As the National Voice for the Tourism Industry, TIAC has been working since the start of the pandemic elevating the issues, concerns and challenges facing the sector.

 

As you may have seen in the media, our recent efforts are focused on pushing the Federal government to not just plan for reopening but to set a date. We know our industry can't just flick on a switch; you need time to prepare, bring back staff or rehire, market and restock, that is why we are asking for a date.

 

We are keeping abreast of what is happening on The Hill so when the opportunity presents itself we can leverage the moment and insert our foot in the door.

 

The Federal Government set the following conditions for lifting the restrictions at the Canada-US Border:

 

• Vaccines target 75 percent of the total population with a first dose; and,

• 20 percent with two doses before government lifts border restrictions.

 

We hit those targets this past weekend but not before the Federal government once again extended the border closure to July 21.

 

With the Federal government's own imposed targets met, we will start advocating for fluidity in the border closure date of July 21, based on facts and science.

 

We will also take the opportunity to remind the government that their decision to lift most international travel restrictions for Canadians on July 5th will essentially reactivate our travel deficit; once again negatively impacting the sector and Canada's economy.

 

As our efforts continue, we need your help. Please continue to engage by participating in our campaigns, retweeting or commenting on our social media post. We need to keep the pressure on and continue to raise the Visitor Economy profile as a necessary economic engine for Canada.

 

Beth Potter

President & CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Canada

Dear Tourism Stakeholders,

 

The TIAC Team is pleased to provide you with this update on the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, including the steps government is taking to address the situation, as well as highlights of our recent advocacy efforts. We are working hard to make sure the industry’s voice is heard by government, and that you have the information you need to keep your business going in these uncertain times.

 

Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:

We are keeping our foot on the gas with the #OpentheBorder campaign, calling on the federal government to commit to a plan for reopening the Canada-U.S. border. TIAC is engaged in ongoing conversations with PMO, Small Business, Transportation, Immigration, CBSA and Health.

 

The continued pressure is two-fold – ensuring the government commits to a plan to open the border, and ensuring that hardest hit businesses will continue to receive financial support through federal subsidy programs as we move into the summer tourism season with continued restrictions.

Please join us and send a letter of support for this campaign here: www.openuscanborder.ca

Send an email to Madison Simmons, Director of Government Affairs at TIAC at msimmons@tiac-aitc.ca if you would like your organization’s logo to be featured on the microsite in support of this campaign.

 

Our members are our priority. Please reach out with any comments or questions on advocacy initiatives to beth@tiac-aitc.ca

Tourism Town Halls allow tourism operators to provide first-hand input on issues affecting their business and the tourism industry in this time of COVID and provide feedback on government policy for the recovery and rebuilding of our sector. They also provide a front-line forum exposure for governments, TIAC, Destination Canada and event sponsors to collaborate with small and medium-sized tourism business operators.

 

 

Register to attend a Tourism Town Hall by clicking here.