Perimeter Action Plan To Facilitate Border Process, Spur Tourism Growth

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 — The Action Plan on Perimeter Security and Economic Competiveness will help facilitate legitimate leisure and business travel between Canada and the United States, and spur economic growth, according to the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.

The announcement, made jointly today in Washington by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama, provides new and tangible initiatives to help create greater alignment and cooperation on border and customs processes. In addition, the agreement will expand on trusted traveller programs and build capacity to help support those programs.

"The initiatives in the Action Plan on Perimeter Security and Economic Competiveness will ease the process of crossing the border for business and leisure travellers alike, bringing more visitors to Canada," said TIAC President and CEO David Goldstein. "This is a smart approach to our joint border, and an opportunity to create long-term economic and jobs growth through Canada's tourism sector."

TIAC recognizes the work of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his cabinet colleagues in helping to move this initiative forward and create greater alignment with Canada's number one inbound tourism market.

"The Action Plan, together with the initiatives set forth in the Federal Tourism Strategy, will help to bring more visitors to Canada, and create greater opportunities for tourism businesses across the country, and more jobs for Canadians," said Goldstein.

Among the key initiatives identified in the Action Plan are:

  • Expansion of trusted traveller programs: Programs such as NEXUS for frequent, low-risk travellers on both sides of the border will be better aligned, and their benefits expanded. The enrolment and renewal processes will also be improved, and a plan for the integration of third-country trusted traveller plans is also being developed. Also, both Canada and the U.S. will undertake an “enrolment blitz” through a joint marketing campaign.
  • Implementation of additional pre-clearance services; including full pre-clearance of passenger rail and cruise ship travellers at Vancouver.
  • Investments in shared border infrastructure: A commitment to a five-year Border Infrastructure Investment Plan, which will expand both physical and technological infrastructure to help facilitate border crossings for travellers. This also includes shared training by both Canada Border Services Agency and Customs and Border Protection to their officers on business traveller issues.

The initiatives announced today echo the recommendations made by TIAC earlier this year in a joint submission with its American counterpart, the United States Travel Association (U.S. Travel) to the Beyond the Border consultations. The initiatives within the Action Plan will be measured and assessed going forward, which will provide for greater understanding of the issues and impediments to the effective movement of people and goods.

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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
Vice-President, Strategy and Public Affairs
Tourism Industry Association of Canada
Tel.:  613.238.6251
Mobile: 613.240.7225