Tourism Turnaround: Why Canada Is the Destination of Choice and How Local Businesses Can Benefit

Blog Post by Chantel Tesolin

Photo by Yousouf Atchia Photography

Cha-chik! That’s the sound you usually hear during the summer tourism months. And with tourism comes the opportunity to turn a selfie into a sold-out shelfie. However, this year, the only thing crossing borders is uncertainty, as the American-Canadian trade war has reduced the tourism numbers of both nations. Here’s a not-so-fun fact for you: In April, the number of American tourists in our true north, strong and free, decreased by 8.9% year-over-year. And to add on to that, 58% of small businesses worry that the current trade war will have a damaging effect on their summer tourism season. As mentioned in our first blog post, several measures were introduced to help small businesses and encourage local shopping, such as OBIAA’s “Shop Main Street Canada. Support Local.” initiative. And well, there’s certainly been an increase in supporting local over the past few months, whether it be shopping or travel. For instance, there’s been an increase in videos on social media showing how empty Las Vegas is, with many Canadians commenting about how they used to go every year, but now they’re exploring everything Canada has to offer. Speaking more locally, there have been indications of a rise in events in Mississauga, particularly in the areas of live music and cultural festivals, leading to an increase in visitors. Now, you must be thinking, what’s that got to do with Streetsville? Well, the Streetsville BIA has been working on similar initiatives to not only keep up with the City’s, but to also support increased foot traffic that our businesses can tap into. The result? The Streetsville BIA has seen an increase in local community activity during its recent events. Canada Day headcounts usually sit (and stand) at around 30,000-35,000 people on the day of the event, but this year, we welcomed an estimated 40,000 to the event. The Halloween Spooktacular event usually conjures up around 1,000 brave souls, and over the two days at Christmas in the Village, around 28,000 yuletiders are rockin’ around the village Christmas tree. So Streetsville has no lakes or beaches, but you don’t need a Hawaiian shirt to be a tourist. What does that mean for businesses? Considering there are enough visitors in Streetsville to fill a literal football stadium (Google says the average one seats about 65,000 people), I’m sure the businesses can agree that the only thing that sounds better than 69,000 visitors is 69,000 customers. Hopefully, the question on everybody’s minds is ‘how can small businesses work with the BIA to say aloha (goodbye meaning) to lack of sales, and aloha (hello meaning) to customers?’, or you know, something like that.

To answer the question that we’ve established you have, business owners can do the profit-friendly thing and get involved in the BIA’s initiatives, whether through sponsorships, merchandise, or coupons. The BIA’s been thrilled to see local businesses stepping up. Take Cynthia Ostos Real Estate Team, for example, who sponsored the first movie night on June 29th. Some more businesses that get a round of applause are Little Rose Cookie Co., Cody Dundas from the David Mosley Team of Forest Hill Real Estate, and Skintricate Tattoo Company, who all sponsored the previous movie night on July 13th. And some businesses, such as Skintricate Tattoo Company, provided free popcorn during the movie as a form of business advertisement. Being a tattoo company and all, they certainly know how to make their mark on customers’ minds. Overall, business success is the BIA’s raison d’être, so this is the only participation award that will ever be a true win.

And hey, building on that momentum, there’s still plenty of room for local businesses to jump in and make their presence known. The beauty of this moment is that success doesn’t require sweeping changes – just a willingness to participate and a bit of creativity. With the BIA ready to support and amplify your efforts, even small steps can lead to big wins. If you’re ready to make the most of this tourism wave, just like the above mentioned businesses, here are a few ways your business can plug in and stand out.

A great first step is to align your business with local events that are already drawing attention. The BIA shares upcoming opportunities in the monthly Members newsletter, and on our website – take a look to see which events make sense for your audience or your brand. You can also send us your digital promotional material for inclusion in our Residents and Friends newsletter, which goes directly to the inboxes of local supporters and visitors alike. That’s free exposure, right where it matters.

Let’s talk social media – because in 2025, it’s not optional; it’s essential. Your business’s online presence can go from static to spotlighted with a little help. Just tag the BIA in your posts, and we’ll happily boost your content by resharing it across our channels. Want even more visibility? Ask to be featured on our Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook pages by reaching out to marketing@villageofstreetsville.com. You don’t need a campaign team or a creative agency – just a few good photos/videos, or availability for our team to come capture content, and we’ll help with the rest. Think of it as putting your brand in the fast lane, minus the turbulence.

To bring that same energy into your storefront, consider tying your business into the themes of major events. A little creativity – like decorating your space (for example, Christmas in the Village) or having staff dress the part (for example, Spooktacular) – can turn passersby into paying customers. Staying open during event hours can also catch the traffic you’d otherwise miss. And if you really want to convert browsers into buyers, think about offering special deals, product samples, or quick demo services during the event. Remember: People remember experiences – and when they leave your business smiling, they’re more likely to return (and tell their friends).

Of course, if you’re looking for even bigger impact, you can team up with the BIA as an event sponsor. It’s a smart way to gain high-profile visibility, connect with the community, and align your brand with everything that makes Streetsville vibrant and welcoming. Sponsorship doesn’t just build recognition – it builds relationships. Streetsville BIA General Manager, Barsha T. says “The BIA focuses on building connections. This is something that I always mention in my outreach to potential sponsors. While, yes, we have sponsorship packages with set levels and amounts for our events, we understand that these may not always be feasible for businesses. As such, I am always open to discuss alternate levels of sponsorship that better align with each respective organization, whether it is adjusting the perks, or a different amount.”

Lastly, if you’re hosting your own promotion or in-store event, don’t keep it quiet. Let us know, and we’ll help spread the word through our networks. Whether it’s a seasonal sale, a product launch, or something uniquely yours, we’re here to make sure it gets the attention it deserves. Because when tourism thrives, local businesses thrive – and with a little coordination, creativity, and community support, this moment can become a lasting movement for your business.

Just like a passport when you’re travelling, the BIA is useful to have in your back pocket. There is a famous Latin phrase, Carpe Diem, which translates to ‘seize the day’. Well, I say Carpe BIA, because the BIA’s resources can only be used to their full advantage if businesses decide to seize the opportunity by taking initiative to work with the BIA. Through unified efforts, Streetsville’s BIA and its businesses have one thing to say to empty storefronts: Bon Voyage!

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