It’s high time the federal government puts its words into action and delivers urgent sector-specific support to Canada’s tourism industry, says TIAC, the national private-sector advocate for the industry in this country.
Specifically, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada is asking the federal government for investments and commitments to be included in its upcoming federal budget.
Among them:
• A tax incentive to Canadians for the 2021/22 tax years to travel locally or within Canada
• The development of a Business Events and Recovery funding program
• Top-up funding for Destination Canada to keep Canadian destinations top of mind, to support Destination Marketing Organizations and to entice the return of high-value travellers
• The reinstatement of the visitor GST rebate program for international visitors
• The re-introduction of the federally funded Marquee Tourism Events Program
• Support for the tourism labour market and capacity building projects
“We have seen the commitment from the government in the Speech from the Throne and the Fall Economic Statement. But we need to see action and investment in measures to support the rebuilding of our sector,” says the association’s newly appointed president and CEO Beth Potter.
“The health and safety of Canadians are paramount to our sector – what we are asking for is the ability to plan for our future,” she adds. “We need the federal government to commit to criteria and set some specific goalposts on international and inter-provincial border re-openings. It is unsustainable for our businesses to operate on a month-to-month basis with no ability to forecast.”
TIAC recently released its own 2021 Tourism Recovery Plan, developed by an Industry Recovery group of tourism leaders from across the country, representing all sectors of the tourism economy.
Last week, Potter presented the plan to the Standing Committee on Finance, outlining the recommendations and stating, “It is imperative that we see targeted investment in the upcoming budget. We are here today, over a year into the pandemic, the visitor economy is still in crisis, and yet, we are still waiting on a sector-specific support package.”
Prior to COVID-19, tourism was one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The tourism sector in Canada was the fifth largest, responsible for 10 percent of Canadian jobs, $105 billion in revenues and 2.3 percent of GDP.
Since the start of the pandemic, the tourism economy in Canada has lost over half a million jobs, and unemployment in the sector has surpassed the national unemployment rate, according to a recent report by Destination Canada.
Potter says, “We applaud the government on its swift actions and support programs like CEWS that have helped many Canadians, including many of our businesses. But the reality is that the recovery of our sector will depend on lifting travel restrictions. We need to use current science-based data, and effective testing and contact tracing, to commit to criteria on border opening. We need federal guidance on a policy roadmap… We are asking for support to allow the sector to survive.”
TIAC is also calling for members of the travel and tourism industry to write to their MPs in support of its advocacy efforts and recovery plan. You can do so HERE.