Tourism growth in Vancouver surges, banner years expected for 2014 and 2015

Vancouver’s tourism numbers are on the rise and indicate an exceptionally strong 2014 and 2015, according to Tourism Vancouver’s mid-year data.

Over the same period in 2013, there has been a 5.5 per cent increase in overnight stays and an 8.5 per cent increase in hotel occupancy.

Tourism from Mainland Chinese increased greatly, reaching 27.8 per cent, and overtaking the United Kingdom as Vancouver’s largest overseas travel market. Projections show that there will be a 25 per cent growth in convention attendees by the end of the year.

This comes as Ty Speer, a former executive for both the London 2012 Olympics and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, takes helm of his duties as Tourism Vancouver’s new president and CEO.

“Vancouver is growing its global presence every year, and 2014 has been one of the strongest yet,” said Bob Lindsay, Tourism Vancouver’s Board Chair. “Ty takes the helm at Tourism Vancouver during a pivotal year for the city’s tourism industry. Now is the time to go after the world’s most sought after conferences and events, and to renew our media and marketing strategies. We are a world city, and the next few years will prove it.”

According to Tourism Vancouver’s 2012 Economic Impact Study, tourism in Metro Vancouver is a $3.6-billion industry with a total industry output of $6.1 billion. Tourism accounts for some 68,900 jobs in Vancouver.

Earlier this year, Tourism Vancouver played a major role in hosting the globally renowned TED Conference and Rendez-vous Canada (the country’s premier international tourism marketplace) as well as securing Alcoholics Anonymous 2025, which is expected to attract 48,000 delegates and become the largest conference in the city’s history. 

Vancouver was also honoured by internationally recognized publications, including Travel + Leisure (the magazine’s 2014 World’s Best Awards named Vancouver the top city in Canada) and Monocle Magazine (which ranked Vancouver the top city in North America).

The remainder of 2014 and 2015 are slated as exceptionally strong convention years with major conferences and events taking place like SIGGRAPH in August 2014 and the World Congress of Dermatology and FIFA Women’s World Cup in June 2015.

Featured Image: Granville Island via Shutterstock