Canada facing new challenges in tourism

A roundtable discussion between the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, the Hotel Association of Canada, Air Canada’s rewards miles program Aeroplan and representatives from Best Western International has revealed some new obstacles facing Canadian tourism this year.

A dip in visitors from the US can be fairly easily attributed to the new passport regulations that American citizens have been struggling with for the last few months coupled with the soaring Canadian dollar that is making travel more expensive north of the American border.

It’s the cities that lie close to the US border and are used to a steady influx of Americans in the summer that are feeling the drop in US visitors, but overall this summer has seen the country’s strong economy pull up any slack from any lack of tourists.

TIAC representative Christopher Jones explains: “It’s a mixed bag situation in Canada right now. Border provinces and cities are suffering from a lack of inbound travellers from the United States by car, but the future looks good, especially if we diversify our destination offerings as a country.”

Best Western hotel chain representatives at the meeting reported that their Canadian outlets have been performing at high levels. “Best Western is appreciating its third consecutive record-setting year in Canada, room nights and net reservations were up 15 percent in June,” said Dorothy Dowling, the company’s senior vice president of marketing and sales.

It’s imaginable that once the two currencies settle back in to their regular routines and the Americans seeking passports can get them, that any dips in US tourists will bounce back to usual levels.