Destination Canada will sponsor this year’s FT Weekend Festival, showcasing Canada’s culture and global influence through a programme of speakers and discussions.
Taking place at Kenwood House on 5 September, FT Weekend Festival is one of the UK’s leading celebrations of ideas and culture, bringing together renowned thinkers, writers, business leaders, journalists and cultural voices to explore the issues shaping today’s world.
Destination Canada’s presence comes as Canada’s visitor economy continues to go from strength to strength. New Tourism GDP data, produced by Statistics Canada in collaboration with Destination Canada, revealed visitor spending reached $140.5 billion in 2025, while tourism GDP grew 2.5%, outperforming Canada’s overall economic growth. The sector now supports almost 688,000 direct jobs, more than 280,000 businesses and has become one of Canada’s top two service exports.
Leading Destination Canada’s presence at this year’s festival will be acclaimed author and travel writer Paul Theroux, who will appear on the Travel Stage to discuss his forthcoming book, True North: On the Road in Canada. Blending a cross-country journey with a personal exploration of his Canadian heritage, the book follows Theroux from Newfoundland to Vancouver as he explores the landscapes, communities and stories that shape modern Canada.
Gloria Loree, Senior Vice-President, Marketing Strategy and Chief Marketing Officer at Destination Canada, said: “FT Weekend Festival provides a fantastic platform to share a different perspective on Canada. Through voices like Paul Theroux’s, we have an opportunity to showcase the people, places and experiences that shape our country, while inspiring audiences to discover Canada for themselves.
Tourism creates opportunities for communities across Canada and continues to play an increasingly important role in our economy. As Canada’s visitor economy grows, we’re proud to partner with FT Weekend Festival to introduce audiences to a side of Canada that is authentic, thought-provoking and full of stories waiting to be discovered.”
As Canada’s visitor economy continues to grow, Destination Canada continues to champion the people, stories and experiences that make Canada unique. Further details on the festival programme will be announced in due course.
For more information on Canada, please visit travel.destinationcanada.com
