The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) held a highly successful government relations day in Ottawa on Tuesday (27 November 2007). More than 60 industry leaders from travel, lodging, tourism and aboriginal sectors from across Canada fanned out across Parliament Hill to meet with approximately 90 Members of Parliament, as well as Ministers, and government officials.
Discussions with Ministers and MPs underlined the need for enhanced access to Canada at land, air and sea border points, and a reduction in aviation costs including airport rents that would lead to new leisure, meeting and incentive travel to Canada, with correspondingly longer stays and higher yield visitors.
The severe lack of staffing resources in Canada’s hotels and other tourism industries was also tabled by a number of sector representatives. “We compliment the Federal government for its investment of $50 million in new money for the Temporary Foreign Workers Program,” stated HAC Chairman Irwin Prince. “However, we need a greater investment to ensure our needs are met, particularly with respect to expansion of the Expedited Labour Market Opinion pilot project and expediting the foreign approval process.”
“Tourism sector leaders conveyed with conviction their need for action from the federal government in a number of key areas,” said TIAC Board Chairman Ken Lambert. “These meetings serve as a crucial educational opportunity for MPs of all political stripes.”
Topics of discussion focused on three priority issues, the first of which concerns the decrease in trips to Canada by American visitors, down 34.4% since 2000. This is crucial to the economic health of the sector given that 86% of non-resident travellers to Canada come from the United States. The government was also urged to enhance its efforts in marketing and promoting Canada as a destination of choice. The global travel and tourism market is growing at 4% annually, but travel to Canada has been stagnating in recent years.
A Parliamentary reception followed the day’s meetings where MPs and guests gathered with industry leaders.
Theodore Koumelis - Friday, November 30, 2007