, 2012).

While North and South America are growing the fastest, Europe continues to lead the way in terms of overall percentage of dollars earned (UNWTO, 2012):

Europe (45%)
Asia and the Pacific (28%)
North and South America (19%)
Middle East (4%)

Global industry growth and high receipts are expected to continue. In its August 2014 expenditure barometer, the UNWTO found worldwide visitation had increased by 22 million people in the first half of the year over the previous year, to reach 517 million visits (UNWTO, 2014a). As well, the UNWTO’s Tourism 2020 Vision predicts that international arrivals will reach nearly 1.6 billion by 2020 . Read more about the Tourism 2020 Vision : http://www.e-unwto.org/doi/abs/10.18111/9789284403394

Social Impacts

In addition to the economic benefits of tourism development, positive social impacts include an increase in amenities (e.g., parks, recreation facilities), investment in arts and culture, celebration of First Nations people, and community pride. When developed conscientiously, tourism can, and does, contribute to a positive quality of life for residents.

However, as identified by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP, 2003a), negative social impacts of tourism can include:

Change or loss of indigenous identity and values
Culture clashes
Physical causes of social stress (increased demand for resources)
Ethical issues (such as an increase in sex tourism or the exploitation of child workers)

Some of these issues are explored in further detail in Chapter 12, which examines the development of Aboriginal tourism in British Columbia.

Environmental Impacts

Tourism relies on, and greatly impacts, the natural environment in which it operates. Even though many areas of the world are conserved in the form of parks and protected areas, tourism development can have severe negative impacts. According to UNEP (2003b), these can include:

Depletion of natural resources (water, forests, etc.)
Pollution (air pollution, noise, sewage, waste and littering)
Physical impacts (construction activities, marina development, trampling, loss of biodiversity)

The environmental impacts of tourism can reach outside local areas and have an effect on the global ecosystem. One example is increased air travel, which is a major contributor to climate change. Chapter 10 looks at the environmental impacts of tourism in more detail.

Whether positive or negative, tourism is a force for change around the world, and the industry is transforming at a staggering rate. But before we delve deeper into our understanding of tourism, let’s take a look at the development of the sector in our own backyard.

Canada Overview

Origins of tourism in canada.

Railway Travel: The Ties That Bind

The dawn of the railway age in Canada came midway through the 19th century. The first railway was launched in 1836 (Library and Archives Canada, n.d.), and by the onset of World War I in 1914, four railways dominated the Canadian landscape: Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), Canadian Northern Railway (CNOR), the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR), and the Grand Trunk Pacific (GTP). Unfortunately, their rapid expansion soon brought the last three into near bankruptcy (Library and Archives Canada, n.d.).

The Rise of the Automobile

The rising popularity of car travel was partially to blame for the decline in rail travel, although it took time to develop. When the first cross-country road trip took place in 1912, there were only 16 kilometres of paved road across Canada (MacEachern, 2012). Cars were initially considered a nuisance, and the National Parks Branch banned entry to automobiles, but later slowly began to embrace them. By the 1930s, some parks, such as Cape Breton Highlands National Park, were actually created to provide visitors with scenic drives (MacEachern, 2012).

Early Tourism Promotion

As early as 1892, enterprising Canadians like the Brewsters became the country’s first tour operators, leading guests through areas such as Banff National Park (Brewster Travel Canada, 2014). Communities across Canada developed their own marketing strategies as transportation development took hold. For instance, the town of Maisonneuve in Quebec launched a campaign from 1907 to 1915 calling itself “Le Pittsburg du Canada.” And by 1935 Quebec was spending $250,000 promoting tourism, with Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia also enjoying established provincial tourism bureaus (Dawson, 2004).

National Airlines

Parks and Protected Areas

A look at the evolution of tourism in Canada would be incomplete without a quick study of our national parks and protected areas. The official conserving of our natural spaces began around the same time as the railway boom, and in 1885 Banff was established as Canada’s first national park. By 1911, the Dominion Forest Reserves and Parks Act created the Dominion Parks Branch, the first of its kind in the world (Shoalts, 2011).

The role of parks and protected areas in tourism is explored in greater detail in Chapter 5 (recreation) and Chapter 10 (environmental stewardship).

Global Shock and Industry Decline

As with the global industry, Canada’s tourism industry was impacted by world events such as the Great Depression and the World Wars.

More recently, global events such as 9/11, the SARS outbreak, and the war in Iraq took their toll on tourism receipts. Worldwide arrivals to Canada dropped 1% to 694 million in 2003, after three years of stagnant growth. In 2005, spending reached $61.4 billion with domestic travel accounting for 71% (Government of Canada, 2006).

Tourism in Canada Today

In 2011, tourism created $78.8 billion in total economic activity and 603,400 jobs. Tourism accounted for more of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) than agriculture, forestry, and fisheries combined (Tourism Industry Association of Canada, 2014).

Spotlight On: The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC)

Unfortunately, while overall receipts from tourism appear healthy, and globally the industry is growing, according to a recent report, Canada’s historic reliance on the US market (which traditionally accounts for 75% of our market) is troubling. Because three out of every four international visitors to Canada originates in the United States, the 55% decline in that market since 2000 is being very strongly felt here. Many feel the decline in American visitors to Canada can be attributed to tighter passport and border regulations, the economic downturn (including the 2008 global economic crisis), and a stronger Canadian dollar (TIAC, 2014).

Despite disappointing numbers from the United States, Canada continues to see strong visitation from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, and China. In 2011, we welcomed 3,180,262 tourists from our top 15 inbound countries (excluding the United States). Canadians travelling domestically accounted for 80% of tourism revenues in the country, and TIAC suggested that a focus on rebounding US visitation would help grow the industry (TIAC, 2014).

Spotlight On: The Canadian Tourism Commission

Housed in Vancouver, Destination Canada , previously the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), is responsible for promoting Canada in several foreign markets: Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It works with private companies, travel services providers, meeting professionals, and government organizations to help leverage Canada’s tourism brand, Canada. Keep Exploring . It also conducts research and has a significant image library (Canadian Tourism Commission, 2014). For more information, visit Destination Canada website : http://en.destinationcanada.com/about-ctc.

As organizations like TIAC work to confront barriers to travel, the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) is active abroad, encouraging more visitors to explore our country. In Chapter 8, we’ll delve more into the challenges and triumphs of selling tourism at home and abroad.

The great news for British Columbia is that once in Canada, most international visitors tend to remain in the province they landed in, and BC is one of three provinces that receives the bulk of this traffic (TIAC, 2012). In fact, BC’s tourism industry is one of the healthiest in Canada today. Let’s have a look at how our provincial industry was established and where it stands now.

British Columbia Overview

Origins of tourism in bc.

As with the history of tourism in Canada, it’s often stated that the first tourists to BC were explorers. In 1778, Captain James Cook touched down on Vancouver Island, followed by James Douglas in 1842, a British agent who had been sent to find new headquarters for the Hudson’s Bay Company, ultimately choosing Victoria. Through the 1860s, BC’s gold rush attracted prospectors from around the world, with towns and economies springing up along the trail (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2009).

Railway Travel: Full Steam Ahead!

The development of BC’s tourism industry began in earnest in the late 1800s when the CPR built accommodation properties along itsnewly completed trans-Canada route, capturing revenues from overnight stays to help alleviate their increasing corporate debt. Following the 1886 construction of small lodges at stops in Field, Rogers Pass, and Fraser Canyon, the CPR opened the Hotel Vancouver in May 1887 (Dawson, 2004).

As opposed to Atlantic Canada, where tourism promotion centred around attracting hunters and fishermen for a temporary infusion of cash, in British Columbia tourism was seen as a way to lure farmers and settlers to stay in the new province. Industry associations began to form quickly: the Tourist Association of Victoria (TAV) in February 1902, and the Vancouver Tourist Association in June of the same year (Dawson, 2004).

Many of the campaigns struck by these and other organizations between 1890 and 1930 centred on the province’s natural assets, as people sought to escape modern convenience and enjoy the environment. A collaborative group called the Pacific Northwest Travel Association (BC, Washington, and Oregon) promoted “The Pacific Northwest: The World’s Greatest Out of Doors,” calling BC “The Switzerland of North America.” Promotions like these seemed to have had an effect: in 1928, over 370,000 tourists visited Victoria, spending over $3.5 million (Dawson, 2004).

The Great Depression and World War II

As the world’s economy was sent into peril during the Great Depression in the 1930s, tourism was seen as an economic solution. A newly renamed Greater Victoria Publicity Bureau touted a “100 for 1” multiplier effect of tourism spending, with visitor revenues accounting for around 13.5% of BC’s income in 1930. By 1935, an organization known as the TTDA (Tourist Trade Development Association of Victoria and Vancouver Island) looked to create a more stable industry through strategies to increase visitors’ length of stay (Dawson, 2004).

In 1937, the provincial Bureau of Industrial and Tourist Development (BITD) was formed through special legislation with a goal of increasing tourist traffic. By 1938, the organization changed its name to the British Columbia Government Travel Bureau (BCGTB) and was granted a budget increase to $105,000. This was soon followed by an expansion of the BC Tourist Council designed to solicit input from across the province. And in 1939, Vancouver welcomed the King and Queen of England and celebrated the opening of the Lions Gate Bridge, activities that reportedly bolstered tourism numbers (Dawson, 2004).

The December 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii had negative repercussions for tourism on the Pacific Rim and was responsible for an era of decreased visitation to British Columbia, despite attempts by some to market the region as exciting. From 1939 to 1943, US visits to Vancouver (measured at the border) dropped from over 307,000 to approximately 183,600. Just two years later, however, that number jumped to 369,250, the result of campaigns like the 1943 initiative aimed at Americans that marketed BC as “comrades in war” (Dawson, 2004).

Post-War Rebound

We, with all due modesty, cannot help but claim that we are entering British Columbia’s half-century, and cannot help but observe that B.C. also stands for BOOM COUNTRY. – Phil Gagliardi, BC Minister of Highways, 1955 (Dawson, 2004, p.190)

A burst of post-war spending began in 1946, and although short-lived, was supported by steady government investment in marketing throughout the 1950s. As tourism grew in BC, however, so did competition for US dollars from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe. The decade that followed saw an emphasis on promoting BC’s history, its “Britishness,” and a commodification of Aboriginal culture. The BCGTB began marketing efforts to extend the travel season, encouraging travel in September, prime fishing season. It also tried to push visitors to specific areas, including the Lower Fraser Valley, the Okanagan-Fraser Canyon Loop, and the Kamloops-Cariboo region (Dawson, 2004).

In 1954, Vancouver hosted the British Empire Games, investing in the construction of Empire Stadium. A few years later, an increased emphasis on events and convention business saw the Greater Vancouver Tourist Association change its name in 1962 to the Greater Vancouver Visitors and Convention Bureau (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2009).

The ski industry was also on the rise: in 1961, the lodge and chairlift on Tod Mountain (now Sun Peaks) opened, and Whistler followed suit five years later (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2009). Ski partners became pioneers of collaborative marketing in the province with the foundation of the Ski Marketing Advisory Committee (SMAC) supported by Tod Mountain and Big White, evolving into today’s Canada’s West Ski Area Association (Magnes, 2010). This pioneer spirit was evident across the ski sector: the entire sport of heliskiing was invented by Hans Gosmer of BC’s Canadian Mountain Holidays, and today the province holds 90% of the world’s heliskiing market share (McLeish, 2014).

The concept of collaboration extended throughout the province as innovative funding structures saw the cost of marketing programs shared between government and industry in BC. These programs were distributed through regional channels (originally eight regions in the province), and considered “the most constructive and forward looking plan of its kind in Canada” (Dawson 2004, p.194).

Tourism in BC continued to grow through the 1970s. In 1971, the Hotel Room Tax Act was introduced, allowing for a 5% tax to be collected on room nights with the funds collected to be put toward marketing and development. By 1978, construction had begun on Whistler Village, with Blackcomb Mountain opening two years later (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2009). Funding programs in the late 1970s and early 1980s such as the Canada BC Tourism Agreement (CBCTA) and Travel Industry Development Subsidiary Agreement (TIDSA) allowed communities to invest in projects that would make them more attractive tourism destinations. In the mountain community of Kimberley, for instance, the following improvements were implemented through a $3.1 million forgivable loan: a new road to the ski resort, a covered tennis court, a mountain lodge, an alpine slide, and nine more holes for the golf course (e-Know, 2011).

Around the same time, the “Super, Natural British Columbia” brand was introduced, and a formal bid was approved for Vancouver to host a fair then known as Transpo 86 (later Expo 86). Tourism in the province was about to truly take off.

Expo 86 and Beyond

By the time the world fair Expo 86 came to a close in October 1986, it had played host to 20,111,578 guests. Infrastructure developments, including rapid rail, airport improvements, a new trade and convention centre at Canada Place (with a cruise ship terminal), and hotel construction, had positioned the city and the province for further growth (PricewaterhouseCooopers, 2009). The construction and opening of the Coquihalla Highway through to 1990 enhanced the travel experience and reduced travel times to vast sections of the province (Magnes, 2010).

Take a Closer Look: The Value of Tourism

Tourism Vancouver Island, with the support of many partners, has created a website that directly addresses the value of tourism in the region. The site looks at the economics of tourism, social benefits of tourism, and a “what’s your role?” feature that helps users understand where they fit in. Explore the Tourism Vancouver Island website : http://valueoftourism.ca/.

By 2000, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) was named number one in the world by the International Air Transport Association’s survey of international passengers. Five years later, the airport welcomed a record 16.4 million passengers (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2009).

Going for Gold

A crowd of people dressed in red and white Canadian jerseys cheer.

In 2003, the International Olympic Committee named Vancouver/Whistler as the host city for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Infrastructure development followed, including the expansion of the Sea-to-Sky Highway, the creation of Vancouver Convention Centre West, and the construction of the Canada Line, a rapid transport line connecting the airport with the city’s downtown.

As BC prepared to host the Games, its international reputation continued to grow. Vancouver was voted “Best City in the Americas” by Condé Nast Traveller magazine three years in a row. Kelowna was named “Best Canadian Golf City” by Canada’s largest golf magazine, and BC was named the “Best Golf Destination in North America” by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators. Kamloops, known as Canada’s Tournament City, hosted over 100 sports tournaments that same year, and nearby Sun Peaks Resort was named the “Best Family Resort in North America” by the Great Skiing and Snowboarding Guide in 2008 (PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2009).

By the time the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games took place, over 80 participating countries, 6,000 athletes, and 3 billion viewers put British Columbia on centre stage.

Spotlight On: Destination British Columbia

Destination BC is a Crown corporation founded in November 2012 by the Government of British Columbia. Its mandate includes marketing the province as a tourist destination (at home and around the world), promoting the development and growth of the industry, providing advice and recommendations to the tourism minister on related matters, and enhancing public awareness of tourism and its economic value to British Columbia (Province of British Columbia, 2013b).

Tourism in BC Today

Building on the momentum generated by hosting the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, tourism in BC remains big business. In 2012, the industry generated $13.5 billion in revenue.

The provincial industry is made up of over 18,000 businesses, the majority of which are SMEs (small to medium enterprises), and together they employ approximately 127,300 people (Tourism Industry Association of BC, 2014). It may surprise you to learn that in British Columbia, tourism provides more jobs than high tech, oil and gas, mining, and forestry (Porges, 2014).

Spotlight On: The Tourism Industry Association of BC

Founded in 1993 as the Council of Tourism Associations, today the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) is a not-for-profit trade association comprising members from private sector tourism businesses, industry associations, and destination marketing organizations (DMOs). Its goal is to ensure the best working environment for a competitive tourism industry. It hosts industry networking events and engages in advocacy efforts as “the voice of the BC tourism industry.” Students are encouraged to join TIABC to take advantage of their connections and receive a discount at numerous industry events. For more information, visit the Tourism Industry Association of BC’s website : http://www.tiabc.ca/student-membership

One of the challenges for BC’s tourism industry, it has long been argued, is fragmentation. Back in September 1933, an article in the Victoria Daily Times argued for more coordination across organizations in order to capitalize on what they saw as Canada’s “largest dividend payer” (Dawson, 2004). Today, more than 80 years later, you will often hear BC tourism professionals say the same thing.

On the other hand, some experts believe that the industry is simply a model of diversity, acknowledging that tourism is a compilation of a multitude of businesses, services, organizations, and communities. They see the ways in which these components are working together toward success, rather than focusing on friction between the groups.

Many communities are placing a renewed focus on educating the general public and other businesses about the value of tourism and the ways in which stakeholders work together. The following case study highlights this in more detail:

Take a Closer Look: Tourism Pays in Richmond, BC

The community of Richmond, BC, brings to life the far-reaching positive economic effects of tourism in action. Watch the short video called “Tourism Pays” to see what we mean!: http://vimeo.com/31624689

The entry to a Board Room in the Canadian Tourism College with a small air plane statue outside.

Throughout the rest of this textbook, you’ll have a chance to learn more about the history and current outlook for tourism in BC, with in-depth coverage of some of the triumphs and challenges we’ve faced as an industry. You will also learn about the Canadian and global contexts of the tourism industry’s development.

As we’ve seen in this chapter, tourism is a complex set of industries including accommodation, recreation and entertainment, food and beverage services, transportation, and travel services. It encompasses domestic, inbound, and outbound travel for business, leisure, or other purposes. And because of this large scope, tourism development requires participation from all walks of life, including private business, governmental agencies, educational institutions, communities, and citizens.

Recognizing the diverse nature of the industry and the significant contributions tourism makes toward economic and social value for British Columbians is important. There remains a great deal of work to better educate members of the tourism industry, other sectors, and the public about the ways tourism contributes to our province.

Given this opportunity for greater awareness, it is hoped that students like you will help share this information as you learn more about the sector. So let’s begin our exploration in Chapter 2 with a closer look at a critical sector: transportation.

British Columbia Government Travel Bureau ( BCGTB) : the first recognized provincial government organization responsible for the tourism marketing of British Columbia
Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) : a national railway company widely regarded as establishing tourism in Canada and BC in the late 1800s and early 1900s
Destination BC: the provincial destination marketing organization (DMO) responsible for tourism marketing and development in BC, formerly known as Tourism BC
Destination Canada: the national government Crown corporation responsible for marketing Canada abroad, formerly known as the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC)
Destination marketing organization (DMO): also known as a destination management organization; includes national tourism boards, state/provincial tourism offices, and community convention and visitor bureaus
Diversity: a term used by some in the industry to describe the makeup of the industry in a positive way; acknowledging that tourism is a diverse compilation of a multitude of businesses, services, organizations, and communities
Fragmentation: a phenomenon observed by some industry insiders whereby the tourism industry is unable to work together toward common marketing and lobbying (policy-setting) objectives
Hospitality: the accommodations and food and beverage industry groupings
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) : a way to group tourism activities based on similarities in business practices, primarily used for statistical analysis
Tourism: the business of attracting and serving the needs of people travelling and staying outside their home communities for business and pleasure
Tourism Industry Association of BC ( TIABC) : a membership-based advocacy group formerly known as the Council of Tourism Associations of BC (COTA)
Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC): the national industry advocacy group
Tourist: someone who travels at least 80 kilometres from his or her home for at least 24 hours, for business or pleasure or other reasons; can be further classified as domestic, inbound, or outbound
United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) : UN agency responsible for promoting responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism worldwide
List the three types of tourist and provide an example of each.
What is the UNWTO? Visit its website, and name one recent project or study the organization has undertaken.
List the five industry groups according to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Using your understanding of tourism as an industry, create your own definition and classification of tourism. What did you add? What did you take out? Why?
In 2011, how much money was generated by tourism worldwide? What percentage of this money was collected in Europe? Where was the least amount of money collected?
According to UNEP, what are the four types of negative environmental tourism impact? For each of these, list an example in your own community.
What major transportation developments gave rise to the tourism industry in Canada?
Historically, what percentage of international visitors to Canada are from the United States? Why is this an important issue today?
Name three key events in the history of BC tourism that resonate with you. Why do you find these events of interest?
Watch the video in the “Take a Closer Look” feature on Richmond. Now think about the value of tourism in your community. How might this be communicated to local residents? List two ways you will contribute to communicating the value of tourism this semester.
Choose one article or document from the reference list below and read it in detail. Report back to the class about what you’ve learned.

Case Study: Tourism – Canada’s Surprise Blind Spot

In a 2014 episode of the Voice of Canadian Business , the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s podcast, host Mary Anne Carter sat down with Greg Klassen, the CTC’s president and CEO, and Michele Saran, executive director of Business Events Canada. Their discussion highlighted the reasons Canada is struggling to remain competitive within the sector, and underscores the role and impact Canada’s tourism industry has on the economy.Listen to the 14-minute podcast on tourism in Canada and answer the following questions: www.chamber.ca/media/pictures-videos/140407-podcast-tourism/

Why are governments around the world starting to invest in tourism infrastructure? What does this mean for the competitive environment for Canada’s tourism product?
How do we compare to the United States as a destination for business travel?
According to Greg, why is the $200 million investment in Brand USA a “double-edged sword” for tourism in Canada? What is beneficial about this? Why does it make things more difficult?
What is the relationship between tourism and people’s understanding of a country’s image?
What ranking is Canada’s brand? What other industries are affected by this brand?
Describe one activity the CTC participates in to sell Canadian tourism product abroad.
Name two “sectors of excellence” for Canada. Why is the CTC focussing their business events sales strategies on these industries?
What does the CTC consider to be the benefits of Vancouver hosting the 2014 and 2015 TED conferences?

Brewster Travel Canada. (2014). About Us – Brewster History . Retrieved from http://www.brewster.ca/corporate/about-brewster/brewster-history/

British Columbia Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training . (2013a). BC Stats: Industry Classification . Retrieved from http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/StatisticsBySubject/BusinessIndustry/IndustryClassification.aspx

British Columbia Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training. (2013b). Bill 3 – 2013: Destination BC Corp Act . Retrieved from https://www.leg.bc.ca/39th5th/1st_read/gov03-1.htm

Canadian Geographic . (2000, September). Flying through time: Canadian aviation history . Retrieved from http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/magazine/so00/aviation_history.asp

Canadian Tourism Commission. (2014). About the CTC. Retrieved from http://en-corporate.canada.travel/about-ctc

Chaney, Edward. (2000). The evolution of the grand tour: Anglo-Italian cultural relations since the Renaissance . Portland OR: Routledge.

Cox & Kings. (2014). About us – History. Retrieved from http://www.coxandkings.co.uk/aboutus-history

Dawson, Michael. (2004). Selling British Columbia: Tourism and consumer culture, 1890-1970 . Vancouver, BC: UBC Press.

Discover Hospitality. (2015). What is hospitality? Retrieved from http://discoverhospitality.com.au/what-is-hospitality/

e-Know. (2011, November). Ogilvie’s past in lock step with last 50 years of Kimberley’s history. Retrieved from www.e-know.ca/news/ogilvie’s-past-in-lock-step-with-last-50-years-of-kimberley’s-history/

Expedia, Inc. (2013). Expedia: Annual report 2013. [PDF] Retrieved from http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/EXPE/3546131959x0x750253/48AF365A-F894-4E9C-8F4A-8AB11FEE8D2A/EXPE_2013_Annual_Report.PDF

Flightglobal. (2002). Sixty years of the jet age. Retrieved from http://www.flightglobal.com/features/jet-age/

Globe and Mail, The. (2014, March 28). Ten things you don’t know about Air Canada. Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/travel-news/10-things-you-likely-dont-know-about-air-canada/article17725796/?page=all

Government of Canada. (2006). Building a national tourism strategy. [PDF] Retrieved from https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/034.nsf/vwapj/tourism_e.pdf/$FILE/tourism_e.pdf

Government of Canada. (2013, July 5). Appendix E: Tourism industries in the human resource module . Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/13-604-m/2013072/appe-anne-eng.htm

Griffiths, Ralph, Griffiths, G. E. (1772). Pennant’s tour in Scotland in 1769. The Monthly Review; or, Literary Journal XLVI : 150 . Retrieved from Google Books .

Gyr, Ueli. (2010, December 3). The history of tourism: Structures on the path to modernity. European History Online (EHO). Retrieved from http://ieg-ego.eu/en/threads/europe-on-the-road/the-history-of-tourism

Latin definition for hospes, hospitis. (2014).In Latdict – Latin Dictionary and Grammar Resources . Retrieved from http://www.latin-dictionary.net/definition/22344/hospes-hospitis

Library and Archives Canada. (n.d.). Ties that bind: Essay. A brief history of railways in Canada. Retrieved from http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/trains/021006-1000-e.html

LinkBC. (2008). Transforming communities through tourism: A handbook for community tourism champions. [PDF] Retrieved from http://linkbc.ca/siteFiles/85/files/TCTT.pdf

MacEachern, A. (2012, August 17). Goin’ down the road: The story of the first cross-Canada car trip. The Globe and Mail . Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/goin-down-the-road-the-story-of-the-first-cross-canada-car-trip/article4487425/

McLeish. (2014, July 23). History of heliskiing in Canada. Retrieved from www.lastfrontierheli.com/news/1607/history-of-heliskiing-in-canada/

Magnes, W. (2010, May 26). The evolution of British Columbia’s tourism regions: 1970-2010 [PDF] . Retrieved from http://linkbc.ca/siteFiles/85/files/LinkBCMagnesPaper2011.pdf

Porges, R. (2014, September). Tell me something I don’t know: Promoting the value of tourism. Tourism Drives the Provincial Economy . Presentation hosted by the Tourism Industry Association of BC, Vancouver, BC.

PricewaterhouseCooopers, LLC. (2009). Opportunity BC 2020: Tourism sector. [PDF] Prepared for the BC Business Council. Retrieved from http://www.bcbc.com/content/558/2020_200910_Mansfield_Tourism.pdf

Shoalts, A. (2011, April). How our national parks evolved: From Grey Owl to Chrétien and beyond, 100 years of Parks Canada. Canadian Geographic . Retrieved from http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/magazine/apr11/national_parks_evolution.asp

Theobald, William F. (1998). Global Tourism (2nd ed.). Oxford, England: Butterworth–Heinemann, pp. 6-7.

Thomas Cook Group of Companies. (2014). Thomas Cook history. Retrieved from http://www.thomascook.com/thomas-cook-history/

Tourism Industry Association of BC. (2014). Value of tourism toolkit: Why focus on the value of tourism? Retrieved from http://www.tiabc.ca/value-of-tourism-toolkit

Tourism Industry Association of Canada. (2014, October 14). Travel industry poised to boost Canadian exports: US market and border efficiencies central to growth potential . Retrieved from http://tiac.travel/cgi/page.cgi/_zine.html/TopStories/Travel_Industry_Poised_to_Boost_Canadian_Exports_US_Market_and_Border_Efficiencies_Central_to_Growth_Potential

Tourism Industry Association of Canada, HLT Advisory. (2012). The Canadian tourism industry: A special report [PDF] . Retrieved from http://www.hlta.ca/reports/The_Canadian_Tourism_Industry_-_A_Special_Report_Web_Optimized_.pdf

United Nations and World Tourism Organization. (1995). Recommendations on tourism statistics. [PDF] Retrieved from http://unstats.un.org/unsd/newsletter/unsd_workshops/tourism/st_esa_stat_ser_M_83.pdf

United Nations Environment Programme. (2003a). Negatives Socio-cultural impacts from tourism . Retrieved from http://www.unep.org/resourceefficiency/Business/SectoralActivities/Tourism/FactsandFiguresaboutTourism/ImpactsofTourism/Socio-CulturalImpacts/NegativeSocio-CulturalImpactsFromTourism/tabid/78781/Default.aspx

United Nations Environment Programme. (2003b). Tourism’s three main impact areas. Retrieved from http://www.unep.org/resourceefficiency/Business/SectoralActivities/Tourism/TheTourismandEnvironmentProgramme/FactsandFiguresaboutTourism/ImpactsofTourism/EnvironmentalImpacts/TourismsThreeMainImpactAreas/tabid/78776/Default.aspx

United Nations World Tourism Organization. (2008). Understanding tourism: Basic glossary . Retrieved from http://media.unwto.org/en/content/understanding-tourism-basic-glossary

United Nations World Tourism Organization. (2012, May 7). International tourism receipts surpass US$ 1 trillion in 2011. Retrieved from http://media.unwto.org/en/press-release/2012-05-07/international-tourism-receipts-surpass-us-1-trillion-2011

United Nations World Tourism Organization. (2014a). UNWTO world tourism barometer, 12 [PDF] (1). Retrieved from http://dtxtq4w60xqpw.cloudfront.net/sites/all/files/pdf/unwto_barom14_04_august_excerpt_0.pdf

United Nations World Tourism Organization. (2014b). Who we are. Retrieved from http://www2.unwto.org/content/who-we-are-0

Attributions

Figure 1.1 Selkirk College and Nelson by LinkBC is used under a CC-BY 2.0 license.

Figure 1.2 Capilano University’s Team by LinkBC is used under a CC-BY 2.0 license.

Figure 1.3 Vancouver Island University by LinkBC is used under a CC-BY 2.0 license.

Figure 1.4 Canadian Pacific 4-4-0 A-2-m No 136 by Peter Broster is used under a CC-BY 2.0 license.

Figure 1.5 Vancouver Island University by LinkBC is used under a CC-BY 2.0 license.

Figure 1.6 Switzerland vs. Canada by s.yume is used under a CC-BY 2.0 license.

Figure 1.7 CTC’s Boardroom by LinkBC is used under a CC-BY 2.0 license.

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Welcome to CATO

We represent the interests and advocate on behalf of canadian tour operators.

The Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) is a non-profit organization, consisting of highly respected tour operators from across Canada as well as supporting members.

CATO’s primary role is to inform government and other stakeholders of issues important to its members as well as advocate on their behalf.

What We Stand For

And how we can help you.

CATO is driven by a passionate group of volunteers who donate their time and ideas to advocate for an industry that is diverse, complex and has a foothold in virtually every community across Canada.

CATO’s members include organizations offering tour programs and travel packages originating from Canada to international destinations as well as inbound to Canada, intra-Canada and trans-border.

Join CATO today.

Our membership compromises some of the biggest travel brands in Canada, smaller long standing business, niche companies, aspiring start-ups, supporting members and anyone in between. Our door is open to any tour operator with a passion for our industry.

Proud CATO Members

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Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in Canada. Below you will find 19 of the best tour operators and travel agencies in Canada offering in total 134 tours and holidays through-out Canada. Combined they have received 68 customer reviews and an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars. The top tour activities offered in Canada are: Adventure and sport, Wildlife, landscapes and nature & Boat tours, water sports and marine wildlife.

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These Indigenous women are reshaping Canada’s tourism industry

Long marginalized by the tourism sector, Indigenous women are bringing First Nations, Métis, and Inuit narratives to the mainstream.

During one of her tours, Tracey Klettl, owner and operator of Painted Warriors, demonstrates how Indigenous hunters would use a bow and arrow.

Flu-busting bedstraw. Soothing broadleaf plantain. Even the humble dandelion, which can be used to fight inflammation, tells of the natural healing power of plants.

But Brenda Holder—a woman of Cree descent who shares her peoples’ knowledge on tours through rural Alberta, Canada —says her preferred medicinal herb is fireweed, a fuchsia flowering plant that has both antibacterial and antiviral properties. It’s been used to treat everything from burns and the common cold to HIV and AIDS.

When visitors learn about the centuries-old plant wisdom of Indigenous cultures, “it totally floors people,” Holder says. “Most people have a desire to connect to the land in this way. They’re seekers. They just don’t know it.”

( Related: Read more about Indigenous Canada in our Best of the World 2021 .)

Two decades ago Holder started her company, Mahikan Trails , responding to a nascent consumer appetite for Indigenous-led tourist experiences. Since then, the market has grown in Canada for experiential tour companies that connect curious visitors to the cultures of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people.

Grandmother and granddaughter harvests plants and berries.

Presley Simba-Canadien harvests plants and berries with her grandmother, Rosie Canadien, at Tathlina Lake, Northwest Territories. Plants including rat root, chaga, sage, fireweed, and spruce tips can be made into tea and used in traditional medicines.

This tourism boom represents a remarkable change from the early years of Canada’s tourism development, when Indigenous people were largely excluded and sometimes exploited by the industry. But things are changing: Indigenous people are more visible than ever, and that’s partly thanks to a growing group of women who are spearheading change in the sector.

But Holder says that breaking into the mainstream has been difficult. “The tourism industry has not made space for us; we made space for us,” says Holder. “We decided a while ago that we’re going to take control and do things the way we want to.”

Tour operators have banded together to form grassroot, Indigenous-run organizations, including Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) and Indigenous Tourism B.C . These groups develop and promote the work of Indigenous people in the tourism space, and ensure members have control over their own narratives.

Janet Wilson, senior guide for Homalco Tours, leads a group through Bute Inlet in Canada’s British Columbia. The tour company immerses visitors in Indigenous culture and offers wildlife excursions.

Klett says that it’s important visitors understand her people’s essential hunting practices, which acknowledge an animal with respect.

Dora Blondin hangs trout from Great Bear Lake in a teepee in Deline, Northwest Territories. On tours, visitors learn from local guides how to harvest, filet, and smoke fish.

“There used to be a sort of ‘pan-Indianism’ promoted in Canadian tourism that contributed to stereotypes about Indigenous people,” says Marilyn Yadultin Jensen, vice-chair of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) and an educator in Indigenous governance. “Now we have a stronger partnership with organizations like Destination Canada —the government-owned national research and marketing company dedicated to supporting Canada’s tourism industry—and Indigenous people are at the front end of the industry.”

Candace Campo, owner of Talaysay Tours , introduces visitors to the customs, history, and practices of the Shíshálh and Squamish people through educational hikes, sailing tours, and other eco excursions around Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast , B.C.

“We really want our guests to know who we are,” she says. “We’re tour guides; we share stories. That’s how we foster more understanding.”

A fraught history

For many Indigenous tour operators, their work represents a reclamation of their ancestral land. Holder’s company runs tours out of Jasper National Park —where, a decade earlier, the Canadian government evicted her Cree ancestors to open the then-new park. Many of the country’s most-visited green spaces were home to Indigenous populations before they were forced out to develop the national parks system in the 19th century. In Ontario’s Algonquin Park , for example, the Algonquin people were denied title and recognition for their towns that fell within the park’s boundaries. They were eventually moved out completely.

“My family was one of the first ones back in Jasper after being moved from the area,” says Holder. “I feel as though we’ve always been on this landscape. There’s spiritual evidence of us here.”

Even when Indigenous people were encouraged back into national parks, it was often so that their cultures could be appropriated for financial gain. The Stoney-Nakoda people were invited to perform at the Banff Indian Days festival that ran into the 1970s. Using language then and now considered slurs by Indigenous people, ads from the event promised First Nation people dressed in full regalia, and performers were expected to dance, whoop, and sport costumes that mixed “Wild West” tropes with headdresses and buckskin.

( Related: From teepees to headdresses, signs of Indigenous culture are ubiquitous in America—but often misrepresented .)

In the 1980s, the Canadian Tourism Commission (now Destination Canada) began offering experiences that encouraged tourists to “go native” through pre-packaged cultural encounters with Indigenous people. These experiences exacerbated stereotypes about Indigenous people. Certain gendered constructs—Indigenous women as tragic “primitives” or romanticized Pocahontas types—persisted. In the absence of Indigenous operators, tourists came to expect them.

Despite this patchy history, Canada’s tourism industry slowly began making way for Indigenous voices. Destination Canada partnered with ITAC a year after the latter’s inception in 2015. Both parties exchange knowledge and promote each other’s work in relevant spaces.

The tourism industry has not made space for us; we made space for us. Brenda Holder , Owner and operator of Mahikan Trails

“Developing these connections takes time,” says David Robinson, vice president of strategy and stakeholder relations at Destination Canada. “Our partnership [with ITAC] has really helped advance our understanding of Indigenous tourism. We rely on their guidance.”

The changemakers

Independent operators such as Tracey Klettl, Brenda’s sister and the owner of Albertan tour company Painted Warriors , hope to educate travelers and help them fill in certain knowledge gaps about Indigenous communities.

“A lot Indigenous tourism used to be promoted or conducted by non-Indigenous operators, which generally put the wrong message across,” says Klettl. “Programs run by non-Indigenous people [up until the last decade] painted Indigenous women as servers, but that’s really not the way it is [in our cultures].”

“Indigenous women are traditionally very respected in our cultures,” continues Klettl. “But when Indigenous women became more integrated into Western society, it was assumed by colonizers that they had a subservient role to men. The mainstream tourism industry only understands this role for women.”

A traditional pair of Dene slippers—made of moose hide, beaver fur, and adorned with colorful beads—are displayed for tourists in Wekweeti, Northwest Territories.

red flowers on blue and white cloth backgrounds

These decorative flowers, stitched onto fabric, will later be sewn onto moccasins, gloves, and jackets.

( Related: Native Americans are recasting views of Indigenous life .)

This portrayal of Indigenous women—as docile and home-bound—was turned into a spectacle at the Calgary Stampede , an annual rodeo that drew thousands of visitors a year. Since 1912, the Stampede has erected an Indian Village on the festival grounds, where the domestic activities of Indigenous women are put on full display—sewing, cooking, decorating. However, in 2018, the Stampede renamed the village the Elbow River Camp . The rodeo also went from crowning an Indian Princess to crowning a First Nations Princess each year.

Klettl hopes that she and the other female Métis and First Nations instructors employed by her company will challenge any stereotypes travelers may hold about Indigenous women by teaching them traditional survival skills like hunting, archery, and horseback riding—activities that do not conform to perceived gender norms.

“It’s important to me that visitors understand that these practices are essential to our lifestyle,” she says. “Hunting is very spiritual for us—there’s a lot of respect given to the animal as a living being.”

Re-educating travelers, she believes, is the first step towards helping them become more attuned to the alarming rate at which the women in her community are still dying and disappearing. Over the past three decades, more than 4,000 Indigenous women have gone missing. Despite a three-year-long national inquiry into the crisis, the Canadian government has been slow to act, and Indigenous women are still 12 times more likely than other women in Canada to go missing or be killed.

“There’s a narrative being sold by Canadian society that Indigenous women are meek, and this causes a lot of misunderstanding around the crisis,” Klettl says. “We’re losing our voices, and our communities just want to be heard.”

Cheyenne Hackett, who is of Homalco First Nation descent and leads B.C.-based experiences from Klahoose Coastal Adventures , performs a Women’s Warrior Song before each of her tours. A haunting prayer sung over the slow heartbeat of her drums, the song is dedicated to the thousands of women who have disappeared.

Women like Klettl and Hackett not only work to foster understanding and awareness around their cultures, they also use their tours to give a voice to the women who are no longer with them.

Landscape of two teepees in Deline, Northwest Territories

In recent years, the Deline community, located near the shore of Great Bear Lake in Northwest Territories, has invested in Indigenous tourism initiatives to help strengthen its local economy and create new jobs.

( Related: Meet the Indigenous people who are finding ways to strengthen community bonds during the pandemic .)

Although demand for Indigenous tourism continues to surge, the coronavirus crisis has proven a stumbling block for independent operators—but many are cautiously resuming tours and running educational programs for mostly Canadian visitors. Cultural learning, according to Klettl, flows both ways.

“We like to tell visitors that they’ll leave our program looking at the world a different way,” she says. “I know we see the world in a different way when they leave, too.”

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8 Incredible Trips Across Canada Run by Indigenous Tour Operators

Across Canada, Indigenous tour operators are offering new ways to engage with cultural and natural wonders.

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Long a favorite destination for U.S. travelers, Canada is switching up the itinerary. Its Indigenous-led tourism businesses are inviting visitors to explore Native lands, work with beads and plants, learn more about history, and taste foods that may be unfamiliar.

“Welcoming people allows us to share our values, our cultures, our land, and our art,” says Tyson Atleo, a hereditary chief-in-line of the Ahousaht Nation and a program director at Nature United, a conservation organization.

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The sector continues to grow thanks in part to the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada , an advocacy group. “Indigenous experiences serve as a powerful educational tool, enlightening travelers about the diverse perspectives and resilience of our communities,” says Keith Henry, the organization’s president and CEO and winner of a T+L Global Vision Award in 2021.

Today there are more than 1,900 Indigenous tourism outfits in Canada, meaning there’s a tour or experience for nearly any interest. Here’s a closer look at some notable options.

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Visit the Vast North

Set near the confluence of two rivers in a remote stretch of the Yukon, Fort Selkirk was built by Hudson’s Bay Company in the 19th century on the ancestral territory of the Hücha Hudän people. It’s now a hub for wildlife watchers, outdoorsy types, and those interested in Canadian history. Tutchone Tours offers daylong or multiday excursions to the site, coordinating boating on the Yukon River, campsite logistics, storytelling, beading workshops, and guided hikes.

Connect With Wildlife

Ahous Adventures recently launched whale-watching and bear-spotting boat trips along the coast in the territorial lands of the Ahousaht First Nation, departing from Tofino, British Columbia. Thanks to the nation’s collaboration with BC Parks, Ahous guests can also book exclusive morning and evening access to Hot Springs Cove for a soak in its seaside pools.

Roam Creative/Courtesy of Indigenous Tourism Alberta

Unplug in the Great Bear Rainforest

Recently acquired by the Heiltsuk Nation, Shearwater Resort is a rustic eco-retreat on Denny Island, midway between Vancouver and Ketchikan, Alaska. Wildlife watching is one big draw: guests often spot whales, bears, bald eagles, and seals while on guided kayak excursions through the fjords. Additional cultural activities focused on First Nations traditions are planned for the 2024 season, according to the lodge.

Forest-Bathe in Vancouver

K’emk’emeláy, a traditional Skwxwú7mesh name for Vancouver, translates to “place of maple trees.” To learn more about the city’s arboreal past—and present—connect with Talaysay Tours , which leads insightful walks within Stanley Park. Guides touch on the history, traditions, and beliefs of the Shíshálh and Skwxwú7mesh First Nations who call the Pacific coast home.

Learn From Knowledge Keepers

Alberta-based company Warrior Women is a project from knowledge keepers Matricia Bauer and her daughter Mackenzie Brown, both members of the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. Among other experiences, the duo offers guided walks inside Jasper National Park that highlight healing plants as well as workshops focused on making salves, lotions, and other products.

Understand Indigenous Art

For the Métis people, beadwork is a practice that interconnects culture, land, and life itself. Borealis Beading founder Melanie Gamache leads workshops in Ste.-Genévieve, Manitoba, 45 minutes from Winnipeg, that expound on the tradition, sharing techniques and tales as participants stitch keepsakes.

Stay the Old-Fashioned Way

A recent $10 million renovation of the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations added 24 new rooms, as well as a remodeled restaurant and a cellar stocked with wines from Indigenous producers. The hotel, which is in the Huron-Wendat Nation territory of Wendake, an enclave of Quebec City, shares its site along the Akiawenrahk River (also known as the St. Charles) with the Musée Huron-Wendat, which has both permanent and rotating exhibitions and is also home to the Ekionkiestha’ National Longhouse, a wooden replica of a pre-Columbian dwelling. Guests can visit for an evening of traditional stories and song and, if they like, spend the night.

Walk Ancient Trails

Metepenagiag Heritage Park , in rural New Brunswick, is home to one of Canada’s oldest Mi’kmaq communities. The park’s Red Bank Lodge provides a comfortable base for multiday adventures, including all-season hiking on a network of trails, guided salmon fishing on the Miramichi River, cultural programs such as cooking demos, and snowshoeing.

Sleep Under the Stars

Built on the original North Saskatchewan River lots of 1880s-era Métis settlers, Métis Crossing in Alberta has over the years grown from a small, summertime attraction into a year-round destination. Today, guests can stay in a 40-room lodge or one of eight luxury Sky Watching Domes, which are perfect for viewing the northern lights. Another recent upgrade is the cultural center’s solar power generation station, which aims to meet not only the energy demands of Métis Crossing but the entire Métis Nation of Alberta.

A version of this story first appeared in the October 2023 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline "Fresh Perspectives."

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… great hotel selection (no “run-of-the-mill” hotels), my favorite: the romantic Rocky Mountain Cabins in the wild. Perfectly organized trip, great tour guide, highly recommended!

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We are a family owned and operated tourism and travel agency in Vancouver. We strive to ensure every guest feels welcome in our country by providing authentic, local experiences.

Our Green Team family has been operating in the travel industry since 1995 and launched the inbound tours division in 2005. It’s a mom & pop, daughter, daughter, son-in-law and grandkids kind of operation!

Discover Canada Tours is the leading tour operator in Western Canada as a trusted, locally-based company.

Our mission is to share our love for Canada and this land with the world. Everyone on our team is committed to delivering the most authentic experiences to our guests while working with local businesses, guides and Indigenous communities. Discover Canada Tours acknowledges that we gather and tour around the traditional and unceded territories of Indigenous communities and are based in the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

Our guests’ safety is our top priority, and we take every measure to uphold the highest safety standards in our tours. We are highly governed by the Passenger Transportation Board, Transport Canada and the National Safety Code to ensure a safe, honest and ethical operation.

We understand that booking a trip can be unpredictable, so we have updated our cancellation policies and payment plans to be more flexible. As a full-service travel agency, we can also book travel insurance to give you further peace of mind and protection.

Discover Canada Tours has been awarded the Safe Travels certification by the World Travel & Tourism Council. Book and travel with confidence with us!

At Discover Canada Tours, our travellers come first. Our tour guides and internal teams have successfully run diverse tours for over 17 years, delivering life-changing experiences to hundreds of thousands of adventurers.

Rest assured, we have superior knowledge of our destinations, safety protocols, itineraries and activities. We aim to go the extra mile to give you the time of your life on our trips. We truly believe in having a positive attitude and a balanced lifestyle, and we will go above and beyond to guarantee that for our team and our guests. Life’s an adventure, and it’s about having fun living it!

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It is of the utmost importance to us to give back to the land and the community that makes our activity possible. At Discover Canada Tours, we want to enhance our guests’ experience and staff’s well-being by supporting initiatives that benefit our society and environment. We invest time and resources towards preserving the relations with the communities we work with and the destinations to which we are fortunate to travel. By showing respect and contributing to their prosperity, we aim to leave the communities we visit better than they were before.

At any time, from inquiry to booking and departure to adventuring, our team is here to make sure your hard-earned vacation goes as smoothly as possible.

Since 1995, our passionate Green Team has been working tirelessly to Live the Adventure with all of our guests. As the leading full-service travel management company and receptive tour operator in Western Canada, we are your one-stop shop for planning your trips within Canada. We operate our own fleet of vehicles and manage your itinerary, ground and ferry transportation, night accommodations and activity bookings. We can also book flights, travel insurance and more. In short, we relieve the stress of planning and organizing your vacation. Are you ready to Live the Adventure ?

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We used Discover Canada Tours for our trip to Whistler BC. The views were spectacular and our bus driver / tour guide (Joe Bitgood) was awesome…very knowledgeable on the history of BC and it’s geology. Would highly recommend this excursion and Discover Canada.

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I took the Whistler sightseeing tour with Joe as our guide, it was really great! Joe was very friendly and helpful, informative and knowledgeable about BC and its history; he told us interesting tidbits and stories about the province and Whistler/Blackcomb. I enjoyed being able to do my own thing on the tour, Whistler was beautiful! Thanks again to Joe and Discover Canada Tours!

My family and I booked 4 tours with this company and the first one was by far the best one. Special thanks goes out to Joe Bitgood for taking care of us and ensuring comfort throughout the day while also delivering the true history of British Columbia.

The tour was great! Our tour guide Meaghan was the best. Very nice and knowledgeable. She was funny too! Highly recommended!

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10 Best Canada Tour Operators 2024 [Unbiased & With Reviews]

10 best canada tour operators 2024.

Are you planning to visit Canada, but unsure which tour provider to select? Now, you no longer have to waste time searching the internet and filling out dozens of contact forms. Simply fill out ONE form, we’ll send it off to multiple tour providers and they’ll contact YOU! You’ll be able to compare rates and find the lowest cost tour for the most affordable trip abroad.

Get Free Quotes From 10 Best Canada Tour Operators

Have you imagined a dream vacation in Canada? Would you like to know which are the best tour companies in Canada? Do you want to know professional, safest, and the highest rated tour companies in Canada to assist you in planning your trip?

Canada is the world’s second-largest country and comes with beautiful landscapes and numerous sights around the country for tourists to explore. With diverse geography from coast to coast, Canada is home to diverse history and vibrant culture. Canada’s list of possibilities is endless, from the pristine scenic beauty in the Northern Lake to the rugged Rocky Mountains, iconic Niagara Falls, and rolling Okanagan Valley.

Unfortunately, finding the right tour company in Canada can be an absolute nightmare. When you start your research, you will find hundreds of Canada tours with similar tour packages at different prices and promising you the best vacation experience. If you choose the wrong tour company in Canada, you risk ruining your experience in Canada and threatening your safety.

Our professional research team at TravellersQuest has analyzed hundreds of vacation tour in operators Canada offering tour packages around the country. We based our assessments on professionalism, reputation, pricing, and reliability to select this list of top 10. We genuinely believe that if you choose one of these operators, you’ll have a fun, fulfilling, and safe tourist experience in Canada.

Here is an unbiased list of the Top 10 best tour operators in Canada.

Table update Feb 18, 2024

Canada Wilderness Adventures

Canadian Wilderness Adventures is one of the best tour operators in Canada founded in 1993 with offices in Whistler. The company provides tailored tours that allow travelers to select their interests based on preferences, budget, and time. The company is world-renowned for its outdoors adventure activities and all of their tours are carried out with the highest standards of safety and quality. With Canadian Wilderness Adventures, you will have the opportunity to explore the mountain sceneries, wildlife, and spectacular views for a memorable tour in Canada.

Canadian Wilderness Adventures Best Canada Tour Packages

With over 20 years in the industry, Canadian Wilderness Adventures knows exactly how to build you the best tour package based on your needs and interests. Climb a rugged mountain, ride through rough roads and forested track trails up to the scenic viewpoints on the Odyssey Off-Road Buggy Tour. This tour is not just an experience but also a learning curve.

On their River of Golden Dreams tour package, take a canoe and paddle down and across to the Alta Lake with a professional guide who will also allow you to learn basic paddling skills and techniques.

Don’t miss out on their Call of the Wild Tour – an ATV adventure for both learners and skilled drivers in a moderate terrain of the Callaghan Valley and North Air gold mine site.

Canadian Wilderness Adventures Reviews

Few companies can rival the magnificent tours and services that Canadian Wilderness Adventures provides to its customers. As a top-tier Canadian tour operator, they have 5,105 reviews on TripAdvisor and are ranked as #1 of 105 Outdoor Activities in Whistler. They also received the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award in 2023. A past client of theirs wrote:

Had the best time with Rosie and the pack. Pick up was on time and we were well looked after throughout. We were given time to meet all the dogs which was great… Scott G

Read all reviews of Canadian Wilderness Adventures on TripAdvisor .

Eagle Wing Tours

With a mission to make people environmentally aware about their actions, Brett Soberg and Don Stewart launched Eagle Wing Tours in 2005. Eagle Wing Tours started out as a small, locally-operated tour provider and now, it is recognized as one of the leaders of eco-tourism in Canada. Their key focus is on sustainability, conservation, research and education and their top-priority is to deliver quality tours and services to their customers. Eagle Wing Tours is undoubtedly one of the best tour companies in Canada.

Eagle Wing Tours Best Canada Tour Packages

You’ll explore the Salish Sea and watch many different marine species while also learning about the environment through this company’s tour packages. If you’re in Canada during the summer, we recommend taking their Whale & Wildlife Watching Tour . They’ll take you on a 4 hour journey to watch magnificent sea creatures. You’ll also be given hydrophones so that you can even listen to the whales!

Also, their Whale Watching Sunset Tour will give you the best photographs of your trip in Canada. You’ll start off with an early dinner and then finish your day watching whales and identifying different wildlife with your wildlife detection kits.

Their Wine & Whales Tour starts off with a splendid excursion around the best vineyards on Vancouver Island. Then, you’ll be taken to watch killer whales, porpoises and humpbacks on luxury catamarans.

Eagle Wing Tours Reviews

As a highly-rated travel agency in Canada, Eagle Wing Tours has 3,484 reviews on TripAdvisor and is ranked as #1 of 111 Outdoor Activities in Victoria. They were awarded the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award in 2023. A customer who recently took their tours wrote:

All the guys were so knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. So professional.Loved that we saw orcas out of season. They were having their own party… Karen & Steve M

Read all reviews of Eagle Wing Tours on TripAdvisor .

Are you thinking of visiting Barbados and interested in finding the best tour operators in Barbados? Discover here the best Barbados tour operators , choose the best one and make your trip unforgettable.

Vancouver Foodie Tours

Vancouver Foodie Tours is a highly-rated Canadian tour operator with local roots in Vancouver. They are dedicated to deliver fun and unique food tours to tourists from all around the world. Founded in 2010, the company has hosted over 20,000 guests on its signature Gastronomic Walking Food Tours. If you are a foodie, join Vancouver Foodie Tours for a 100% amazing, exciting, and delicious food tour, which will definitely one of the highlights of your vacation!

Vancouver Foodie Tours Best Canada Tour Packages

Delve into the gastronomic culture of Canada with Vancouver Foodie Tours’ tour packages. Discover the city with the number-one rated Gastronomic Gastown Tour and taste delicacies from iconic restaurants and quirky pubs; combined with scenic sights and immersive history.

Granville Island is the foundation of Vancouver’s local culture, and the market hosts over 300 Canadian food businesses. On this tour, you will be introduced to incredible Canadian cuisine and the passionate chefs and cooks who prepared it.

Explore the best of Chinese food in North America through their Authentic Asian Eats Tour . Taste mouth-watering dim sums, dumplings and Chinese pastries and get to know about the food and culture of the Chinese-Canadian community.

Vancouver Foodie Tours Reviews

Many of Vancouver Foodie Tours’ customers have praised the company for its stellar services. Their 2,551 reviews on TripAdvisor make them a top-rated tour company in Canada. They are also ranked as #1 of 94 Food & Drink in Vancouver. A satisfied customer wrote this about them:

We had a wonderful two hour tour of Granville Island with the very knowledgeable Michael. There was certainly enough food to satisfy our group – small sample sizes … bev_7371946

Read all reviews of Vancouver Foodie Tours on TripAdvisor .

Chinook Rafting

For nearly 35 years, Chinook Rafting has offered special tour opportunities to all kinds of travelers with the aim of providing adventure, entertainment, team-building opportunity, and education. As a leading Canadian travel agency, they specialize in rafting trips in the Horseshoe and Kananaskis Rivers. Chinook Rafting has an immaculate safety record and is committed to delivering fun, exciting, and safe trips from Banff, Canmore, and Calgary. All of their guides are professionally trained and licensed to conduct First Aid, CPR, and River Rescue.

Chinook Rafting Best Canada Tour Packages

With Chinook Rafting’s tour packages, you get an immaculate experience of the rivers and rapids of Canada. On their Raft 2 Rivers Combo Package , you’ll start off with a thrilling white-water rafting experience at Horseshoe Canyon which also includes a Cliff Jump. Then, you can go on a relaxing family rafting trip on Kananaskis River.

You can also consider their Kananaskis River Raft and Horseback Ride tour package. You’ll have a great rafting experiece along the Bow River and then, ride a horse through winding landscapes and thermal bubbling waters in the Banff Historic Cave.

For a complete adventure, take the White Rafting and Banff Sightseeing Tour for breathtaking views of the Bow Valley and Mt. Norquay on a Chairlift.

Chinook Rafting Reviews

Chinook Rafting rightly deserves its position as the top-rated adventure-rafting tour operator in Canada. The company has 2,550 reviews on TripAdvisor and is ranked as #1 of 90 Outdoor Activities in Banff. Their well-crafted packages have earned them the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award of 2023. A recent client of theirs wrote:

So much fun i highly recommend. We were lucky enough to have Tadhg as our guide, he was excellent. This is something that is fun to do as a local… Jenna Natalyia L

Read all reviews of Chinook Rafting on TripAdvisor .

Would you like to visit USA? Find here the 10 best USA Tour Companies to plan you a successful trip.

Prince of Whales

Experience the majesty of marine life on the Salish Sea with Prince of Whales . Prince of Whales is a highly-rated eco-tour company in Canada with a deep passion and love for the sea. They provide fantastic whale-watching and wildlife tours that will exceed your expectations! The company also focuses on educating travelers about conservation & protection of marine life and environment. They have a brilliant staff, united through their love for the sea, and they’ll deliver you a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Prince of Whales Best Canada Tour Packages

Prince of Whales provides a wide variety of tour packages that you can choose from, according to your liking. Start with their Half Day Whale Watching Tour from Vancouver. You’ll see orcas and humpbacks as well as bald eagles flying overhead. You’ll be accompanied by an expert marine biologist and they’ll tell you interesting stories about marine animals.

Take a luxury catamaran and spend a splendid evening watching whales and other wildlife on their Sunset Whale Watching tour package . You’ll have the perfect viewing platform along with a free photo package.

Take one of their featured tours, the Zodiac Whale Watching . This is a thrilling experience on a Zodiac speedboat that’ll get your adrenaline pumping.

Prince of Whales Reviews

Prince of Whales has set some high standards in the tourism industry of Canada with their excellent services. This Canadian tour company has 4,522 reviews on TripAdvisor and is ranked as #2 of 111 Outdoor Activities in Victoria. They received the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award in 2023. A past client wrote this about their tours:

This was such a fun experience, from dressing up in the big red survival suits, to the views of the snow capped Olympia range, and of course the wildlife… Sally M

Read all reviews of Prince of Whales on TripAdvisor .

Cycle City Vancouver

Experience Vancouver city in a unique way on a tour with Cycle City Vancouver . Founded in 2010 by professional tour experts, this Canadian tour company is passionate about sharing Vancouver’s culture, history, and hidden gems with travelers worldwide. During their guided tours, you will hear enchanting stories about the city – beyond the glimmering glass towers, amazing coastlines, and scenic mountain views. Cycle City Vancouver invites riders from Vancouver and around the world to join them on the bike path for unforgettable adventures and connections.

Cycle City Vancouver Best Canada Tour Packages

Cycling is an excellent way to discover the magical allure of Vancouver. Cycle City Vancouver is your go-to provider for excellent cycling tour packages. Join The Grand Bike Tour and explore one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Visit different attractions from Stanley Park to the lively Granville Island, Chinatown, and Gastown.

On their Stanley Park Bike Tour , you’ll discover a world-famous park boasting a long history. On this exclusive bike tour, you’ll see the biodiversity of the park, Vancouver’s sea walls and ancient totem poles.

If you are looking for a leisurely cruise, take the Epic E-Bike Tour to see the best of Downtown Vancouver, including the English Bay, Stanley Park, False Creek, and Gastown.

Cycle City Vancouver Reviews

Many customers and clients have expressed how much they liked Cycle City Vancouver’s tours. With over 3,400 reviews on TripAdvisor, they are one of the best travel agencies in Canada. They are ranked as #2 of 355 Tours & Activities in Vancouver and they also received the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award in 2023. A past customer wrote:

Our guide, Greg, was fantastic. He knows Vancouver intimately – the history, the architecture, the people, the stories. He’s excited to share all this… Michael G

Read all reviews of Cycle City Vancouver on TripAdvisor .

Are you considering a visit to the Bahamas? Discover the top 10 Bahamas Tour Companies here to help you organize a fantastic trip.

Niagara City Cruises

Niagara Falls is a must-see travel destination for many travelers. Witness the magnificence of Niagara Falls with Niagara City Cruises , the only official boat tour operator in Canada. Niagara City Cruises is an internationally renowned tour provider that provides specialized tours in Canada. They are committed to serving their guests the best packages and services while also fostering a deep love for the environment. The company has licensed and professional tour guides working around the clock and they promise you an unforgettable experience of the Niagara Falls.

Niagara City Cruises Best Canada Tour Packages

Niagara City Cruises provides all-inclusive and fully serviced tour packages that cater to all types of customers. Begin with the Voyage to the Falls Boat Tour that consists of a 20 minute guided tour of the Niagara George, Bride Veil Falls and the famous Canadian Horseshoe Falls. The package provides a full-mist or a light mist experience depending on the time of travel.

For a unique experience, embark on their Falls Firework Cruise and see the Niagara Falls at night. This 40 minute cruise will give you splendid views of the waterfalls with fireworks exploding above your head!

The company also provides city cruises and their most popular one is the Toronto Harbor Tour . You’ll enjoy a live commentary about the city’s history and culture while seeing important landmarks like CN Tower, HTO Park, Sugar Beach and Rogers Centre.

Niagara City Cruises Reviews

Many travelers have expressed their sincere gratitude towards Niagara City Cruises for holding remarkable tours of the Niagara Falls. They have over 9,000 reviews on TripAdvisor, making them the highest-rated tour operator in Canada. They are also ranked as #3 of 13 Boat Tours & Water Sports in Niagara Falls and have received the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award in 2023. A satisfied customer expressed:

This cruise was the highlight of our trip to Niagara! We booked last minute after our original tour company fell through and could not have been more pleased with our experience… Angie

Read all reviews of Niagara City Cruises on TripAdvisor .

Local Montreal Food Tours

Local Montreal Tours is a local Canadian tour company offering exciting tours of the best neighborhoods in Montreal. With a mission to help local communities grow and prosper, the company takes part in sustainable tourism ensuring that each restaurant is paid fairly and that the wait staff gets suitable gratuities for their service. Local Montreal Tours invites you to experience delicious food tastings with the best of Montreal’s classic restaurants, including new and hip eateries, Canadian landmarks, art, and architecture.

Local Montreal Food Tours Best Canada Tour Packages

Local Montreal Food Tours has no shortage of tour packages, with each package offering a unique perspective into Montreal’s culture. Mile End is a dynamic and thriving community of musicians, young entrepreneurs, and artists. On the Mile End Original Food Tour , you will see this particular neighborhood and explore secret alleys, and acclaimed shops.

On the Old Montreal Food Tour , you will discover the best French cuisine, red wine, and craft beer with a combined sight-seeing experience to Place d’Armes, St. Paul Street, and the Old Port.

The Evening Mile End Food Tour introduces you to a bustling local scene where you will taste fresh homemade gnocchi, Montreal bagels, chocolates and soft ice-cream.

Local Montreal Food Tours Reviews

Local Montreal Food Tours is an outstanding travel agency in Canada that always leaves its clients impressed and satisfied. They have 2,463 reviews on TripAdvisor and are ranked as #4 of 63 Food & Drink in Montreal. Here’s what a satisfied client said about them:

I loved this tour. You definitely won’t go hungry on this walk. Whether it’s having a bagel with smoked salmon, sampling Quebec cheeses, having a specialty taco, Poutine… Ken F

Read all reviews of Local Montreal Food Tours on TripAdvisor .

Planning a trip to Canada? Check out the best 10 Canada Tour Companies to ensure a successful and enjoyable journey.

Tours Voir Quebec

Since 2004, Tours Voir Quebec has been facilitating high-quality, immersive and engaging tours of Quebec City for all ages and groups. The company is a licensed tour operator in Canada with a mission to showcase the rich culture, history, art and architecture of Quebec City. They have a team of extremely knowledgeable and professional guides that know their city inside-out. See the capital city of Canada in all its glory with Tours Voir Quebec.

Tours Voir Quebec Best Canada Tour Packages

Whether you are a solo traveler or traveling with family and friends, Tours Voir Quebec’s tour packages will ensure a memorable experience for all. If you are eager to learn about Quebec’s past, consider the Grand Tour . Explore Quebec’s historical sites like the Chateau Frontenac, Quebec fortifications and Place Royale and learn about Canadian culture and heritage.

The Heart of Old Quebec City is a self-guided audio tour that’ll take you through Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City Hall, Ursulines convent and the Seminary of Quebec while giving you valuable information regarding the city’s history.

Also, The Fortifications Self-Guided Audio Tour will make you familiar with French and British architecture while taking you through the city’s top attractions.

Tours Voir Quebec Reviews

Tours Voir Quebec is regarded by many as one of the best tour operators in Canada. With over 3,000 reviews on TripAdvisor, their high-quality service has earned them the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award of 2023. They are also ranked as #5 of 106 Tours & Activities in Quebec City. A customer who recently went on tour with them wrote:

Our guide, Anne, was excellent with a lot of information and added humor. It was a great way to begin our visit to Quebec City to orient and educate us… Lucinda V

Read all reviews of Tours Voir Quebec on TripAdvisor .

Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours

Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours is an award-winning tour operator in Canada founded in 2011 by Tanya Bennett, a tourism expert with a passion for sharing the beauty of Vancouver with tourists from around the world. The company conducts private and group walking tours aimed at showing travelers an authentic and original Canada. With Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours, you will experience Vancouver through the eyes of the locals and immerse yourself in the city’s fantastic culture and unique lifestyle.

Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours Best Canada Tour Packages

Delve into secrets, murders and mysteries surrounding Vancouver on tour packages offered by Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours. Explore the dirtiest prohibition-era secrets by taking the Forbidden Vancouver Tour . From mobsters to rumrunners and rioters, this excursion tour winds through historic streets and secret alleyways.

On the Really Gay History Walking Tour , you’ll find out about the unsung heroes who changed the social fabric of Vancouver. From drag queens to queer church ministers, learn about the brave pioneers of the LGBTQIA community.

Discover the sinister stories of Stanley Park on their Dark Stanley Park Tour . Behind the scenic forest beauty lie stories about buried treasures, crime scenes, and the ghosts of Deadman Island, all of which you’ll explore on this tour.

Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours Reviews

Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours is a pioneering travel agency in Canada that has won the hearts of many clients. They have 2,531 reviews on TripAdvisor and are ranked as #7 of 356 Tours & Activities in Vancouver. A recent customer said this about their tours:

What a theatrical learning experience. Loved walking the streets and alleys of gastown to learn Vancouvers pioneer heritage… T H

Read all reviews of Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours on TripAdvisor .

Thinking about a Jamaica vacation? Find the top 10 Jamaica Tour Companies to help you plan an incredible and well-organized trip.

If you’re visiting Canada for the first time, we recommend staying in Toronto as the city is a hub for international travelers. You can also travel to Vancouver and discover authentic Canadian and French culture or go to Montreal if you prefer a hip and urban experience.

Canada is a vast country with hard-to-reach places. You could cover major cities and attractions in 2 weeks but if you really want to experience everything, we recommend planning travel for at least 4-6 weeks.

Canada has varying weather all over and it’s hard to pinpoint an exact best time to visit Canada. Tourists usually prefer summer/ warmer months and we recommend the months from September to November as an ideal time to visit the country.

Road-trips are the absolute, undisputed means of travel when it comes to Canada. There are so many majestic landscapes and small villages to travel to and enjoy that just wouldn’t be possible with other transport services.

Canada is world-renowned for its maple syrup, even having the maple leaf on its national flag. Besides that, there is also poutine (a special delicacy originating in Quebec), smoked meat, tourtiere, Calgary Beef, fiddleheads, peameal bacon, and salmon.

With Canada’s tourism reopening, what can Canadian tour operators expect?

By Kevin Tjoe — 20 Jan 2023

The past few years have definitely been tough for Canadian tourism. Strict virus protocols have made it hard for international travelers to visit the country. Even within Canada, the domestic travel market had all but stalled for several years.

In 2023, however, it seems that there’s been a progression in Canada’s tourism recovery. For the first time in years, Canadian tour operators will get to enjoy their first tourism season in the new normal. And in order to maximize your revenue, tour operators will need to prepare the infrastructure for additional bookings. Furthermore, it’s important that you’re equipped to handle the challenges that still lie ahead.

In this guide, we’ll help you better understand the outlook on Canada’s tourism reopening and how you can position your Canadian tourism business for success.

What you need to know about the Canada tourism reopening

Domestic & U.S. markets

The domestic tourism market is going to take center stage during Canada’s tourism reopening. This is followed closely by the re-emergence of the U.S.-to-Canada travel market. which will be the first time since the pandemic that American visitors will be allowed to visit Canada uninterrupted.

In 2023, Canadian tour operators can expect there to be a rise in demand—and spending—among domestic and U.S. travelers. Insiders anticipate domestic travel spending will exceed 2019 spending levels by about 103%. Furthermore, the U.S. spending level is expected to reach about 92% of what they were prior to the pandemic.

Right now, Canadian tour operators should focus mainly on the U.S. market. U.S. travelers will be motivated by the fact that border restrictions have been lifted. This will allow them to easily access their favorite Canadian destinations without COVID requirements. In addition, U.S. travelers know their dollar is strong in Canada, which allows them to enjoy a rich and fulfilling travel experience for an affordable price.

Rest of the world

At this time, the international market from Europe, Asia, and other parts of the globe is expected to be slow—however, interest and demand are starting to increase.

It is expected that spending will steadily increase throughout the year, but by 2024, spending is expected to rise to 112% of 2019 levels, according to Destination Canada.

Navigating possible tourism recovery challenges of 2023

While hope permeates the atmosphere in Canada, remember some challenges that arose during the pandemic have not disappeared entirely. It is still necessary to be aware of situations that could impact the overall strength of the tourism recovery period.

Some challenges Canadian tour companies may face in 2023 include:

Navigating the impact of the new COVID-19 strain that has appeared, including in the U.S. and U.K.

The XBB.1.5 variant is proving to be an easily transmissible strain of the virus, and medical experts fear it has the ability to evade vaccine protection. This strain of COVID-19 could potentially cause another surge of cases, which could temper the demand for travel to Canada, according to Sky News . There is still a lot to learn about this new variant of XBB, however, more than 40% of cases in the U.S. can now be attributed to this variant, proving it’s worth watching in the next several weeks and months.

Working through Canada’s new temporary testing mandate requiring Chinese travelers to show a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival in Canada

This testing requirement is similar to those imposed by other countries around the world, including the U.S. and the U.K. Attracting travelers from China is critical to recovering the Chinese tourist market in Canada. Chinese travelers have historically spent the most money while traveling in Canada, and this demographic brings in the highest number of visitors, compared to other countries around the world.

While these challenges are certainly present, it doesn’t mean Canadian tour operators won’t have a successful year. Canadian tour operators who are aware and prepared with the right technology will be able to easily maneuver through these challenges and still enjoy a record-breaking year.

6 ways Canadian tour operators can prepare for the tourism recovery

All tourism companies have become experts in flexibility. While this year will hopefully not be as tumultuous, it may still throw a few curveballs. You can be best prepared for anything by following these six steps.

1. Make automation a top priority for your business

By automating the majority of your administrative tasks, you can reduce the time you and your staff spend behind a desk. When you automate your processes such as bookings, inventory management, customer communications, and reporting, you’ll be able to spend more time with your customers. At the same time, your business will see the number of bookings begin to grow.

Utilizing a reservation software for tour operators will help you achieve seamless automation of all the processes listed above.

2. Integrate your system with a payment gateway

Did you know that over 70% of online shoppers are now opting for digital payments and close to 70% of travelers are booking online?

Integrating your system with a payment gateway will allow your business to start accepting different payment methods. Payment gateways offer your business the ability to accept numerous online payment methods such as credit cards and mobile wallets. Meaning, you’ll be able to target international customers a lot more effectively. As a matter of fact, according to Shopify, offering payment methods such as mobile wallets can help you increase your conversion rate by up to 250%.

Ready to start accepting quick and secure digital payments? Have a look at RezdyPay .

3. Allow for increased flexibility in your business

Pre-pandemic, it was easy to tell your customers you could not accept last-minute bookings. In today’s post-pandemic world, most travelers expect you to offer flexibility —both in accepting last-minute bookings and accommodating unexpected cancelations. If we learned anything throughout the COVID-19 health crisis, it’s that nothing is set in stone anymore.

4. Increase customer loyalty through a rewards program

To encourage travelers to book with you again, try providing special offers for your existing customers. This could be in the form of a gift card or a discount code. Furthermore, you can offer rewards on special days such as birthdays, anniversaries, and more to boost customer loyalty .

5. Develop strategic partnerships

Travelers who are beginning to explore the world once again are looking for convenient and affordable options, which means different types of tour packages are trending. Tour operators should consider creating local partnerships with complimenting tour companies in the area.

For example, you can partner with local hotels and transportation companies to create packages that include all your services. This will attract travelers seeking a hassle-free trip to book.

5. Seek new channels to uncover additional market segments

We all know that broadening your distribution channel is key to maximizing bookings. By working with various resellers to promote your products, you’re expanding your reach to a wider range of potential customers.

With the Rezdy Channel Manager , you have unparalleled access to some of the best agents in the industry. Not only will you be able to partner with information centers and retail travel agents, but you’ll also have access to the most powerful OTAs in the industry such as GetYourGuide and Tripadvisor.

Prepare for Canada’s tourism reopening with Rezdy

Rezdy is the solution that can help usher your business to success and allow you to thrive during Canada’s tourism recovery.

As demand for Canadian tourism products begins to rise, you can be prepared with our online booking solution and accept payments through RezdyPay . This makes it easy and convenient for your customers to book your tours with confidence. In addition, you can grow your business through the Rezdy Channel Manager , which gives you access to more than 25,000 agents who can resell your products for you.

Ready to see how Rezdy can elevate and fuel your business during the Canada tourism reopening, start your FREE 21-day trial or book a demo today.

If you enjoyed this article then make sure to subscribe to the Rezdy newsletter where you’ll receive the latest marketing tools and tour operator tips designed with businesses like yours in mind.

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First Nation takes over operation of Gold Rush-era historic site

As of may, hat creek ranch is open to the public under the management of st'uxwtéws.

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St'uxwtéws (Bonaparte First Nation) Chief Frank Antoine spent good parts of his childhood at Hat Creek Ranch.

"I got to start working here at five years of age," he said of the tourist site, which originally operated as a roadhouse stop on the way to the Cariboo gold fields in the 1860s.

Antoine played with the animals and heard stories from the cowboys who worked the ranch. He also learned of its history as a stop for the St'uxwtéws people, prior to the Gold Rush.

That's part of why he's so excited his community — through the St'uxwtews Pesuten Heritage Society — is taking over operations of the historic site near Cache Creek, B.C., about 215 kilometres northeast of Vancouver.

The move to have St'uxwtéws take over operations is part of a larger shift in the province to have more First-Nations-run historic sites. The provincial government has committed to improving relations with Indigenous communities , handing over increasing control of land management to First Nations.

Man in a cowbow hat with blue jacket stand in front of log buildings

Antoine said the land the ranch is on has long been used by his community, but those Indigenous stories have not been fully shared at the popular visitor destination.

"Our history has always been put on the shelf and now we get the opportunity to take it out, dust it off and put it back to where it belongs: on the land."

Number of Indigenous operators expected to increase

According the Hat Creek Ranch's website, the St'uxwtéws people lived a nomadic lifestyle in the area before the Gold-Rush-era roadhouse was built.

Now visitors to the tourist site can see how the St'uxwtéws lived off the land, tour the old roadhouse, pan for gold and take carriage rides.

The nation has revamped the displays on the ranch with demonstration sites and interpretive signs that explain hide tanning and drying vegetables, medicines, roots and berries, along with a model summer lodge, hunting lodge and teepee.

"It's certainly a big deal for them," said Roger Tinney, director of the heritage branch of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.

Tinney said the province is looking forward to working with St'uxwtéws — the ranch will remain on Crown land.

"It's not the only site that has an Indigenous operator in our portfolio and I think we're probably going to see more of that in the future," he said.

Lucille Nali is one of the people responsible for explaining the history, as the Indigenous site interpreter at Hat Creek Ranch.

She said as a Sixties-Scoop baby, this is a way for her to connect with her culture.

"I just love it," said Nali.

Woman in red with her hands up stand in front of a small lean-to structure

This sentiment is shared by Antoine, who is the board chair of the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance and the founder of Moccasin Trails Inc., and has long been an advocate for Indigenous-led tourism projects.

"I want this to be known as a world Indigenous destination — not just a tourism destination, but Indigenous destination," he said.

St'uxwtéws is also operating the nearby McAbee Fossil site, which offers hiking tours. The nation is in the planning stage of designing a cultural site on that land.

Historic Hat Creek Ranch operates from the beginning of May until the end of September annually.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jenifer Norwell has been working with CBC radio since 2008. She's worked with CBC Prince George, Vancouver and Sudbury before returning to her hometown of Kamloops.

‘The whole country is not on fire’: Canadian tourism industry struggles as fires rage

Smoke from the McDougall Creek wildfire fills the air and nearly blocks out the sun as people take in the view of Okanagan Lake from Tugboat Beach, in Kelowna, B.C., on August 18, 2023.

By Mia Rabson, The Canadian Press

Posted May 15, 2024 11:00 am.

Last Updated May 15, 2024 8:20 pm.

Canada’s tourism industry is trying to put on its Sunday best this week, showcasing itself to more than 500 international travel agents and tour operators at the largest annual tourism convention in Canada.

But as Rendez-vous Canada is taking place at the Edmonton Convention Centre, one of the biggest challenges Canada’s tourism industry is facing is playing out in technicolour just a few hundred kilometres away: wildfires.

“Climate change is an essential threat to Canadian tourism, to their reputation and that’s what we’re seeing,” said federal Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada.

Hot, dry weather in Western Canada, exacerbated by climate change, sparked a massive fire southwest of Fort McMurray, forcing more than 6,000 people from their homes.

Some of them are the same residents whose houses were razed by a major wildfire in the same city just eight years ago.

In 2023, Canada recorded its worst wildfire season ever, with more than 6,400 fires burning more than 150,000 square kilometres in almost every province and territory.

This season started out a little slower, but turned quickly over the weekend with major out-of-control fires forcing evacuations and threatening cities and towns in both British Columbia and Alberta.

Beth Potter, president of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, said the direct impact of wildfires is hard enough.

But making matters worse is the fact that many people around the world see headlines about Canada being on fire, she said, then think nowhere in the country is safe to visit.

“There are fires right now in northern parts of Alberta and British Columbia, but that doesn’t mean that all of Canada stops welcoming visitors from around the world,” she said.

“The biggest challenge we had actually (last year) was how big the fires are by comparison to how big our country is.”

Many international visitors don’t understand that wildfires have a limited impact on most of the country, said Potter.

Last summer, tourism operators in southwestern Ontario told her about cancellations due to fires largely more than 3,500 kilometres away in B.C., she said.

On top of all that, some operators have been finding insurance more expensive — if they can even secure it — as the risks from severe weather force the insurance industry to rethink costs.

Martínez Ferrada said there is no “miracle” cure, but government and industry must prepare for the worst, because climate change isn’t going away.

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Foreign Convention and Tour Incentive Program - Tax rebate for tour operators

Multilingual brochure available in:

The Foreign Convention and Tour Incentive Program is a rebate program designed to attract tour groups to Canada.

As a tour operator , you could claim a rebate of:

up to 50% of the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) you paid on an eligible tour package that includes accommodation in Canada; or
100% of the GST/HST you paid on accommodation in Canada to create an eligible tour package.

For information about eligibility and how to claim a rebate, go to:

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2024 PGA Championship tee times, pairings: Complete schedule on TV, groups in Round 1 on Thursday at Valhalla

A number of star-studded groups will be featured throughout the first round of the 106th pga championship in louisville.

The 2024 PGA Championship has arrived, and so have the tee times for the first day of competition at Valhalla Golf Club. With the second major of the season forthcoming, you not only need to know when your favorites will take the course but how to follow them live throughout the first round. CBS Sports has you covered with a full slate of tee times, though the afternoon session was pushed back to minutes each due to weather. Follow PGA Championship live leaderboard coverage all day Thursday for score updates, weather notices, highlights and much more.

The action heats up right off the bat in Louisville as last year's Cinderella story, Michael Block, is featured in the opening group out to the course alongside Luke Donald and Shaun Micheel at 7:15 a.m. ET. From there, the stars begin to trickle onto the golf course with many big names beginning their first rounds on the 10th tee. Louisville native Justin Thomas gets the home crowd rocking early and often alongside Masters runner-up Ludvig Åberg and Xander Schauffele at 7:53 a.m. This trio precedes a group of major champions that includes 15-time major winner Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley at 8:04 a.m.

Immediately following Tiger's grouping is Rory McIlroy. The last two winners of the PGA Championship at Valhalla will be separated by only 11 minutes across the first two days as the 2014 champion gets going at 8:15 a.m. next to Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose.

History will be on the line just a couple groups later as five-time major winner and reigning champion Brooks Koepka begins his quest for a fourth Wanamaker Trophy alongside Max Homa and the man who still needs one to complete his grand slam aspirations, Jordan Spieth. They begin their journey Thursday at 8:37 a.m.

The star-studded groups are not exclusive to the morning hours as the last three major champions will be paired together in the afternoon. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler draws reigning U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark and reigning Open champion Brian Harman at 2:13 p.m. off the first tee.

Other notable afternoon groups include the two right ahead of Scheffler. Collin Morikawa, Phil Mickelson and Matt Fitzpatrick get their championships underway at 1:51 p.m., while Rickie Fowler, Jon Rahm and Cameron Young follow closely behind at 2:02 p.m.

Take a look at the full slate of Round 1 tee times, and check out CBS Sports' detailed PGA Championship TV schedule and coverage guide so you do not miss a second of live action over the next four days. You can also use Kyle Porter's breakdown of the nine golfers most likely to win the Wanamaker Trophy as a refresher of sorts as play kicks into gear Thursday.

All times Eastern

2024 PGA Championship tee times, Thursday pairings

7:15 a.m. — Michael Block, Luke Donald, Shaun Micheel
7:26 a.m. — Jeff Kellen, Alex Smalley, Ben Kohles
7:37 a.m. — Ryan Fox, Josh Speight, Matt Wallace
7:48 a.m. — Zac Oakley, Adam Svensson, Ryo Hisatsune
7:59 a.m. — Adam Hadwin, Martin Kaymer, Taylor Pendrith
8:10 a.m. — Byeong Hun An, Alexander Bjork, Eric Cole
8:21 a.m. — Adam Schenk, Corey Conners, Nick Dunlap
8:32 a.m. — John Daly, Lee Hodges, Robert MacIntyre
8:43 a.m. — Peter Malnati, Kurt Kitayama, Victor Perez
8:54 a.m. — Benn Polland, Zac Blair, Ryan van Valezen
9:05 a.m. — Jeremy Wells, Sami Valimaki, K.H. Lee
9:16 a.m. — Jared Jones, Taylor Moore, Patrick Rodgers
9:27 a.m. — Kyle Mendoza, Andy Ogletree, Erik van Rooyen
12:55 p.m. — David Puig, Thirston Lawrence, Matt Dobyns
1:06 p.m. — Tracy Phillips, Denny McCarthy, Keita Nakajima
1:17 p.m. — Talor Gooch, Cameron Davis, Harris English
1:28 p.m. — Jason Day, Shane Lowry, Nicolai Hojgaard
1:39 p.m. — Min Woo Lee, Chris Kirk, Billy Horschel
1:50 p.m. — Gary Woodland, Tom Kim, Joaquin Niemann
2:01 p.m. — Collin Morikawa, Phil Mickelson, Matthew Fitzpatrick
2:12 p.m. — Rickie Fowler, Jon Rahm, Cameron Young
2:23 p.m. — Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Scottie Scheffler
2:34 p.m. — Patrick Cantlay, Camilo Villegas, Will Zalatoris
2:45 p.m. — Patrick Reed, Sam Burns, Padraig Harrington
2:56 p.m. — Brad Marek, Mark Hubbard, Maverick McNealy
3:07 p.m. — Braden Shattuck, S.H. Kim, C.T. Pan
7:20 a.m. — Doug Ghim, Tyler Collet, Adrian Meronk
7:31 a.m. — Larkin Gross, Lucas Herbert, Grayson Murray
7:42 a.m. — Lucas Glover, Stephan Jaeger, Russell Henley
7:53 a.m. — Ludvig Åberg, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas
8:04 a.m. — Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley
8:15 a.m. — Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose
8:26 a.m. — Cameron Smith, Hideki Matsuyama, Viktor Hovland
8:37 a.m. — Brooks Koepka, Max Homa, Jordan Spieth
8:48 a.m. — Tony Finau, Tyrrell Hatton, Sahith Theegala
8:59 a.m. — Akshay Bhatia, Tommy Fleetwood, Bryson DeChambeau
9:10 a.m. — Sepp Straka, Takumi Kanaya, Nick Taylor
9:21 a.m. — Andy Svoboda, Ben Griffin, Dean Burmester
9:32 a.m. — Preston Cole, Tim Widing, Adrian Otaegui
12:50 p.m. — Rich Beem, Sebastian Soderberg, Kazuma Kobori
1:01 p.m. — Josh Bevell, Aaron Rai, Jordan Smith
1:12 p.m. — Andrew Putnam, Jesse Mueller, Charley Hoffman
1:23 p.m. — Si Woo Kim, Tom Hoge, Alex Noren
1:34 p.m. — Y.E. Yang, Matthieu Pavon, J.T. Poston
1:45 p.m. — Jake Knapp, Jason Dufner, Francesco Molinari
1:56 p.m. — Thomas Detry, Jimmy Walker, Rasmus Hojgaard
2:07 p.m. — Austin Eckroat, Luke List, Mackenzie Hughes
2:18 p.m. — Sungjae Im, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Beau Hossler
2:29 p.m. — Thorbjorn Olesen, Brendon Todd, Keith Mitchell
2:40 p.m. — John Somers, Brice Garnett, Jesper Svensson
2:51 p.m. — Emiliano Grillo, Evan Bowser, Alejandro Tosti
3:02 p.m. — Vincent Norrman, Wyatt Worthington II, Chris Gotterup

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Eastern Canada Tour Companies

Looking for an unforgettable Eastern Canada tour? Book a fully-organized trip with the best tour companies in Eastern Canada and let the tour operator take care of everything for you. Check out the tour details and read 118872 reviews from our customers to help you choose the perfect tour for you.

List of Eastern Canada travel companies & tour operators with 118872 reviews

Intrepid Travel

Excellent - 11,723 reviews for Eastern Canada tours

Luc was the best tour guide ever. He kept our group on time and informed. Every stop was interesting, and the hotels and lodges were very good.

My Husband and I truly enjoyed the small group of 9 . Any more than this wouldn't have felt like a family. Our group gelled well. The van would not be big enough if more persons were in the group. Highly recommend NOT to have a larger group for other tours. Everyone was interested in everything we did and saw. Everyone was at the same level of ability and agility. Our Tour guide Simon was very flexible with options if weather wasn't in our favour. Would recommend Simon for other tours. He was very knowledgable on our Newfoundland tour.

Excellent - 878 reviews for Eastern Canada tours

The tour guide and bus driver were kind and courteous. More tour stops needed to be included that do not require additional payment.

I LOVED this tour. This was my first time as a solo traveller. The tour guide and the driver were both excellent. The experiences were incredible. Trying to arrange the amount of cities, and experiences solo, with hotels, travel etc is not possible for anywhere near the amount paid. Value for money is excellent. Hotels overall were good. There were some that were a little out of the cities, however the tour guide and driver did their best to accommodate by driving everyone back into the city if they wanted to go. Most of the experiences were really good. The Montmorency Falls as an extra trip with meal was a little pricey. There was not enough time at the Falls and the best view would be down the bottom. This could have been a free trip, without the meal, I would suggest this is looked at. Also in Montreal the tour guide who took us round, was not very engaging and it was difficult to hear her. Everything else was spot on. Well organised, excellent value for money, lovely people, beautiful country, wide range of experiences. LOVED IT. Will definitely be doing another tour.

Excellent - 74,890 reviews for Eastern Canada tours

It was an excellent trip!

Great trip (our guide, Daniel and driver, Randy were fantastic)!

Voyageur Quest

Excellent - 7 reviews for Eastern Canada tours

The division of the children on the canoes worked very well. Thanks to the division of the 2Gruppen our group as a family could experience the trip at their own pace (children). Will (guide) was very experienced and competent in canoeing and camping and showed us everything wonderfully. He was also always accommodating and very personable. Thank you so much for taking our youngest daughter in his canoe (9 year old)! The meals were very tasty every time! Thanks to the organization of the trip we were able to combine action and enjoyment. The children and we as parents enjoyed the trip very much!

I had many firsts in this trip, first time canoeing, staying in cabin with strangers, first time in Algonquin, seeing the night sky. We had the A-team for sure, Nicolene, Baris and Reese (I hope I did not mess the spellings, my apology)it would not have been a great experience without you. Forever grateful.

Atlantic Tours & Travel

Excellent - 26 reviews for Eastern Canada tours

The wonders of the Bay of Fundy tour was the best tour I’ve ever been on. We were a small group who enjoyed each other’s company and shared many varied and interesting experiences. As a solo traveler I was welcomed by everyone in the group and never felt on my own. Our tour director, Eunice, was welcoming, knowledgeable and went the extra mile to ensure we really experienced the local culture and delicacies. Our coach driver, Hank, who was also welcoming and knowledgeable, had a quietly confident manner which made you feel extremely safe when on the road. He also went the extra mile to ensure we got the most out of every experience. I would highly recommend this tour.

Very informative tour guide. Courteous driver, lovely group . We found the tour a little more difficult for us.

Excellent - 1,895 reviews for Eastern Canada tours

Very nice tour. Would have liked more time in a place or two but, overall, good.

Optional excursions were reasonably priced. Suggest you put together other places in each city as a walking guide or short taxi or uber ride. Example access to close by museums open late and could walk to from hotel. Free time activities and what they are and where located is helpful.tour guide can offer to accompany a group interested to explore more during free leisure tome.Provide more detail info about the logistics of site visits. Niagara falls..suggest more water proof gear clothing and shoe types etc. Terrain to expect when visiting certain sites and possible alternatives.climbing and how difficult-easy or more strenuous or advanced climbing activity. Overall, small groups so much better than filling up bus. Thank you for giving single travelers their own bus space. Would love to watch more travel videos on longer driving distances.

Insight Vacations

Excellent - 634 reviews for Eastern Canada tours

This was our 7th trip with Insight and this was a nice paced tour of the Maritimes. The tour director was excellent as well as the coach driver. As long as my wife and I can keep traveling we'll be going with Insight.

Excellent - 19,654 reviews for Eastern Canada tours

Great guide Peter and driver who made the tour a very good experience

I absolutely loved every minute of this trip - accommodation was superb - I had confidence in our tour leader James - he was so very knowledgeable - honestly, it was just a wonderful tour - so fortunate to explore these amazing places & cities. Thank you Cosmos - Kim

Excellent - 5,486 reviews for Eastern Canada tours

Please beware of this tour as many things are not included: Bike tour PEI didn’t happen Walking tour in Moncton and Halifax did not happen on our tour. And lastly please consider this as if I knew this before I would NOT have booked this trip. If you do not do the rafting “ as an optional activity” they literally don’t have anything else for you to do for three hours. Our tour guide went rafting and left the majority of the group behind. The driver was kind enough to drop as off at a mall to occupy our time. I did not pay that much money to sit in mall. I wanted to see the maritimes. Very disappointed in Contiki be

It was a great experience and the add on’s that Contiki offered were amazing adventures. The price of the tour was also great and completely worth it for what they gave you.

Europamundo

Good - 3,043 reviews for Eastern Canada tours

The entire trip of Canadian Capitals was an awesome experience.We must place on record our appreciation of Mr Luis our Tour Manager who took care of us during the entire journey. We were the only English speaking members our Group with rest being South American Members speaking Spanish. But Mr Luis never made us feel left out and tried his level best to Translate the entire Narrative verbatim.Our special thanks are also due to young and dynamic Michael our Driver for the Tour who made our tour memorable one indeed.

The itinerary was well-planned. There were many long drives, but the group I travelled with made it fun and lively. Louis (tour manager) was very knowledgeable and helpful. The driver was skilful and friendly. The tour guides engaged for the city tour in Quebec and Toronto were not engaging and did not share much information. The Montréal City tour guide was good. The hotels were generally good. The hotel in Montreal was very old, felt creepy and the flooring had stains and holes. The hotel in Ottawa, Quebec and Toronto were good.

Omega Tours

Good - 170 reviews for Eastern Canada tours

well organized, comprehensive tour of maritimes with lots of variety

Our trip was in Eastern Canada the first of July 2023. It was a nightmare to figure out how to get to our hotel from the train and subways, up and down soooo many stairs then walking the rest of the way with our luggage mind you. Definitely call for a ride to the hotel. Our first hotel was nice in Toronto. Niagara Falls was fun and definitely something to experience. The tour buses on our whole trip were comfortable and we had great drivers, especially Mike. He was so personable and took really good care of us! The second hotel in Ottawa was good too but when we went to Quebec City that was the worst hotel I’ve ever been in! The beds were uncomfortable, the air conditioner didn’t work well at all, and the shower was messed up and only ran hot water. Then the water wouldn’t shut off so we had to call someone to shut it off with tools. The tub didn’t have anything on the bottom for you to not slip so I slipped getting in and tore the towel rack down which was just glued on. I ended up having to place a towel in the shower where we could take a shower and not fall down. The people that worked there were rude. The carpet in the hallways was disgusting and coming up which is a major trip hazard. One couple that was on the tour with us showed me a piece of metal that fell from his ceiling in his room and hit him in the head. We had to stay two miserable nights there! Our next hotel in Montreal was okay and the last hotel they put us in back in Toronto was a very nice hotel and had a wonderful breakfast. Our guide was nice and informative too. We enjoyed seeing everything we did either while in the bus or walking around the cities. I’m not sure if I will do another group tour or not. Guess we’ll see….

Best Single Travel

Good - 7 reviews for Eastern Canada tours

Tour items were changed without notice

Good - 180 reviews for Eastern Canada tours

I had a great experience on this Colette tour with Bernadette and Dave. They were excellent guides and drivers, and the tour was well-organized. I would recommend it.

Good - 14 reviews for Eastern Canada tours
This operator has no Eastern Canada reviews

Great Canadian Trails

Excellent - 15 reviews for Eastern Canada tours

Fantastic hikes, scenery, food, guides/drivers and accommodations. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to explore and learn more about Gros Morne.

Jamie was organised & on top of everything, prepared & willing to help. Places to stay were good, some more than others but overall good.

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1885: Banff was established as Canada's first national park. 1892: Early tourism promotion. As early as 1892, enterprising Canadians like the Brewsters became the country's first tour operators, leading guests through areas such as Banff National Park (Brewster Travel Canada, 2014). Communities across Canada developed their own marketing ...
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CATO
The Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) is a non-profit organization, consisting of highly respected tour operators from across Canada as well as supporting members. CATO's primary role is to inform government and other stakeholders of issues important to its members as well as advocate on their behalf. Learn More.
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Address 100 Lower Ossington Ave, Toronto, Canada. Response Rate 40%. Response Time 1 hour. New World Wine Tours provides boutique wine experiences from Toronto to Niagara and Prince Edward County. We also specialize in food and sake tourism in Toronto.
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Mickey. Oct 2022. Written on. Canada (Western): See & Experience it ALL in 10 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours by Charlie The Traveler. Amazing. CharlieTheTraveler is the best tour company I have dealt with. Their tours are well organized, the guides are great, and you feel safe the entire time. It's my secon...
Canada's #1 Incoming tour operator
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Discover Canada Tours
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Last summer, tourism operators in southwestern Ontario told her about cancellations due to fires largely more than 3,500 kilometres away in B.C., she said. On top of all that, some operators have been finding insurance more expensive — if they can even secure it — as the risks from severe weather force the insurance industry to rethink costs.
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10 Best Eastern Canada Tour Companies & Operators 2024/2025
Book a fully-organized trip with the best tour companies in Eastern Canada and let the tour operator take care of everything for you. Check out the tour details and read 118833 reviews from our customers to help you choose the perfect tour for you. View all Eastern Canada Tours.
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1.3 Canada Overview

Railway Travel: The Ties That Bind

The Rise of the Automobile

Early Tourism Promotion

National Airlines

Parks and Protected Areas

Global Shock and Industry Decline

Tourism in Canada Prior to COVID-19

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Chapter 1. History and Overview

What Is Tourism?

Definition of Tourism

Definition of Tourist

NAICS: The North American Industry Classification System

The Hospitality Industry

Global Overview

Tourism Becomes Business

Tourism Impacts

Economic Impacts

Social Impacts

Environmental Impacts

Canada Overview

Railway Travel: The Ties That Bind

The Rise of the Automobile

Early Tourism Promotion

National Airlines

Parks and Protected Areas

Global Shock and Industry Decline

Tourism in Canada Today

British Columbia Overview

Railway Travel: Full Steam Ahead!

The Great Depression and World War II

Post-War Rebound

Expo 86 and Beyond

Going for Gold

Tourism in BC Today

Attributions

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Welcome to CATO

What We Stand For

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Proud CATO Members

Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in Canada 2024/2025

19 Tour Operators in Canada with 68 Reviews

Intrepid Travel

Exodus Travels

G Adventures

Quark Expeditions

Luxury Gold

New World Wine Tours

Insight Vacations

Indus Travels

Collette Tours

Canada Tour Reviews

Upcoming Departures

These Indigenous women are reshaping Canada’s tourism industry

A fraught history

The changemakers

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