The National Travel and Tourism Coalition: It's Time to Engage with Government

Thursday, June 4, 2009 -

OTTAWA, June 4, 2009 –  A broad and unprecedented coalition of Canadian travel and tourism sector organizations are calling on lawmakers today to recognize the many significant challenges facing the industry. Marking “Travel and Tourism Day on the Hill”, the National Travel and Tourism Coalition (NTCC) is urging the government to establish a joint task force to consider critical issues of public policy affecting the sector in Canada.

Converging on Parliament Hill, the partner organisations of the NTCC will underscore to government the critical role of the travel and tourism sector as an economic and social enabler that:

• Generates $74.9 billion in annual GDP ;
• Represents almost 1.7 million jobs nationally employed in the travel and tourism sector;
• Brings millions of foreign tourists to Canada each year and serves hundreds of destinations by air both domestically and to points on five continents worldwide;
• Represents $18.8 billion in national accommodation revenue
• Contributes $19.7 billion in tax revenues for all levels of government

Faced with daunting challenges such as a decline in Canada’s share of worldwide travel and tourism activity, regressive fiscal policies, a multitude of user fees, charges, and a global recession, Canada’s travel and tourism sector seeks to engage with government to develop a new approach to tourism-related policy that can maximize Canada’s potential. In this spirit, on June 4th, the National Travel and Tourism Coalition will emphasize the following objectives with parliamentarians and government officials:

• The Federal Government needs to recognize that air transport is an enabler and driver of the economic prosperity of Canada.
• A strategic plan and policy framework should be developed that will enhance the global competitiveness of Canada’s aviation and tourism industries.
• The Federal Government should be proactive and diligent in negotiating mutually beneficial liberalized bilateral air transport agreements, as per the existing Blue Sky policy framework.

With a membership that includes national airlines, airports, tourism and hospitality service providers, the National Travel and Tourism Coalition aims to work together with the government to develop a stronger, more competitive and world-class travel and tourism industry in Canada.

The members of the coalition include the Canadian Airports Council, the Canadian Association of Tour Operators, the Hotel Association of Canada, the International Air Transport Association, the National Airlines Council of Canada, and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.