What makes Vancouver a Gateway city? Our location on Canada’s West coast represents the first stop in our country for many people travelling from China, Japan, Korea, Australia or anywhere else in the Pacific region. But what truly separates Vancouver from other West coast cities is our transportation infrastructure. The Vancouver International Airport and the Port of Metro Vancouver together facilitate an incredible amount of international tourism, trade and commerce for British Columbia.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) won the Skytrax Best North American Airport award in 2007 and 2010 through 2014. The airport also made the list of top 10 airports in the world for the first time in 2012, rated at 9th (2012), 8th (2013), and 9th (2014) overall. It is a place people want to visit for its architectural beauty, and its celebration of British Columbia heritage and culture. http://www.yvr.ca/en/about/facts-stats.aspx
The Port is another example of infrastructure facilitating trade and commerce. According to the Port website, Port Metro Vancouver is the most diversified port in North America and a major economic engine for Canada, trading $172 billion in goods with more than 160 trading economies each year.
Including indirect and induced effects, in round numbers, the total impacts of ongoing operations at businesses related to Port Metro Vancouver across Canada are:
• 98,800 jobs
• $9.7 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
• $20.3 billion in economic output
• $6.1 billion in wages
• $67,000 average wage for direct job, vs. $44,000 average wage in Canada
• $1.3 billion per year in tax revenues
Source: http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/about/History.aspx