A few words that describe 2024 for Tourism Calgary are passion, collaboration, and commitment.
Tourism is the number one service industry in Alberta. Last year, we saw an increase in visitors to Calgary contributing an estimated $2.9 billion in tourism spend, which is an increase of 10 per cent over 2023. This amidst a wild year of water restrictions and support for Jasper’s wildfire response. We dedicated efforts to building relationships, including our partnership with Indigenous Tourism Alberta, and collaborating further with Travel Alberta and the Government of Alberta on aligning our goals for Calgary. Our momentum was strong going into 2025.
It was a year that saw us transition to new organizational leadership while delivering record-breaking results from all business areas in attracting visitation from our key markets, supporting growth within our tourism industry businesses, building economic contribution to the city, and enhancing connections within Calgary communities.
As the official destination management organization for Calgary, our mandate is to drive visitation to Calgary, resulting in positive cultural, social, and economic impacts. Our team supports the vibrancy, diversity, and growth of Calgary, and our membership includes 1,100+ Calgary-based businesses, who rely on our partnership to help them thrive.
By attracting visitors from around the world through leisure and business travel, meetings and conventions, and sports, culture and major events, we help to create new connections and foster economic development and talent attraction.
However, our work is about more than simply attracting visitors. Just like a great “first date”, tourism is more than a nice visit – it can be the important introduction that leads to a deeper connection enhancing investment, jobs, and a stronger economy. And tourism is more than an economic driver, it is also a cultural catalyst having huge impacts socially and within our communities.
Read more about our year, and impact on Calgary, in the 2024 Annual Report.
