Economic Value of Yukon's Tourism Industry

2000
Revenue	$164 Million
Jobs	1,900
Affected Businesses	1,185
Visitors	308,457

What is tourism worth in the Yukon?

It is estimated that $164 million in revenue is directly related to non-resident tourism. This is up 15% or $21 million from the 1996 figure of $143 million.

This figure is based on revenue estimated by Yukon businesses, which is generated by non-resident spending. It does not include Yukon resident spending, or any indirect spending in the territory which is a spin-off of tourism, such as new hotel construction, cleaning services, consulting, etc. Given the current information available, the $164 million is a conservative estimate of revenue.

Note: the 1996 figures have been adjusted for inflation and reported in 2000 equivalent dollars.

How many Yukon jobs are supported by tourism?

Approximately 80% of all Yukon employees work for businesses which report at least some level of tourism revenue.

It is estimated that 1,900 jobs are directly dependent on tourism;
This represents approximately 11% of all jobs in the Yukon (down 1% from 2000);
Tourism is the largest private sector employer;
In Canada, tourism generated about 524,000 part-time and full-time jobs.

How many Yukon businesses create those jobs?

890 Yukon businesses (41% of Yukon businesses responding to the survey) report revenue generated from tourism.

15% of Yukon businesses generate more than one-third of gross revenues from tourism;
The traditional tourism sectors such as accommodations, food and beverage, retail, and transportation are the largest generators of tourism related jobs;
Over half of the non-traditional sector businesses such as wholesale trade, finance, insurance, and real estate derive a portion of their revenues from tourism.

How much tourism tax revenue is contributed to government?

While the Yukon does not have a "provincial sales tax" or a "bed tax", governments collect numerous taxes via tourism. They include personal income tax from persons employed directly in tourism, licenses such as fishing and hunting permits, fuel tax, business licensees from tourism companies, and tourism business income tax among others.

Nationally it is estimated by the CTC that 31 cents out of every tourism dollar spent in Canada goes to all levels of government through the various direct and indirect taxation methods and user pay services.

What makes up the tourism industry in the Yukon?

Tourism is spread throughout the Yukon economy. Businesses across nearly all sectors feel the impact of tourism, from large organizations and government, to small one-person companies. The tourism industry is grouped into eight categories: Accommodations, Food & Beverage, Transportation, Adventure Tourism and Recreation, Events and Conferences, Travel Trade, Attractions and Tourism Services. In the Yukon, a large percentage of these businesses are small, sole proprietorships and are often seasonal operations. This diversity provides challenges to define tourism, quantify its size and measure its full economic impact.

How many visitors create this demand?

In 2005, an estimated total of 324,284 visitors came to the Yukon;

86.1% arrived between June and September;
Visitation has increased a total of 2.7% from 2004;
Private vehicle traffic has decreased 3.1% from 2004;
Motor coach traffic is up 19.7% over 2004;
Dawson marine traffic (Yukon Queen, May-September) increased 28.4% from 2004;
Passengers arriving at the Whitehorse International Airport increased 9.2% over 2004;

Note: total visitors to the Yukon do not include those in commercial vehicles, visitors arriving by air, train, or marine arrivals in Dawson City.

About the Business Survey

In 1999, the Yukon Bureau of Statistics surveyed Yukon businesses regarding their 1998 business year. More than 2,100 businesses completed the questionnaire. Estimates based on those findings form a snap-shot of businesses contributing to the tourism industry for 1998.

"Tourism" is defined as non-Yukon, non-commercial, non-government revenue. It does not include any Yukon resident travel. The employment and revenue estimates are based on the perceptions business owners have of the percent of their revenue which is generated by non-Yukon, non-commercial, non-government income.

For more information, contact the Industry Services Branch at (867) 667-5449.

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