Oakville Celebrates World Tourism Day with Job Creation and Economic Growth

Visit Oakville is celebrating World Tourism Day by highlighting the importance of tourism to local businesses and jobs. According to Visit Oakville, 6.8 per cent of Oakville's jobs are directly tied to the tourism sector.

In 2025, domestic and international visitors spent $140.5 billion in Canada, supporting over 687,000 direct tourism jobs. Tourism accounted for 1.8 per cent of Canada's GDP, with a growth rate of 2.5 per cent compared to 1.7 per cent across the Canadian economy.

In Ontario, tourism drives more than $31 billion in economic activity each year and supports nearly 93,000 tourism businesses. Rebecca Edgar, executive director of Visit Oakville, said 'Tourism is more than attracting visitors, it is about creating opportunities for people and businesses in our community.'

Oakville welcomes over two million overnight visitors each year from Canada and the United States, drawn by its waterfront, parks and trails, vibrant culinary scene, shopping districts, arts and culture, festivals, sporting events, and year-round experiences.