On November 1st, TIAC led an industry group in a roundtable discussion at the Parliamentary Tourism Caucus on Parliament Hill. The focus of discussions centered on raising awareness of the economic value of the sector and expanding opportunities for rural tourism.

More than a dozen Members of Parliament and Senators attended the breakfast session, which was chaired by Member of Parliament, Gudie Hutchings.

TIAC led the roundtable discussion and presentations which included our partners from WestJet and the Canadian Federation of Outfitter Associations.

The meeting reinforced the need for federal policies that support tourism growth by addressing:

• Labour shortages;
• Cost competitiveness;
• Additional marketing funding for Destination Canada; and
• Faster & more efficient traveller-focussed security processes.

Detailed recommendations can be found in our pre-budget submission.

Presentations were followed by Parliamentarians engaging in a lively discussion about tourism issues and successes in their ridings. All agreed that tourism is a vital contributor to the economy.