Federal minister unveils new tourism strategy at Niagara Falls

Flanked by St. Catharines MP Chris Bittle and Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey, Federal Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault stopped at Table Rock Centre in Niagara Falls yesterday (July 4) to announce a major tourism initiative coming from Ottawa.

The federal government’s new tourism growth strategy, named “Canada 365: Welcoming The World. Every Day” aims to build back this once $105 billion industry and solidify Canada’s position as a top global destination.

“Now is the time to come together and combine forces — across all orders of government and throughout the industry—to power the economic engine that is tourism,” said Boissonnault.

“With the new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy, we will build on our strengths and propel the sector to new heights. Canada has what the world wants, and we look forward to welcoming visitors, 365 days a year.”

In a separate release, that announcement came as music to the ears of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC).

“TIAC and our industry partners are incredibility grateful for the thought and consultation that went into this new strategy,” says TIAC’s President and CEO Beth Potter, “which, along with the financial support recently announced in the Federal Budget, will help bolster tourism activity in local communities; assist in attracting major international conventions, conferences, and events to Canada; and support the modernization and development of new, more competitive, tourism assets including the growth of Indigenous experiences, for both Canadian and world travellers to discover.”

Boissonnault believes the new initiative will achieve significant growth in the industry by investing in the country’s tourism assets, embracing recreation and the great outdoors, partnering to grow indigenous tourism, attracting more events and improving coordination through a federal ministerial council.