In a bid to strengthen the dynamic tourism industry of Yukon (Canada), the Government of Canada and the Government of Yukon invested CA$1.95M to support Yukon’s tourism sector as it adapts and grows beyond the pandemic.
When the pandemic caused significant disruptions to travel, the Government of Canada responded immediately to help the industry and assist businesses in adapting and growing and help support local economies that depend on tourists from all over Canada and around the world.
As per a press release, today, as part of National Tourism Week, the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister for PrairiesCan and Minister for CanNor, the Honourable Ranj Pillai, Yukon Minister of Economic Development and Minister of Tourism and Culture, and Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for Yukon, announced a joint investment of CA$1.95 million to the Yukon Elevate Tourism Program (Elevate) along with additional funding of CA$25,000 from the Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon. The total amount of the two-year project amounts to CA$1.975 million.
“The moment you lay your eyes on the Yukon, you know you’re somewhere beyond the ordinary. Yukon tourism organizations and operators are working hard to recover from the impacts of the pandemic and find new approaches to delivering world-class experiences that tell the stories of this territory and what makes it such a special destination to visit. We are seeing incredible growth potential with the pent-up demand to get out and see our beautiful country, from coast-to-coast-to-coast. This investment demonstrates our government’s ongoing collaboration with territorial and Indigenous partners to support these efforts. A resilient tourism sector means that the beauty, experiences, stories, and cultures of this incredible land can continue to be shared with Canadians and visitors from abroad for generations to come,” said The Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs Minister for PrairiesCan and Minister for CanNor.
Elevate aims to support tourism owners and operators as they adapt and grow beyond the pandemic. The program is managed and administered through the Tourism Industry Association of Yukon (TIA Yukon) and developed and implemented in a unique relationship with the Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism Association (YFNCTA) and the Wilderness Tourism Association of Yukon (WTAY). This method assures that the needs of Indigenous and wilderness operators are met and that all sectors have access to these funds.
As the Government of Canada continues to shift toward a sustainable approach for pandemic-related travel requirements, this investment helps support product and business adaptations and has allowed over 40 owners and operators to meet these new measures or adjust to changing opportunities. It also supports the sector to better understand challenges and opportunities for the resurgence of travel in the 2022 season and beyond.
The investment shows the Government of Canada and the Government of Yukon’s continuous support for the tourism sector throughout the pandemic–ensuring that businesses receive the assistance they need to grow, adapt and prosper.