The city is home to a significant tourism industry which is widely based on cruise ships as a result of its extensive port facilities. The port also holds potential as a logistics base for future offshore petroleum and natural gas exploration in the Laurentian Basin, southeast of Cape Breton Island.
Local area attractions include The Cape Breton Centre for Science and Heritage; a museum which features constantly changing exhibits, The Holy Ghost Ukrainian Church, and Centre 200: a versatile convention exhibition, sports and entertainment facility which hosts a variety of special events.