Help Shape Credit and Debit Card Code of Conduct – Complete the Merchants’ Report Card

On November 19, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced a draft Code of Conduct for Canada's debit and credit card industry. The Ministry of Finance has made it clear that Credit card companies, their issuing banks and the processors/acquirers are expected to sign on to the Code of Conduct and comply with its rules or face stiffer government regulation.

If properly implemented, the Code will help ensure merchant choice, increased competition and transparency in a market dominated by only a few large players.

The Federal Government recently launched a consultation process on the code of conduct, and on consumer and merchant concerns regarding debit and credit cards in Canada.  To assist in the consultation process for the Code of Conduct, the Retail Council of Canada, a partner with TIAC and other organizations in the Payments Accountability Council, has created a report card for merchants to complete, which will inform the government on their concerns.

Merchant input is being urgently sought, with a deadline of Monday, January 18, 2010. Click here to complete the report card. For more information, visit http://retailcouncil.org/ or contact Christopher Jones, TIAC Vice-President, Public Affairs at cjones@tiac.travel or 613-238-7557.

Tourism Spending by Canadians Propels First Overall Increase Since Mid-2008: Statistics Canada Releases National tourism indicators for Third quarter, 2009

Tourism spending in Canada increased 0.3% in real terms in the third quarter, as expenditures by Canadians advanced while those of international visitors fell.  This was the first increase in tourism spending in five quarters, ending the longest downturn since the early 1990s. From the second quarter of 2008 to the second quarter of 2009, tourism spending fell 3.1% in real terms. This was still well short of the 5.8% drop related to the severe acute respiratory syndrome episode during the first two quarters of 2003.

Spending by Canadians on tourism in Canada increased 0.9% in real terms in the third quarter, following four quarters of decline.  Outlays were higher across all major tourism categories. Spending on accommodation was up 1.6% in the third quarter, following a 2.8% decline in the previous quarter. Expenditures on passenger air transportation also rebounded, as travel abroad increased compared with the previous quarter.

For more information, please see the full story in Statistics Canada’s The Daily by clicking here or contact Catherine Sadler, TIAC Manager, Research at csadler@tiac.travel or 613-238-6378.

Parks Canada Makes Encounters in the Wild Booklet Available to Tourists; Tourism Organizations

Parks Canada recently developed a short booklet entitled Encounters in the Wild, a collection of stories about Canadian encounters with species at risk. The booklet features stories on species that are native to Canada’s parks and open spaces, such as Grizzly Bears, Ferrets, Bison, Caribou, and Monarch Butterflies.  It provides information on how to handle encounters with dangerous wildlife in the backcountry, as well as information on how tourists can minimize their impact on the natural habitats of these at-risk species.

Parks Canada is willing to ship any quantity of these booklets, to any destination, at no further cost. Those booklets can be freely distributed to interested clients. For a preview of the booklets, please click here.

To order, please contact: Annie Langlois, Lead Specialist, Public Outreach Education, Parks Canada at annie.langlois@pc.gc.ca or (819) 934-9318

Nominations for Sport Tourism Awards Now Open, Nominations Accepted Through February 26th

The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA) is now accepting nominations for the third annual PRESTIGE Awards. CSTA’S PRESTIGE Awards celebrate the people, places and events that make the Canadian sport tourism industry so dynamic.  These awards are presented annually in five categories to individuals, companies and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the success of the sport tourism industry.  The PRESTIGE Awards are presented at a gala luncheon event that takes place in conjunction with CSTA’s annual conference, Sport Events Congress.

IN THIS ISSUE

• Help Shape Credit and Debit Card Code of Conduct – Complete the Merchants’ Report Card

• Tourism Spending by Canadians Propels First Overall Increase Since Mid-2008: Statistics Canada Releases National tourism indicators for Third quarter, 2009

• Parks Canada Makes Encounters in the Wild Booklet Available to Tourists; Tourism Organizations

• Nominations for Sport Tourism Awards Now Open, Nominations Accepted Through February 26th

• Did You Know?

• TIAC Member Benefits

Tourism GDP was $30.3 billion in 2008, an increase from $19.5 billion in 1998. Tourism activity represents 2% of Canada’s GDP.

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