Tourism and Hospitality Opportunities in Alberta
Explore the business opportunities of tourism and hospitality in the scenic locations around Alberta
Home to the Calgary Stampede, Kananaskis, Bow Valley, and more, Alberta is the fourth largest Canadian province and has some of the country’s top destinations that attract people from all over the world.
The sector is flourishing, with an estimated CAGR of 5.4% between 2025-2035 and is expected to be valued at $25B. This interest and growth are a direct result of the province’s breathtaking beauty and the Government of Alberta’s continued dedication to facilitate economic prosperity in tourism. The province’s business-friendly tax environment, reduced red tape, and proximity to major commercial markets, like the Pacific Northwest and neighbouring US states, make it an ideal hub for tourism-related business growth.
Columbia Icefield Skywalk
© Travel Alberta. Photo by Mike Seehagel
The travel industry is a central player in Alberta’s economy. In 2024, Alberta welcomed 38.1 million visits. The tourism sector generated $14.4 billion in revenue and accounted for 260,000 jobs in communities throughout the province.
Alberta Tourism Indicators include an Alberta tourism industry dashboard with the most current visitation statistics, trends, consumer demand and resident sentiment.
Global Citizen ranked Calgary (#1) and Edmonton (#3) the Best Places to Live in Canada.
Viewing deck on top of the Banff Gondola, Banff National Park, Alberta.
Travel Alberta photo by Noel Hendrickson
Tourism Sector Strategy
Alberta’s environment provides the perfect opportunity for businesses to expand successfully and make the most of the flourishing economy. The latest tourism sector strategy prioritizes:
- Establishing specific committees dedicated to processing the approvals for projects in the industry
- Supporting the growth of tourism within the province through organizations like Travel Alberta
- Reducing red tape around commercial activity in the industry to facilitate business expansion and growth
- Invest in improved products, services, and infrastructure to continue adding value to visitor experience
- Collaborate with partners and the private sector to boost capital investment
- Establish dedicated career training and development programs to help people learn and develop skills for tourism and hospitality
- Introduce targeted immigration streams that facilitate tourism and hospitality professionals in coming to Alberta
Travel Alberta is a destination management organization that promotes destinations within Alberta and facilitates visitor access and experience.
Travel Alberta’s goal is to support the province by driving the visitor economy and maintaining a positive image of the province within and outside of Canada.
The organization has multiple resources and programs that focus on supporting businesses entering the tourism and hospitality industry in the province.
ESTABLISHED ECOSYSTEM TO SUPPORT THE TOURISM INDUSTRY
Alberta’s tourism ecosystem is a collaborative network of public institutions, private businesses, Indigenous organizations, and industry associations. Travel Alberta is at the heart of the ecosystem, promoting destinations, facilitating private investment, and supporting destination development.
The province is also home to 27,900 tourism related businesses, including hotels, restaurants, adventure companies, etc., that are dedicated to creating exciting, comfortable, and meaningful experiences for visitors from within and outside Canada.
ALL-SEASON RESORTS ACT
The All-Season Resorts Act is one of the Government of Alberta’s most recent efforts to facilitate the tourism and hospitality industry in the province. This Act is meant to incentivize the development of all-season resorts on provincial Crown land in Alberta and supports the expansion of related businesses in the province. It establishes a clear and straightforward approval process for developing resorts in Alberta. There are also no official criteria for the size of all-season resorts, as approval is on a case-by-case basis to encourage a more investor friendly approach.
Outdoor Adventures
Alberta’s tourism sector is anchored in the province’s natural beauty. The diverse landscapes of six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, five iconic national parks and 75 provincial parks across the province provide the ideal playground for outdoor adventures year-round. From hiking and glamping in the summer, skiing and snowshoeing in the winter to dark sky experiences and wildlife viewing throughout the year, Alberta offers tremendous opportunities to build and grow businesses around exploring the great outdoors across the province.
Western hospitality
Albertans are welcoming and big-hearted. While visitors can experience the sense of western hospitality across the province, it’s mid-sized cities and small towns where these experiences may shine the most. The abundance of unique experiences spans from dinosaur adventures, wellness retreats, historic mining tours, traditional tea ceremonies, agri-tourism, wildlife sanctuaries, ranch stays, to guided fishing tours. The pride of place in welcoming guests is the greater human connection so consistently shared across Alberta experiences.
Connected vacation hubs
With easy global access through two of the largest international airports, Edmonton and Calgary are gateways to Alberta adventures and a connected home base for travellers. The award winning creative culinary and craft brewery scenes in both cities are matched by the breadth of arts and lifestyle activities to explore. More than $3 billion in tourism developments are currently under construction in Alberta, the commitment to
grow the sector also invite further growth in accommodations and food services industries.
Travel has become less about collecting social badges and more about experiences that allow us to get beneath the surface, connecting with both ourselves and the place/people we visit. It’s about self-actualization: reaching our full potential and being the best version of ourselves.
Global connectivity
Alberta is served by three busy international airports, in Calgary, Edmonton, and Fort McMurray
2.3M
Overnight person visits to Alberta Parks camping sites in 2024
26.8M
Passengers to Alberta’s international airports 2024
Economically strong
Alberta enjoys an extremely well-developed tourism economy
38.1M
Total Person Visits (2024)
$14.4B
Tourism expenditures (2024)
$12.1B
Contributed to Alberta’s GDP (Tourism Industry Association, 2024)
260,000
Jobs supported by Tourism-related businesses in Alberta (Travel Alberta, 2024)
2
Alberta is home one of Canada’s national carriers and two of Canada’s ultra-low-cost airlines
Activities and Recreation
Alberta’s tourism industry leverages the province’s breathtaking beauty, diverse landscapes, all-year-round recreational opportunities, and immense potential
Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth
The Calgary Stampede generates over $540 million in economic benefit in 2024
Stunning mountain parks
6.1M visitors to Alberta’s three major national parks (Alberta Economic Dashboard)
Every season is festival season
Edmonton hosts more than 50 festivals every year — in both summer and winter
Outstanding natural beauty
Alberta boasts six of Canada’s 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Sports & entertainment
Edmonton’s Ice District will be one of the largest sports and entertainment districts in the country
Olympic legacy
Alberta is a centre for high performance training and world cup competitions
Alberta Stories
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