Canada害羞草研究所檚 tourism industry is trying to put on its Sunday best this week, showcasing itself to more than 500 international travel agents and tour operators at the largest annual tourism convention in Canada.

But as Rendez-vous Canada is taking place at the Edmonton Convention Centre, one of the biggest challenges Canada害羞草研究所檚 tourism industry is facing is playing out in technicolour just a few hundred kilometres away: wildfires.

害羞草研究所淐limate change is an essential threat to Canadian tourism, to their reputation and that害羞草研究所檚 what we害羞草研究所檙e seeing,害羞草研究所� said federal Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada.

Hot, dry weather in Western Canada, exacerbated by climate change, sparked a massive fire southwest of Fort McMurray, forcing more than 6,000 people from their homes.

Some of them are the same residents whose houses were razed by a major wildfire in the same city just eight years ago.

In 2023, Canada recorded its worst wildfire season ever, with more than 6,400 fires burning more than 150,000 square kilometres in almost every province and territory.

This season started out a little slower, but turned quickly over the weekend with major out-of-control fires forcing evacuations and threatening cities and towns in both British Columbia and Alberta.

Beth Potter, president of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, said the direct impact of wildfires is hard enough.

But making matters worse is the fact that many people around the world see headlines about Canada being on fire, she said, then think nowhere in the country is safe to visit.

害羞草研究所淭here are fires right now in northern parts of Alberta and British Columbia, but that doesn害羞草研究所檛 mean that all of Canada stops welcoming visitors from around the world,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淭he biggest challenge we had actually (last year) was how big the fires are by comparison to how big our country is.害羞草研究所�

Many international visitors don害羞草研究所檛 understand that wildfires have a limited impact on most of the country, said Potter.

Last summer, tourism operators in southwestern Ontario told her about cancellations due to fires largely more than 3,500 kilometres away in B.C., she said.

On top of all that, some operators have been finding insurance more expensive 害羞草研究所� if they can even secure it 害羞草研究所� as the risks from severe weather force the insurance industry to rethink costs.

Mart铆nez Ferrada said there is no 害羞草研究所渕iracle害羞草研究所� cure, but government and industry must prepare for the worst, because climate change isn害羞草研究所檛 going away.

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