Hot Off the Presses!  Tourism Figuring Prominently in the Media of Late

TIAC has been extremely active in the media this spring.  In case you missed them, here are some of our most recent press clippings:

Global TV News - Tourism Sask. looking to get message beyond Canadian borders – Sara Richter

In 2011 alone, almost 12,000,000 visits were made to and within Saskatchewan. The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), however, says those numbers could be even higher. It is just a matter of getting them to come, but it is hard to do. A recent report from a senate committee showed layers of extra taxes, fees and levies are hurting Canada’s competitiveness when it comes to flying into the country.

Regina Leader-Post – Marketing, access problematic – Bruce Johnstone

Canada's brand as an international tourist destination is one of the best in the world, but the country's tourism industry is being held back by federal budget cuts and expensive air service, says the head of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC).

Regina Leader-Post - There is more to Saskatchewan than potash and agriculture - Terrence McEachern

Pat Fiacco has a message for new visitors to the province: There is more to Saskatchewan than potash and agriculture.  In the last couple of months, Fiacco has been involved in many of these activities while visiting several tourism spots in the province. He said the tourism industry is strong and the experience has opened his eyes to what Saskatchewan has to offer.

Société Radio-Canada Régina, le 11 juin – Émission « Jour de plaine » avec Doris Labrie

L'Association de l'industrie touristique du Canada se réunit à Regina pour faire l'état de l'industrie touristique du Canada. On reçoit le président-directeur-général AITC en studio, M. David Goldstein, pour nous offrir le bilan de la journée.

Winnipeg Free Press, June 11, page B6 - Tours to see Arctic icons up as overall tourism trade rebounds – Murray McNeill

Goldstein said with the U.S. economy finally showing signs of strengthening, one of TIAC's priorities is to convince the federal and provincial governments to boost funding next year for U.S.-specific marketing initiatives.  He said TIAC officials would like to see government and private-sector tourism organizations spend $500 million over the next five years on marketing Canada in the United States.

The National, May 19 – Canadian Tourism Down – Wendy Mesley and Jay Turnbull
Canada is no longer one of the world's top tourist destinations and with Ottawa slashing millions from their budget, tourism chiefs are having to do more with less. [Filmed at Rendez-vous Canada]

The Huffington Post, May 17 – How Can Canada Attract More International Tourists? – Adrian Brijbassi
Goldstein's main criticism is with the cost of air travel, saying the federal government should be working to reduce airfare costs and revamp its aviation cost structure, an area where the nation ranks 136th in the world. He suggests eliminating the value-added tax (VAT) that is charged on airfares, a strategy that has worked for other nations, or re-distributing that tax to tourism agencies. He also wants to see improved air access for emerging markets.

Toronto Star, May 12 – Canada gives up competing for the American tourist – Curtis Rush
"Canada competes in an extremely competitive marketplace, but other destinations are outspending us drastically to attract international visitors," said David Goldstein, President and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.

Vanvouver Sun, May 9 – Canadian government needs to spend more money on tourism – Barbara Yaffe

Many would argue, at a time when other countries, especially the U.S., are boosting marketing budgets, Ottawa should reconsider cuts to Canada’s promotional agency. It also would make sense to reintroduce the GST-rebate program for foreign travellers that was cut in 2007. Foreigners really shouldn’t be paying our domestic sales tax. And Ottawa needs to address costly airline-related fees and taxes that have sent travellers across the border in search of cheaper fares.

Globe and Mail, April 15 – Ottawa urged to end airport rent fees – Steven Chase

“The Tourism Industry Association of Canada backs the recommendation, saying layers of taxes, fees and levies are a drag on Canada's tourism competitiveness. "Airports and air travel should be treated as catalysts of economic activity, not opportune sources of public revenue," said David Goldstein.  He said air travel is hindered by what the industry calls a "club sandwich" of surcharges from security screening levies to air navigation charges and ground rent costs. Canada is the only Group of Eight country that "has moved the entire cost structure of aviation down onto the consumer."

Globe and Mail, April 15 – Letters to the Editor

The temporary foreign worker program plays a key role in fostering an adequate pool of labour in Canada’s tourism industry. More than any other sector, the seasonal nature of business presents a unique challenge in employee recruitment and retention, as workers in the sector face the prospect of being unemployed or underemployed for much of the year.  While misuses of the program must be addressed, an effective temporary foreign workers program is essential to fill short-term labour shortages when Canadians are not available or willing to relocate, particularly since labour shortages are projected to worsen over the next decade.

Ottawa Citizen, March 29 – Wish they were here: If Canada doesn’t revisit its tourism strategies, we’ll continue to miss out on a rapidly expanding international market – Mark Sutcliffe

Instead of viewing airports as generators of economic development, the federal government treats them like cash cows, siphoning money from them and reducing the competitiveness of the industry. […] As a result, flying to Canada is not as affordably priced as our competitors and we’re losing business. That’s just one of a series of concerns that TIAC presented to an all-party committee of MPs on Wednesday.

Charlottetown Guardian, March 7 – Tourism in Canada suffering, say industry representatives – Teresa Wright

Tourism in Canada is suffering due to decreases in government investment and a heavy increase in competition from the United States, according to two of the country’s top tourism organizations.