TIAC set to launch Tourism Emergency Preparedness initiative

TIAC wants to see this country’s tourism sector well-prepared to contend with a growing number of rampages by Mother Nature.

TIAC’s Nik Mills said during late May’s Rendez-vous Canada show in Toronto that June 11 will see the launch of the Tourism Emergency Preparedness initiative, a national effort designed to strengthen emergency preparedness and resilience across Canada’s tourism sector.

The initiative will serve as a centralized resource for tourism operators and industry organizations seeking evidence-based information and actionable guidance. Initial features and resources will include:

• A comprehensive searchable resource library
• Preparedness recommendations and practical tools
• Sector-specific guidance and best practices
• Environmental scan and gap analysis findings
• Insights from a national Tourism Resilience Survey completed in April 2026
• Outcomes from national discussion forums and roundtables
• A roadmap outlining future steps toward a national industry preparedness designation framework

“Tourism operators want resources,” said Mills, adding that floods and wildfires are frequently disruptive to tourism and the number of wildfires in this country is on the upswing, with last August at one point seeing 716 burning nationwide.

Those tourism operators are sometimes in remote locations and at times find themselves assisting with evacuations when fires threaten communities, he continued, adding 87% of tourism operators in this country reported experiencing disruptions in the past 5 years but only 27% had a formal recovery strategy.

“This project is designed to give tourism businesses information and support,” Mills added of the “user-friendly” initiative.

“Designed to support more than 200,000 tourism businesses nationwide, the bilingual online resource library will provide tourism operators with relevant research, preparedness guides and tools, and sector-specific best practices to help businesses prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies,” TIAC says. “The initiative is grounded in extensive national research, engagement, and collaboration with tourism business leaders, Indigenous community members, destination organizations, emergency management experts, and equity-deserving groups across Canada.”

Tourism remains one of Canada’s most important economic sectors, generating approximately $132.9 billion in economic activity annually, contributing $52.5 billion to GDP, and supporting more than 2 million jobs nationwide. At the same time, tourism businesses are increasingly vulnerable to emergencies and disruptions that can result in evacuations, infrastructure damage, reduced visitor confidence, business closures, and job losses.

The 2025–26 phase of the initiative responds to a growing need for coordinated support as tourism businesses face increasing operational disruptions caused by wildfires, floods, extreme weather events, health emergencies, transportation interruptions, and other complex crises.

TIAC president Sebastien Benedict praised the new initiative.

“The tourism sector is increasingly on the front lines of emergency events,” said Benedict. “Tourism businesses not only experience the immediate impacts of disruptions, but they also play an essential role in supporting communities, visitors, first responders, and recovery efforts. This initiative will help equip tourism operators with the knowledge and tools they need to strengthen resilience and adapt to a rapidly changing landscape.”

TIAC hosted national engagement forums throughout early 2026, including discussions with tourism business leaders, national tourism associations, destination organizations, and Indigenous tourism representatives. The conversations helped ensure the initiative reflects regional realities and addresses the operational needs of tourism businesses across Canada. Consultations found that many tourism businesses also serve as critical community support assets during emergencies, providing shelter, accommodations, supplies, and assistance to evacuees and emergency responders.

“There is currently a significant gap in emergency preparedness standards and resources tailored specifically to tourism operations,” according to Benedict. “By bringing together industry expertise, research, and practical guidance, the Tourism Emergency Preparedness initiative will help position tourism at the centre of Canada’s emergency planning and resilience efforts.”

In addition to launching the online hub, the current phase of the initiative will establish recommendations for future curriculum and training development to support a long-term industry preparedness framework and designation pathway.

TIAC intends to continue advancing future phases of the initiative in partnership with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), with the goal of maintaining the Tourism Emergency Preparedness online platform as an evergreen national resource for Canada’s tourism sector.