Canada's tourism and hospitality industry needs immigrants

Canada’s tourism is a $90 billion industry, creating over 1.7 million sector-related jobs each year. It generates employment opportunities in every region and with the current gap in the labour market, making the prospects for qualified foreign immigrants extremely attractive for those seeking permanent residence in Canada. At a time where other sectors have found themselves in uncertain times, tourism has continued to boom on a global scale, producing steady job creation and economic growth.

Canada has made allowance for its current labour shortage by implementing immigration programs specifically geared towards the labour needs of specific provinces and territories. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) has been a fundamental part of filling these gaps and assisting foreign immigrants with making the move to Canada as well as successfully integrating into the Canadian community.

Each Canadian province or territory has its own PNP with specific requirements and in-demand occupations, and it is apparent that a big portion of the jobs listed falls within the travel and tourism industry. We’ve listed some of the top occupations available in each region along with the best ways to get there.

Top Tourism Jobs in Canada

Canadian ski instructor

8 out of Canada's 13 provinces and territories have listed tourism jobs on their in-demand occupations list. Qualified applicants with relevant work experience and a job offer can apply for permanent residency in Canada via the PNP of their choice by sending an Expression of Interest (EOI). This allows the government to select and distribute provincial nominations to suitable candidates, who will then be able to apply for Canadian residence status. It is therefore imperative to select a province that lists your occupation on their in-demand list to optimize your chances of selection. Below are the jobs available in the Tourism sector that is highly in demand in Canada for 2019:

Top 10 Tourism Sectors Jobs For 2019


    1. Chefs or cooks
    2. Bakers
    3. Butchers
    4. Housekeepers
    5. Food and beverage servers
    6. Food and beverage servers and managers
    7. Sales Representatives
    8. Air Pilots
    9. Recreation, Sports and Fitness Program Supervisors and Consultants
    10. Hotel Front desk clerks

Top 2019 Tourism Occupation In Demand
ProvinceOccupationNOC Code
British Columbia
  • Food and beverage service managers

  • Retail sales associates

  • Accommodation service managers

  • Recreation, Sports and Fitness Program Supervisors and Consultants

  • Hotel Front desk clerks
  • NOC0631

  • NOC6421

  • NOC4167

  • NOC6216

  • NOC0632
Alberta
  • Retail managers

  • Retail supervisors

  • Food and beverage managers and servers

  • Retail sales associates

  • Chefs

  • Food service supervisors
  • Butchers

  • Bakers

  • Airline ticket and service agents

  • Air pilots

  • NOC0621

  • NOC6211

  • NOC0631

  • NOC6421

  • NOC9462

  • NOC06311

  • NOC06331

  • NOC6332
  • NOC6313

  • NOC02271
Saskatchewan
  • Butchers

  • Bakers

  • NOC6331

  • NOC6332
  • Manitoba
  • Air pilots

  • Chefs

  • Bakers

  • NOC2271

  • NOC6322

  • NOC6322
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Food and beverage managers and servers

  • Housekeeping attendant
  • NOC0631

  • NOC6661
  • New Brunswick, Newfoundland and labrador, & Nova Scotia
  • Food and beverage managers and servers

  • Butchers
  • NOC0631

  • NOC6331
  • How to Get There

    There are various ways to immigrate to Canada when seeking employment in the tourism sector; namely The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, the Canada Experience, and Provincial PNP.

    The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program

    animal atlantic puffin close up Canada

    The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program is aimed at applicants wanting to immigrate to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, or Prince Edward Island. It is an employer-driven program designed to help the province fill the current labour gap with qualified candidates. You can apply under one of 3 programs in the pilot:

    • Atlantic International Graduate Program
    • Atlantic High-Skilled Program
    • Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program

    All 3 programs require proof of language proficiency in English or French, education qualifications and work experience as well as sufficient funds to support you and your family.

    The Canada Experience Class

    Canadian volunteers taking a selfie

    The Canada Experience Class falls under the Professional and Skilled Worker Program, providing youth with the chance to travel and work in Canada. The main requirements are that your country must have an agreement with Canada that lets you apply for an IEC work permit or that you are allowed to use a recognized organization (RO). You will also need to meet the specific criteria of your country or territory of citizenship and the pool you’re applying for.

    There are 3 categories to choose from:

    • Working Holiday
    • Young Professionals
    • International Co-op(internship)

    The great part about this program is that a job offer is not required.

    Provincial Nominee Program

    Provincial nominee program

    The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is province and territory-specific. 11 out of Canada’s provinces and territories have their own PNPs, which allows provinces to nominate individuals deemed eligible to contribute to the region economically. Applicants are required to have a job offer in order to apply via one of these programs from the province or territory of their choice as well as meet the specific criteria of the region’s PNP. Candidates who receive a provincial nominee will receive 600 points to add to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which optimizes your probability of receiving Canadian permanent residence.

    How We Can Help

    Immigrating can be a monumental decision in anyone’s life, which is why it is important to ensure that you have someone who is well informed about the immigration process on your side before undertaking anything as important as this. Our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) are fully qualified and knowledgeable of the application process and will make the experience of applying for Canadian permanent residency completely effortless. We will not only guide you through every step of the application process but are here to give you advice on which program is best suited to your needs as well as submit all forms and documentation to the Canadian government on your behalf. Simply complete the application form for your eligibility evaluation. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity. Living your Canadian dream is one click away!