Canada’s Tourism Boom Could Create More Jobs for IEC Participants in 2026

According to Destination Canada’s Canadian Tourism Outlook 2026–2035, visitor spending is expected to hit $140.9 billion in 2026, marking a 6 percent jump from 2025. Tourism revenue is now forecast to grow faster than Canada’s wider economy, helped by increased domestic travel, strong demand from US visitors, and growing interest from overseas travellers. 

So, what does that mean if you’re planning a Working Holiday in Canada?  

Simply put, more tourists means more tourism jobs in Canada. Hotels need front desk staff. Restaurants need servers and kitchen workers. Ski resorts need lift operators, rental staff, and bartenders. Tour companies need guides. Summer camps need activity leaders. And in many tourism hotspots across Canada, employers already rely heavily on Working Holiday participants to help fill those jobs. 

Why This Matters for IEC Participants 

Tourism has always been one of the biggest industries hiring Working Holiday travellers in Canada. Seasonal towns especially depend on temporary workers during busy summer and winter periods, and many employers are already used to hiring international staff. 

If you’ve ever spent time in places like Banff or Whistler during peak season, you’ll know what that looks like. Australians working ski lifts, Irish bartenders pulling pints at après-ski bars and travellers from all parts of the world sharing staff housing while figuring out life in Canada together. 

Destination Canada says tourism already supports: 

• 1 in 10 Canadian jobs 

• more than $364 million in local spending every day 

• billions in tax revenue for communities across Canada 

Statistics Canada reported that tourism generated $32.7 billion in municipal, provincial, and federal tax revenue in 2024. For Working Holiday participants, those numbers matter because tourism growth usually means businesses are busier, and busy businesses hire more people. 

Overseas Tourism Is Growing Fast 

One of the biggest trends in the report is the rise in international visitors. Destination Canada forecasts overseas tourism markets will grow by 9.8 percent annually over the next decade, almost twice the growth rate expected from US visitors. 

International tourism growth usually creates more hospitality jobs. Tourism destinations that attract overseas visitors will need more workers during busy seasons, meaning more opportunities for temporary workers. And many of those jobs are the perfect fit for your working holiday because they’re flexible, social, and often easier to land without extensive Canadian work experience. 

More Canadians Are Travelling Within Canada Too 

International visitors aren’t the only reason tourism is growing. Canadians themselves are travelling more within their own country. Reshored travel spending added $1.5 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach $4.4 billion between 2025 and 2027. 

This helps extend tourism demand outside traditional peak seasons. A ski town might stay busier longer into spring. Coastal tourism spots may see stronger summer hiring. Big cities could continue needing hospitality staff even outside major holiday periods. 

Business Events Could Create Even More Opportunities 

The report also highlights strong growth in conferences and international business events. By 2028, association events are expected to reach 132 percent of 2019 levels, while delegate numbers could hit 118 percent of pre-pandemic levels. 

That might sound a bit corporate at first, but these events create huge demand for temporary workers across hotels, catering, transportation, event support, and hospitality services – especially in cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. 

Destination Canada says the International Convention Attraction Fund has already helped secure 116 international events expected to generate more than $800 million in economic impact and support over 6,600 jobs. 

Best Places for IEC Participants to Find Tourism Jobs 

As tourism demand rises, some areas are likely to see especially strong hiring: 

• Banff, Alberta, remains one of the most popular Working Holiday destinations in Canada, with constant demand for hotel, restaurant, and ski resort staff. Finding housing can sometimes be harder than finding work. 

• Whistler, British Columbia, continues to attract those chasing ski seasons, mountain jobs, nightlife, and the classic après-ski lifestyle. 

• Jasper, Alberta, offers a quieter mountain-town experience but still has demand for hospitality and outdoor tourism workers. 

• Halifax, Nova Scotia, is growing as a tourism destination thanks to cruise tourism, coastal travel, and a busy food and drink scene. 

• Vancouver Island, British Columbia, remains popular for eco-tourism, summer resort jobs and outdoor adventure tourism in places like Tofino. 

• Niagara Falls, Ontario one of Canada’s busiest tourist destinations, offering year-round jobs in hotels, attractions, restaurants, and tourism services. 

• Montreal, Quebec, creates tourism jobs through festivals, nightlife, events, and food tourism throughout the year. 

• Toronto, Ontario, Canada’s most populous city, offers a wide range of tourism, hospitality, hotel, and business event opportunities. 

Seasonal tourism towns and major cities often struggle to fill hospitality and tourism jobs locally, which is why many employers recruit international workers. 

If you’re looking for work outside tourism, Young Guns is hiring warehouse crew members near downtown Montreal, with starting pay of $20+ per hour. The role involves picking, sorting, scanning, and processing cartons. Young Guns also has locations in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. Learn more and apply here.

Could This Make IEC Organizations More Useful? 

The tourism boom could also make recognized IEC organizations such as GO International Work more appealing for some travellers who want extra support finding work before arriving in Canada. 

Many of these organizations work with tourism employers and seasonal businesses. So, as hiring demand grows, they may have access to more employment opportunities. 

However, you don’t need to pay for support to find tourism work in Canada. Many IEC participants find jobs on their own through job boards, Facebook groups, employer websites, and good old-fashioned local applications after landing. 

Canada’s tourism industry is heading into 2026 with real momentum. Visitor spending is rising, international demand is growing, and tourism is becoming a bigger part of Canada’s economy. For IEC participants, that could mean more jobs and more chances to get started in Canada.  

Whether it’s pouring drinks in a crowded Whistler bar after a powder day, working a summer patio in Halifax, or spending a season in the Rockies, tourism jobs remain one of the biggest gateways into the IEC experience, and 2026 could be a very busy year. 

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