One of the great things about being Canadian is that our nation is home to some of the most beautiful and inspiring natural landscapes in the world. There are therefore few industries more vital to Canada’s long-term economic success than tourism.
In 2011 alone, tourism fostered over 600,000 direct jobs and supported 1.6 million jobs nationally—that’s almost 10 per cent of all jobs in Canada. Tourism generated $78.8 billion in economic activity and represented more of our GDP than agriculture, forestry and fisheries combined. Even more encouraging, the size of the international tourism pie is getting bigger every year, with the number of global tourists to hit one billion this year and worth over $1 trillion.
But despite the good news, Canada’s share of the international tourism market is declining. Between 2002 and 2011, almost all countries posted gains in international arrivals—except Canada. Although our “brand name” is still ranked number one in the world, we have plummeted from 7th to 18th in actual choice of destination over the past decade. And sadly, this decline is entirely the fault of failed government policies.
For example, internationally, Canada’s tourism is promoted by our national marketing organization, the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC). Yet while other countries are investing aggressively in tourism marketing to better compete for international visitors, Canada has just removed one-fifth of the CTC’s core funding. In fact, the CTC’s total budget will be a mere $58 million in 2013/14, a 41.5 per cent plunge in the past decade.
Already, we are seeing the devastating effect of declining federal investment in Canada’s tourism sector. Fewer Americans—our traditional “go to” market—are visiting Canada, and travellers from emerging economies like Brazil, Russia, India, China and Mexico are increasingly choosing to spend their dollars elsewhere.
Another example of this mismanagement can be seen in Canada’s national parks, which add $3 billion to our economy and create the equivalent of 41,000 jobs in our communities. Yet the Conservatives have slashed millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs from Parks Canada, which means shorter seasons, limited hours, and fewer customers for local small businesses—the shops, restaurants, motels, and tourist services that depend on visitors to National Parks.
At the same time, the government’s short-sighted policies have caused Canada’s ‘travel deficit’ to climb to $14 billion annually. This has occurred precisely because the Conservatives have passed up repeated chances to showcase Canada to the world.
To capitalize on the growth of the international tourism market, we need a strong national marketing organization, a strong international presence to revitalize Canada’s reputation as a world-class destination, and federal government policies that help, rather than hinder, the efforts of this industry.
Tourism in Canada is big business—powered by local entrepreneurs. It is time the federal government recognizes the great importance of our small business and tourist industries to Canada’s economic and cultural prosperity – and acts!
Joyce Murray
MP, Vancouver Quadra
Liberal Critic responsible for Small Business and Tourism, Asia – Pacific Gateway and Western Economic Diversification
A great post from Joyce Murray.
Being in the adult business training industry for over 10 years, I had the privilege of traveling throughout our great Canada from coast to coast. Each part visited had/has a very unique joy to experience. That feeling of collectivity that binds us as Canadians was always present and ever strengthening my pride for our country.
In addition to encouraging the rest of the world to visit us, I strongly believe the federal government can play a role in also encouraging Canadians to vacation in other provinces other than their own. This would not only further support our own economy but it would also strengthen our national unity.
I always thought what a shame it was that the majority of Canadians actually vacationed on a North/South route to other countries more than on an East/West/North route visiting sister provinces and northern territories.
Why not offer each Adult Canadian citizen a one time tax deductible vacation for each province and territory. This would encourage at least 12 inter-provincial vacations per Canadian. What would that do to our tourist industry, let alone our Canadian Unity?
Bruno:
This would help to kickstart a very important segment of our society as well as our economy. Unfortunately I do not see the Conservatives even heading in that direction as any tax dollars lost take precedence over everything. They seem to care less about Tourism which was almost ten percent of our economy. They seem not to realize that to get more tax dollars it requires more tourists and not being represented for Expo 2012 will mean even less to support their MP wants and desires.
Excellent idea Bruno!
While tax breaks are tempting to get I think spending targets can specifically achieve what you want to fulfil your objectives.
Joice: The question I have is why insert government into tourism business? Why don’t the businesses collectively band together and do something towards the goal of drumming up foreign tourism business?
Governments usually lack business senes of any kind other than throw money at it approach where you are not accountable for the spending in achieving results that we want.
I say let the businesses develop their own strategies. They can claim such effort as a business expense.
Ah! Ha! A tourism cooperative!
Famous words liberals like to bandy about!
Hello Joyce you listening? ;)
Keshav:
As a business owner, I understand your suggestion that if it’s good for business let business pay for it. I also think you’ll find that many in the tourist industry already combine some resources in helping attract customers, be it through association, alliance marketing etc…
That said, I think you are forgetting that Canada’s climate vs. other tourist choices, can use a boost. There is a reason people and birds flock south and that is reality.
The attraction of new Canadian to visit the homeland before exploring the new land also can use a “Canada First” boost as well…The non-economic benefits of newcomers exploring their new homeland are numerous….
In addition, we Canadians benefit when tourism dollars either enter the country or stay in the country through the collection of various taxes, therefore we have a direct financial stake in the industry’s overall success and as stakeholders, maybe we, the people, meaning the federal government, should do our part.
As I mentioned in my comments above, I think tourism is more than just business; it’s about National Unity, and given Mr. Harper’s decentralizing agenda, we the Liberal’s should call him out and give Canadians a positive alternative in an area where I think the Federal Government does belong.
Lastly, I am curious as to why you would have to prompt Joyce to listen?
Bruno:
Yes, sometimes I get the feeling that politicians post their thing but never bother to give a feedback. So I try to prompt them!
My numerous statements to Ontario liberals over the years have gone unanswered completely. It was a frustrating experience. It is like talking to deaf walls! They come get your vote and go away. And we never hear from them again.
I want to know why Joyce chose what she said. Were she to answer then one has an answer and understanding of how, why etc.
Providing my perspective also has meant that I am fed up with governments trying to do everything at great costs to the tax payers with poor results, and lot of money wasted.
I have traveled across Canada. I love British Columbia. I have been to east coast as well. Yes, I have thought of traveling north but the region is infested with big black flies and mosquitoes. I don’t know if they carry west nile.
Liberals speak as if we have lot of money in our banks. The treasury is brimming with dollars. The situation is we are in a serious deficit. Yes, keynsian thinking has been over applied in my mind and we cannot just keep extending it and live of unfettered borrowing from the future income with hopes for good results without accountability.
Can Joyce show a tangible result that might come out of her proposed initiative?
Other than it is a feel good kind of policy with which we can all relate to?
I am looking for answers. Look at where McGuinty is now. No one spoke up and he kept going in the direction without checks where he has got himself into a hole which is inevitably going to lead us into another election in Ontario.
It is not looking good for the liberals.
Keshav…
Your passion gives me great LIBERAL Party Of CANADA pride !!!
Great to see and more importantly some very good points, especially about feedback from the posters….
The less you say, the less can come back to haunt you come election time.
I agree with you that it is time to change this “staged politics” approach
That said, as of now, I give a big benefit of the doubt to the Federal Liberals which this site represents. We are not the Ontario Provincial Liberals, I hope, or you would not find me here.
I live in Ontario and feel your pain.
I fully agree with you that Mr. McGuinty has not done the brand any favours.
The cowardly way he quit will be his legacy, “I came, I saw, I fumbled, I quit, I take my ball and go home”.
I don’t think his current actions represents what the LP of Canada stands for.
If I gave that example to my family, team, or party I would expect them to hide their heads in brown paper bags.
Maybe it’s an opportunity for this party to clearly separate itself from the co-habitation with any provincial political party in any province, and truly represent CANADA, not just region(s).
After all, I think a big opportunity in Canada’s political development as a nation, is stopping the overlapping of Provincial & Federal responsibilities.
Unclear accountability creates confusion which is welcomed by poor leaders because they can point fingers….but I digress!
I wish that governments better managed resources, but that is a serious problem. Can we be more efficient in delivering goods the public wants? That is where my cynicism comes from.
I don’t think the politicians pay any attention to good management of public monies in the administrative side of things. Just think of cancellation of hydro power plants. Just think of the ambulance fiasco. Just think of the ehealth fisco. This is what is visible to the public but then there are things which are not but billions are wasted unknown to the public.
Now can Joyce and her political cohorts try to manage efficiently the programs they want to implement? That is where I have a serious issue. I don’t know. I don’t particularly trust it. Have they managed businesses before to appreciate how money is earned and how it is spent?
I wish the liberal politicians had experience managing businesses to understand the management function.
Money is the easiest thing to spend. You and I both know about it too well.
Politicians trust their managers in bureaucracy a bit too much. Can Justin Trudeau even think of it? Can Joyce think of it?
Unless politicians have run and managed a business they have no clue how to run and manage an organization without wasting money as every penny counts.
I am sorry but I think we could do more with less money.
Conservatives from what I see on the board have skipped out of Expo 2012 in Korea is it? That is very bad. I am not sure why they would not want to do it?
That might be worth criticizing. They don’t seem to care about Ontario and B.C economies including eastern Canada. That was one spot to sell Canada efficiently to the world when everyone is visiting the place looking for opportunities. But then Provinces could have stepped into that role. It is called downloading! ;)
I totally agree with Mrs.Murray, tourism creates interest in a country that brings interest for business purposes in a country such as Canada.As well if a 15 year can see that tourism is a very important component in our economy and a bunch of conservative adults can’t…well we know that there’s a problem. And not only that it creates interest to develop the economy but tourism raises the value of our dollar. In conclusion the government should encourage tourism and trade to be done with Canada throughout the world to improve this beautiful country of ours!
I understand the importance of tourism to the Canadian economy, both domestic and foreign tourism. I also see the uniqueness of Canada’s enviromental heritage for site seeing, extreme vacationing and eco-tourism. However, a big part of what has made this country what it is has been centuries of human activity that is not properly promoted by our schools, our film and television industry or our governments. I applaud the current government’s efforts to promote the anniversary of the War of 1812! I applaud efforts of our entertainment industry to tell our stories to Canadians and the world over the last few decades, with the support of government funding! My concern is that too much emphasis has been placed on the stories of new Canadians and their experience without any effort to tell the stories of past generations that built this country and defended it over the centuries. Many Canadians and many foreign travellers don’t realize that this country has experienced as much ACTION as any other and that can attract tourist dollars as well as promote national pride. Lets promote the 175th anniversary of the Rebbellion of 1837 and what democratic milestones where enjoyed around the world as a result of that struggle, for instance.
This is a very interesting conversation. I didn’t know that Canada had turned down EXPO 2012 and I agreee that is a very short-sighted move, even though I understand the need to reduce our deficit. Asian tourism would help a lot with deficit reduction and should be encouraged. South Korea is an important country for many reasons and our ties there and throughout the region must be encouraged.
And I like the idea of celebrating the Rebellion of 1837 so that Canadians can learn that it happened not only in Quebec; here it is used to promote separation!!
Eunice de Gruchy
Chateauguay, Quebec
Hey! Was that rebellion not associated with William Lyons McKenzie King? The march started in East Gwillimbury and proceded towards Toronto and there was a skirmish at Thornhill or some such thing? It was armed but concealed in the carts? I can’t remember all the details.
I think it is good idea to teach history in schools. Immigrant children and local children all alike. I agree with that comment. They also should teach the ever enduring feats of the pioneers who built this country. That is very critical. We should also speak about the natives and their componenent of the involvement in the wars etc.
Hey Canada be recognized and let us recognize as to who we are!
Canada is ‘alittle’ more than Toronto Stock Exchange, government deficits, and our teachers unions who love to make money by rigging strikes and work to rule campaigns!
Hey I love the TSX.
Sorry I had to add a few comments to top it up! ;)
Joyce,
Tourism is a very important item, not only for our economy but also for our brand “CANADA”. It is quite important that others outside Canada know who we are, why we consider it to be the best and visit us, then go home with favourable views. That is lacking today, others now have more negative thoughts, be it the tar sands or even climate change or whatever. The Liberal Party has to change those views. That is why I had originally approached the Conservative Government to determine if it was feasible to build an Ocean Port in the James Bay area for Tourism and even for cargo ships to unload goods destined to the largest buying population in the world. Positive reactions were generally made, however suddenly no further contact. Is this item worth review by the Liberal Party? Climate change is opening up our Arctic waters and gives us the opportunity to show others a new, revitalized Canada with a Liberal Party making that happen.
Refer to http://ontario-politics.blogspot.ca
Watching debate today in the house I heard an interesting tidbit concerning tourism.It seems in C45 ,the newest BIB,all tourists coming from outside the country will have to fill out a questionnaire before getting their visa and Mr.Kenney will issue the approval or not depending on the answers.If that doesn’t kill what is left of our tourism industry I don’t know what will.People will be required to carry this piece of paper with them at all times upon entering the country.Passports and visas will no longer suffice. I expect there will be some sort of reciprocal action from many other countries and a big question is what about businessmen and women who travel back and forth between North America and Europe and Canada and our new best friends the Asian Pacific region.Will they be exempt?
What is the purpose of the questionnaire? If it is intended to keep the terrorists out then it is fine. My own thoughts are they can easily cough up false or misleading answers to obscure their intent.
I am seriously concerned abut how governments control people. Soon enough you will have to prove that you are a nobody with no nothing that is against you. They have already placed controls over the money you can move across from one country to another. They want to be sure you are not money laundering. Then they want to make sure there are no drugs involved. They want to make sure that you are not evading taxes. They want to make sure that you are not evading authorities. They want to make sure you are not moving wealth out of the country. They want to make sure that you are not having any kind of family obligation that you intend to evade or escape.
Soon enough we will not be able to breath free! Citizens will be treated like the cows or kettle who are stamped on their foreheads and given a serial number with a GPS to track your whereabouts at all times!
I think it will come down to over government just in order to catch some bad apples. It is a classic case of government making work for itself to perpetuate itself and promoting its business which is highly profitable.
More government, more taxation more waste and misappropriation of tax payers money. It is assumed that bureaucracies are a noble race and members of public are problematic things or chattels of the state.
We are losing our liberties. Lierals are a part of the problem.
That is why I asked the first question. Why can’t private companies on their own do a collective tourism business rather than government spreading its tentacles into everyting and every aspect of our lives.
Hello politician: Keep the government small and keep your hand out of my pocket. Don’t be a pick pocket!
You see where I am coming from.
Politicians are becoming con artists to perpetuate their business called big government to live of the tax payers. ;)
How do we keep these refuge terrorists in their own homelands? Oh! But wait! Aren’t we are liberals!
;)