Tourism Industry Solutions Highlighted in Beyond the Border Working Group Report
Monday, August 29, 2011 — The Beyond the Border Working Group’s report on consultations with Canadians reflects many of the concerns of Canada’s business and leisure travel sector, says the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. The report, released by Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today in Toronto, summarized the views of Canadians on the Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness.
“We’re encouraged to see the progress of this initiative, and pleased to see travel and tourism issues reflected prominently in the report,” said David Goldstein, President and CEO of TIAC. “The tightening of the border over the past decade was to the detriment of tens of thousands of small and medium-sized tourism businesses from coast to coast in Canada, leading to the loss of more than $5 Billion in economic activity and more than 50,000 jobs. But the commendable progress on this file offers hope to Canadians who will benefit from a more rationalized approach to moving visitors across the U.S./Canada frontier.”
TIAC made a joint submission to this process with its American counterpart, the United States Travel Association (U.S. Travel). The organizations noted the need to move from a “less traffic equals less risk” mentality to a risk management framework that enables growth at the same time as it ensures security.
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About the Tourism Industry Association of Canada:
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada is the only national organization representing the full cross-section of Canada's $74 billion tourism industry. TIAC's members include air and passenger rail services, airport authorities, local and provincial destination authorities, hotels, attractions and tour operators.
For more information, please contact:
Kevin Desjardins
Director, Communications
Tourism Industry Association of Canada
Tel.: 613.238.6251
Mobile: 613.240.7225
