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To be eligible, candidates must have a valid full-time, non-seasonal job offer from an approved employer in the appropriate industry.
The Government of Alberta has announced new tourism and hospitality categories to help the province’s tourism and hospitality industry address workforce gaps and challenges.
“This industry drives economic growth, prosperity and jobs across the province, especially in communities outside of our urban centers,” Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Mohamed Yassin said at a news conference in Jasper on Tuesday.
“However, the hotel and tourism industry has been one of the industries hardest hit by the pandemic and continues to face challenges today, particularly in attracting and retaining the workforce needed to sustain and grow the industry. Our government is committed to helping address the freedom gap and support economic growth.”
The program is part of the Alberta Advantage Program, the province’s economic immigration program designed to attract and retain talented workers and entrepreneurs. This program allows the province of Alberta to nominate individuals for permanent residence based on their ability to contribute to the economy and meet labor market needs.
The new category will launch on March 1st. To be eligible, candidates must have a valid full-time, non-seasonal job offer from an approved employer in the appropriate industry.
Minister Yassin said the process was developed in consultation with industry stakeholders.
Tracy Douglas-Blowers, president and CEO of the Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), said: “Alberta’s hotels are among the first businesses to be impacted by the pandemic. One, they were also among the businesses hit hardest by the restrictions, and in many ways, they were also the last to recover.”).
The organization represents approximately 700 hotels across the province, accounting for more than 80% of total hotel rooms. Most of these hotels are small to medium-sized businesses, owned and operated by Alberta rather than international companies.
Restaurants in Alberta have begun to recover, but many are still struggling to repay debt incurred during the pandemic, especially as they deal with rising insurance, utility and financing costs.
“With the right policy framework, AHLA believes there is tremendous opportunity for tourism to grow Alberta’s economy,” said Douglas-Blowers.
“Access to a skilled workforce has always been a critical issue for restaurants, which have faced structural labor shortages for years. Today’s announcement is a long-awaited and much-needed policy change.”
By 2022, Alberta will receive 32 million visitors, generate $10.7 billion in tourism spending and support more than 80,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
“Our government has set a very ambitious target of doubling visitor economic spending by 2035. Visitor spending will increase from $10 billion to over $20 billion by 2035, $25 billion to be exact ,” said Joseph Schow, Minister of Sports and Tourism.
“We know that achieving this will require a whole-of-government approach and we will continue to work together to develop new, attractive tourism products, alleviate labor shortages and expand access within and across the province.”
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