June 18, 2025
RED FM News Desk
As the summer tourism season kicks off, new data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) reveals that 47% of BC small business owners say they depend on summer tourism for at least some portion of their revenue. Furthermore, 57% are concerned that a potential U.S.-Canada trade war could impact their business.
“Whether it’s a staycation or travelling across the country, tourists travelling within BC or Canada this summer could be a lifeline for many small businesses,” said Ryan Mitton, Director of Provincial Affairs for British Columbia at CFIB. “Many operators rely on summer cash flow to keep the doors open all year long. When costs and debt are already high, even a slight dip in bookings or visitor spending can hit hard.”
This year, 41% of BC businesses expect summer tourism revenue to remain on par with last year’s figures. Nationally, CFIB data found that 40% of those surveyed have observed a change in tourist behaviour. Among those, 58% of businesses are seeing increased interest from Canadian travellers, and 37% have noticed visitors opting for more affordable options for goods or services.
A public opinion survey conducted by CFIB with members of the Angus Reid Forum found that among British Columbians who have finalized or are yet to finalize their travel plans, 67% plan to travel within the province, 39% elsewhere in Canada, and 18% elsewhere in the world, excluding the U.S.
This summer, only 8% of British Columbians are travelling or planning to travel to the U.S., while 42% have cancelled their business travel to the U.S. and 49% have cancelled their personal travel.
Loading ...
