Statistics Canada International Travel Data Shows Growth From Most Markets
In the February 17, 2011 edition of The Daily, Statistics Canada released international travel numbers for December, as well as the preliminary numbers for the full twelve months of 2010.
The total number of international overnight visits to Canada increased by 2.0% in 2010. This includes a 1.0% increase from the U.S., while visitation from all other countries was up 6.8% for the year. Visits of one or more nights from the U.S. increased by 0.7% in 2010.
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Amongst international markets, the initial numbers indicate that Canada saw gains from many European countries for the year, including France (+7.0%), Germany (+7.3%), Sweden (+19%), and the U.K (+0.4%).
Canada also showed growth in Asia, including a 20.4% increase in visitors from China. Important gains were also seen in India (+18.5%), Japan (+18.2%) and South Korea (+17.9%).
From the emerging South American markets, Canada saw an increase of 17.1%, including 29.8% growth from Brazil, while visitation from Australia increased by 14%.
For more information, please see Statistics Canada’s International Travel: Advance Information service bulletin for December 2010.
For more information, please contact Catherine Sadler, TIAC Manager, Research at 
or 613-238-6378.
TIAC Welcomes Canada-U.S. Cooperation on Border Policies
On February 4th, 2011, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama announced a joint review of current border policies and procedures at our shared borders.
The Declaration on a Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness aims to harmonize policy on both sides of the border, ultimately to allow for freer mobility of travellers and goods between the two countries.
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The Tourism Industry Association of Canada supports this initiative. While a great deal of focus has historically been on the movement of goods across the border, the thickening of the border since 9/11 has had a significant impact on our $74 billion dollar travel and tourism industry.
Although TIAC has appreciated the need to address security concerns, the impact of these additional document requirements and the ensuing congestion at the border have been the biggest contributors to Canada’s tourism declines.
“Tourism is one of Canada’s key exports industries, and one with incredible upside,” said TIAC President and CEO David Goldstein. “A smarter, more open approach to moving travellers across our shared border would be a significant step towards bringing back millions of American travellers and fuelling Canada’s economic recovery.”
Canada has significant opportunities to attract new visitors from around the world. But the fact remains that 83% of international tourists who come to Canada, visit our country and spend in our communities come from the United States.
The creation of a more harmonized and coherent border-crossing system between the countries will create greater opportunities for leisure, business and meetings travel from the U.S., and will result in tens of thousands of new jobs and support thousands of small and medium-sized businesses across the country.
For more information, please contact: Kevin Desjardins, TIAC's Director, Communications at 
or 613-240-7225.
Tourism Industry Welcomes New Traveller-Friendly Screening Initiatives
On February 3rd, 2011, The Hon. Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transport), announced changes to airport screening that will increase convenience for the travelling public while maintaining a consistently high level of security.
The initiatives, the result of a review of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, will provide new lines for trusted travellers and families at screening points, and will alleviate the waits and irritations for trusted, frequent business travellers and families on leisure trips.
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Canada’s tourism industry saluted the announcement in a press release on Feb. 3rd.
“These changes at airport security checkpoints will help to speed up the screening process, and will make the traveling experience more efficient for Canadians and our international visitors,” said David Goldstein, President and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.
“We’re pleased to see Transport Canada and CATSA work together to help modernize the security process by balancing aviation security with convenience for the traveling public.”
For more information, please contact: Kevin Desjardins, TIAC's Director, Communications at or 613-240-7225.
New Provisions in Credit & Debit Card Code of Conduct Take Effect Feb. 17
On February 17, 2011, element 1 of the voluntary Code of Conduct for the Credit and Debit Card Industry in Canada will come into effect. This element requires increased transparency and disclosure by payment card networks and their payment processors.
TIAC worked as a member of the Payments Accountability Council to address the rising costs of processing fees on our members.
The voluntary Code of Conduct was announced last April by federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.
Under the new provisions taking effect today, merchants should see some changes to the information they receive.
- Payment card networks will make all interchange rates applicable to their products and any upcoming changes to these fees easily available on their web sites.
- Merchant statements from their acquirers will include the following information presented in a clear and simple manner:
- Effective merchant discount rate for each type of payment card from a payment card network;
- Interchange rates and any other rates that acquirers charge the merchant;
- The number and volume of transactions for each type of payment transaction;
- The total amount of fees applicable to each rate;
- Details of each fee, including the payment card network to which they relate
More information on the Code of Conduct for the Credit and Debit Card Industry in Canada, including how to resolve disputes, how the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) is monitoring the Code and how merchants can pursue recourse can be found on the FCAC web site in the FCAC News section at www.fcac.gc.ca.
Leading tourism and technology experts and innovators assemble in Toronto for Canada-e-Connect
After three productive days of networking, panel discussions and presentations, Canada-e-Connect, Canadian tourism’s premier online strategy conference has once again drawn to a close.
Presented by the Toronto Star and in association with PhoCusWright, Canada-e-Connect is TIAC’s strategic look at the latest online trends, tools and technology that can help catalyze growth in the tourism sector. In three short years, this annual event has quickly become a hit among web aficionados and marketers in the travel industry.
Troy Thompson, a CeC presenter/moderator and the President of Travel 2.0 Consulting recently summed up the event in his blog posting, 5 Take Aways from Canada-e-Connect.
“Luckily the conference did not disappoint... Without hesitation, one of the top two digital tourism conferences I have attended,” Thompson wrote. “I was very impressed at the perspective and approach that the majority of my #CeC2011 peers were taking in terms of social media marketing.”
For the full recap, visit http://travel2dot0.com/2011/02/5-aways-canadaeconnect/.
Canada’s Tourism Voice Strengthens with Addition of New Members
TIAC is pleased to welcome Royal Canadian Pacific and the Ottawa-Gatineau Hotel Association (OGHA).
The Ottawa-Gatineau Hotel Association is an association of hoteliers in the Ottawa Gatineau region dedicated to enhancing industry profile, service excellence and tourism growth. Currently, OGHA has 57 member including all the leading hotels, suite hotels and motels with 50 or more guest rooms in Ottawa and Gatineau.
OGHA members own and/or manage over 10,500 guest rooms, 300,000 square feet of meeting space, restaurants and employ over 6,000 people. A voluntary 13 member Board of Directors that is elected by the membership governs OGHA.
Although made up of competing hotels, OGHA members work together on issues of public policy, membership services and charitable events to increase the profile and prosperity of the members. Executive Director, Dick Brown and a part-time administrator are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the OGHA.
Visit them at www.ogha.ca.
Royal Canadian Pacific is a luxury rail tour train based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and offering rail experience through the Canadian Rockies.
The Royal Canadian Pacific was established in 2000 utilizing Canadian Pacific Railway business cars from the early 20th century. The Royal Canadian Pacific consists of 10 Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) 1920’s era business cars coupled to two 1950’s locomotives all of which have been restored to their original splendor.
Period furniture, silver settings, brass accents, walnut paneling and open vestibules are the pinnacle of a bygone tradition of elegance. Subtly add modern amenities the discerning traveler would expect, complimented by gourmet cuisine, fine wines along with unsurpassed hospitality and you are presented with the Royal Canadian Pacific.
Royalty, presidents, prime ministers and present day celebrities have all traveled on board the Royal Canadian Pacific business cars. The Royal Canadian Pacific travels over 35,000 miles on Canadian Pacific track each year.
Visit them at www.royalcanadianpacific.com.