THE HAGUE, Netherlands, March 24, 2014 - TIAC CEO David Goldstein joined Canadian business leaders this week invited by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Minister of Industry James Moore to participate in the Canadian Trade Mission to the Kingdom of the Netherlands in conjunction with the G-7 Summit.

Goldstein used the opportunity to discuss the important role of increasing ties to the European market by increasing the number of business and professional meetings and conferences coming to Canada. Canada's leadership in natural resources, life sciences and aerospace technologies make us an important destination for international meetings and conferences," said Goldstein.

Travel drives relationships, which drive investment and trade, Goldstein went on to say. Citing a recent Deloitte report, every 1% increase in international arrivals coming to Canada drives over $800M in additional trade, Goldstein remarked, "if Canada achieved the international incremental arrivals of 5% per year, travel would help decrease Canada's trade deficit by over $4B annually."

TIAC is working through the Government's Federal Tourism Strategy to make Canada a more competitive destination for business and leisure travelers to Canada, specifically looking at measures to make Canada a more competitive host destination for international business and professional meetings and conferences.