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- 18 Jul 2024 by Andrew Siegwart
- 11 Jul 2024 by Jessica Ng
With the ongoing LCBO strike, TIAO is currently conducting a short survey to gauge the impacts of the strike on TIAO members. If you haven’t completed the survey yet, now is your last chance – click here to access it. The survey closes tomorrow, Friday July 12 at 11:59pm.
Early data from our survey shows that:
- The LCBO strike is impacting the operations of one-third of respondents. Half of respondents in food and beverage and festival and events sectors have reported impacts to their operations.
- Common challenges reported include: product availability, restocking capacity (for larger operators and also for small operators unable to order large wholesale quantities), impacts to visitor experience, and issues using the LCBO’s wholesale portal.
- While breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries are experiencing an uptick in direct retail sales, they are also losing sales through their LCBO channels.
Supply chain disruptions resulting from the LCBO strike are already impacting operators, particularly small tourism and hospitality businesses already facing rising operational costs and labour shortages. With the summer season being a peak month of visitation for our industry, we are concerned about worsening impacts.
TIAO urges the LCBO, the provincial government, and striking workers to continue negotiating to reach a swift resolution.
Jessica Ng
Director, Policy & Government Affairs
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
- 27 Jun 2024 by Jessica Ng
Hello!
TIAO’s AGM took place virtually yesterday – it was a great opportunity for the TIAO team and our board to connect with many of our members, reflect on a very busy past year in tourism advocacy, and look ahead to TIAO’s 2024 priorities.
In other tourism news, the issue of visa approvals for Canada has once again made headlines, with Calgary missing out on hosting a major international health conference due to visa processing delays.
Meetings Mean Business Canada (MMBC) and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) are seeking input from stakeholders to address the issue of delayed visa approvals. Please respond to Minto Schneider (Board Chair, MMBC) at minto@interoceaninc.ca and cc jng@tiaontario.ca with any feedback to the following:
- Are you aware of any conference/convention bids that were lost due to the length of time it takes for visas to be approved?
- Are you aware of any conference/conventions that were definite that were cancelled due to the time it takes for visas to be approved?
- Do you have any numbers related to attrition because of the visa approval process (either not approved or approved too late for the delegate to make travel arrangements)?
Thank you in advance for taking the time to respond – any information would be appreciated and will be used to determine next steps with TIAC and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca.
Jessica Ng
Director, Policy & Government Affairs
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario - 20 Jun 2024 by Andrew Siegwart
TIAO's leadership team met this week with Tourism Windsor Essex Peele Island and its regional municipal administrators and community leaders to discuss strategic municipal and industry collaboration as well as opportunities that lie ahead for Ontario's tourism industry.
(Photo: Gordon Orr, CEO, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island; Town of LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche, ,Chair of Board of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island; Carol Greenwood, TIAO; Dr. Jessica Ng, TIAO, Essex County Warden and Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald; Andrew Siegwart, TIAO)
TIAO's Team frequently works with our Regional Tourism or Destination Marketing Members to provide presentations and consultation with local municipalities. Please reach out to us if we can assist in your community!
We're inviting TIAO Members to register for TIAO's upcoming Annual General Meeting. Register to join us virtually on June 26th, 2024 for TIAO's Annual General Meeting here. Links and relevant documents will follow by email after registration.
Andrew Siegwart
President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario - 13 Jun 2024 by Jessica Ng
Late last week, the Province announced a substantial cabinet shuffle, along with the creation of some new positions. In the wake of the cabinet shuffle, TIAO welcomes the Honourable Stan Cho to the tourism portfolio as Ontario’s new Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming! We will be meeting with Minister Cho in the coming weeks and look forward to working with him and his team to advance the growth potential and sustainability of the tourism industry.
We thank Minister Lumsden and his team for their leadership and collaboration over the past two years, and we congratulate him on his new portfolio as Minister of Sport. We also congratulate the Honourable Sam Oosterhoff, who has moved from the tourism portfolio and has been appointed Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries as part of the Ministry of Energy and Electrification.
Other notable changes to the Cabinet include:
- Rob Flack becomes Minister of Farming, Agriculture and Agribusiness
- Stephen Lecce becomes Minister of Energy and Electrification
- Todd Smith becomes Minister of Education
- Vijay Thanigasalam becomes Associate Minister of Housing as part of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
- Greg Rickford becomes Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and remains Minister of Northern Development
We are in the process of reaching out to Ministers as they settle into their new portfolios and have requested to meet at their earliest convenience. Stay tuned for updates.
Jessica Ng
Director of Policy and Government Affairs
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario - 06 Jun 2024 by Andrew Siegwart
Did you know?
More than 90% of Ontario’s tourism operators are small, local, sole proprietors - and they face considerable challenges in our current economy. These issues include inflationary pressure on all business costs, slow return of inbound international and business travel, cautious domestic travelers, a labour shortage that is slowing growth & productivity, and persistent high & expensive debt levels.
Earlier this week, I was at Queen's Park on behalf of TIAO to show our support for an important new Private Members Bill that would provide financial relief for small tourism businesses across Ontario.
Private Members Bill 195, tabled by MPP Stephanie Bowman would provide meaningful tax reductions to small tourism businesses & enable them to make critical investments in their teams and operations in order to grow their businesses and Ontario’s visitor economy.
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario joins Canadian Federation of Independent Business to call on all MPPs & Parties to support their small business constituents & this Bill. Click here to read CFIB’s letter to Min Bethlenfalvy, sent earlier this week, calling for swift passage and all-party support.
Thank you for your continued support. As always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send us an email at info@tiaontario.ca.
Sincerely,
Andrew Siegwart
President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario - 30 May 2024 by Andrew Siegwart
Municipalities in Ontario are on the front lines dealing with pressing community and economic issues like attainable housing, workforce development, transportation access, community safety, destination management, raising revenues from a limited number of tools such as accommodation taxes, and more.
This is why TIAO’s advocacy team is preparing now to represent the industry’s needs at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference taking place on August 18-24, 2024 in Ottawa.
TIAO will bring together a powerhouse delegation of regional and sectoral tourism industry advocates as well as economic development leaders to make sure the voice of tourism is heard. During the event, the tourism delegation will meet with more than a dozen Ontario Ministers and their teams to advocate for: investments in local market recovery and growth, enabling infrastructure, healthy labour markets, and collaborative, data-driven decision making!
Please reach out to me directly at asiegwart@tiaontario.ca with any issues you feel need to be brought forward during this year’s AMO Conference.
We still have room for two more Members to join TIAO’s AMO delegation. If interested, please reach out to Carol Greenwood at cgreenwood@tiaontario.ca.
Sincerely,
Andrew Siegwart
President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario - 29 May 2024 by Andrew Siegwart
Summer 2024 is fast approaching, and TIAO is excited to host the Tourism Opportunities Forum in partnership with Globe and Mail and sponsored by EpiQ AV!
This event is designed to help our members grow their businesses this season by expanding markets and building strong teams.
Morning Workforce Sessions:
- Get the latest data, insights, and predictions on the tourism labour market and learn how to attract and retain top talent with Adam Morrison, President & CEO of OTEC.
- Hear from a panel of operators sharing workplace best practices in action, providing you with valuable strategies to implement in your own business.
Afternoon Market Development Sessions:
- Discover Destination Ontario's strategic plan to boost tourism economic performance this year. Vincenza Ronaldi, President & CEO of Destination Ontario, will offer insights on market trends, data-driven strategies, and collaboration opportunities.
- Learn how destination marketing is evolving with technologies like Artificial Intelligence. Jessica Robinson, Content Manager at Globe Content Studio, will explore digital strategies to grow your market share within Canada.
Event Details:
- Date: Monday, June 3
- Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Location: The Globe and Mail Centre, Toronto
Space is limited, so sign up ASAP to join your TIAO community for a day filled with valuable insights and collaboration opportunities.
Sincerely,
Andrew Siegwart
President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario - 16 May 2024 by Jessica Ng
It’s been another busy week at TIAO as we head into the Victoria Day long weekend. This past week:
- TIAO was at the Ontario Snow Resorts Association (OSRA)’s 60th AGM Conference and Trade Show, with our own Carol Greenwood (VP, Operations & Partnerships) leading a tourism panel featuring Destination Northern Ontario, RTO7, RTO4, and Discover Muskoka.
- Andrew Siegwart was in Edmonton this week attending Rendez-vous Canada (RVC), the largest tourism trade show in the country.
- And TIAO is continuing to work with Kingston partners, affected operators, government partners, and elected officials on the LaSalle Causeway closure, which is resulting in significant disruptions and revenue losses for Kingston’s summer tourism season. Read more below for the latest updates and for a joint letter from opposition critics in support of TIAO and industry advocacy.
Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca.
Dr. Jessica Ng, PhD
Director, Policy & Government Affairs
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario - 02 May 2024 by Andrew Siegwart
As the industry gears up for the critical peak season ahead, TIAO has been laser-focused on two key areas crucial for a robust 2024 and ongoing economic rebound: workforce development and transportation infrastructure.
Recently, the tourism sector faced significant setbacks with reductions in Skills Development Fund (SDF) projects, impacting training and recruitment efforts province-wide. We swiftly collaborated with Tourism SkillsNet Ontario (TSNO) partners to evaluate the immediate and long-term effects, given federal policy changes affecting international students and workers. Our joint letter to Hon. David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development, urges urgent action to support tourism workforce and business capacity. Read our letter here.
In addition, we hosted an open meeting to gather Member feedback on critical transportation services. Key findings reveal substantial gaps hindering growth, including reduced air service, underutilized commuter services, labor shortages, and integration challenges among transportation modes. TIAO will leverage this input to drive targeted advocacy efforts for improved transportation connectivity across Ontario. Meanwhile, we continue to advocate for enhanced services, like the recently announced early Via Rail service to Kingston.
And finally, we look forward to welcoming Members and partners to next week’s IMPACT conference (May 6&7, 2024). There is still time to register, and I promise you it will be worth your investment and time.
Here are the Top-5 reasons why you need to be there:
- The program is immersive, experiential, and delegates will be guided by Indigenous Elders, teachings, and operators.
- Tourism operator case studies will be shared that showcase sustainability innovation while meeting consumer needs and trends.
- Compelling tourism brands, e.g., The Four Seasons, Via Rail, Expedia, UNESCO will share leading insights.
- Workforce planning & attainable housing creativity will take centre stage.
- We will welcome Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff, new Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport to his first TIAO Community event for an intimate fireside chat about rural economic development and sustainability.
Thank you to all TIAO Members and partners for your continued support, engagement and guidance.
Sincerely,
Andrew Siegwart
President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario - 18 Apr 2024 by Jessica Ng
In this week’s TIAO highlights:
- Our President & CEO Andrew Siegwart was invited to Queen’s Park for the introduction of MPP Matthew Rae’s Growing Agritourism Act, which addresses liability challenges which limit growth and investment in agritourism operations.
- The Federal Budget dropped this week, with major housing investments and notable investments in a new VIA Rail fleet, high-frequency rail, and national parks. The federal government is also proposing a new Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses to return fuel charge proceeds. In case you missed it, here’s our budget breakdown.
Finally, as a follow-up to our call with DMOs earlier this week, TIAO is conducting a survey to:
- Understand in greater detail the MAT challenges being experienced in Ontario destinations and to obtain feedback on potential solutions; and
- understand challenges and priorities with respect to local and regional market and destination development.
If you are a DMO or provide MAT services to destinations, please complete the survey here.
Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca.
Dr. Jessica Ng, PhD
Director, Policy & Government Affairs
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
- 11 Apr 2024 by Jessica Ng
With May fast approaching, we are counting down the weeks until TIAO’s IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism regional conference, taking place May 5-7 at Centennial College in Scarborough!
If you’re still wondering if or why you should attend, here is your reason: The future of travel and tourism is sustainable.
Sustainable practice is where our industry is headed or expanding into—whether it be reducing our carbon footprint, implementing climate change mitigation, advocating for mass transit infrastructure improvements, or providing attainable housing solutions that enable people to live where they work.
As for travellers and our future workforce, they’re already there. Consumers are shifting their spending toward sustainable products, with 76% of global travellers wanting to travel sustainably, and Gen Z and Millennials—who will soon have most of the purchasing power and dominate the labour market—favouring sustainable products and expecting sustainable workplace practices like work-life balance and flexibility.
Preparing your business or organization for the future of travel and tourism necessitates engaging more closely with sustainability, and where better to build or sharpen your toolkit than TIAO’s IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism – ONTARIO: A Regional Event? Reserve your spot here before tickets sell out.
And in case you missed it:
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Earlier this week, several members of the TIAO team attended the RTO6 Tourism Symposium, with Leni Brem (Project Manager, Tourism Workforce Sustainability Program) and Mark Capistrano (Workforce Development Coordinator) leading a panel on Rethinking Recruitment in a Competitive Labour Market.
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TIAO and OTEC released a joint statement on the inclusion of hospitality as a priority program area for Ontario’s allocation of international study permit applications. Read our press release here.
Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca
Dr. Jessica Ng, PhD
Director, Policy & Government Affairs
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- 05 Apr 2024 by Andrew Siegwart
Kudos to the Resorts of Ontario team for a successful Season Summit at Hockley Valley Resort this week! In today's collaborative landscape, industry conferences are key drivers of innovation, partnership, and economic growth. I'm grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many stakeholders and future tourism leaders and to receive valuable feedback on our advocacy work. Please see below for TIAO's analysis of the recent Ontario budget and insights from our members on changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker program.
Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at asiegwart@tiaontario.ca.
Andrew Siegwart
President & CEOTourism Industry Association of Ontario
- 29 Mar 2024 by Jessica Ng
This week, the provincial government released its 2024 Budget, entitled Building a Better Ontario. In case you missed it, the highlights include an additional $100 million investment in the Skills Development Fund, new infrastructure investments, and a proposal to eliminate the 6.1% tax at on-site winery retail. For more top-level highlights, see our summary here, and be sure to look out for TIAO’s deep dive analysis next week.
Yesterday, in response to the federal government’s cap on international students, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities announced that hospitality will be one of the priority program areas for Ontario’s allocation of international study permit applications. This was a key TIAO ask, which we raised with Colleges and Universities Minister Jill Dunlop immediately after the international student cap was announced in January. We thank Minister Dunlop for her support of Ontario’s tourism and hospitality sectors, and we look forward to working toward further measures to support our postsecondary partners.
In other news, on the heels of last week’s announcement on changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, TIAO continues to seek member feedback to gauge the impact of these changes on tourism and hospitality sectors that rely on temporary foreign workers to meet employment demand. Preliminary results of our survey show concern around the change in Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) validity from 12 months to 6 months, and concern with capacity to fulfill the new requirement for businesses to explore every option before applying for an LMIA (including recruiting asylum seekers with valid work permits in Canada). If you haven’t already, you can complete our short survey here. The survey closes tomorrow, Friday March 29.
Finally, Premier Doug Ford announced changes today to his team of parliamentary assistants. We offer our best wishes to outgoing Tourism, Culture and Sport PAs Laura Smith and Dave Smith for their new roles in the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and the Associate Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, respectively. And we offer a very warm welcome to incoming Tourism, Culture and Sport PA Sam Oosterhoff! TIAO has met PA Oosterhoff on many occasions in his former roles at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction. A strong supporter of tourism, we look forward to working with him alongside Minister Lumsden.
Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca.
Dr. Jessica Ng, PhD
Director, Policy & Government Affairs
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
- 21 Mar 2024 by Jessica Ng
Over the past few weeks, TIAO and our sector partners have met with several ministries to advance progress on a number of ongoing files, including: craft cider and craft beer tax reform; marketing and product development dollars for Northern destinations located on Crown land or beyond municipal boundaries; marketing support for Indigenous tourism; and local and regional transportation challenges.
On the transportation file, we’ve been hearing quite a bit from TIAO members about worsening conditions affecting local and regional connectivity. With air and passenger rail service reductions, infrastructure deficits, road safety concerns, and declining connectivity, transportation is fast-emerging as one of TIAO’s top-line critical issues this year. TIAO is planning a series of more targeted advocacy initiatives to highlight the urgency of the state of transportation in Ontario and the impact on visitor economies across the province, and to elevate our solutions-based asks.
To ensure that we have the full picture to work from, we are seeking feedback from members on:
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The types of local and regional transportation challenges being experienced
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Any examples/anecdotes/data that can be shared to illustrate the severity of the above issues
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Any specific provincial or federal policies (or gaps) that are contributing factors to the above
To collect this feedback, we will be hosting a virtual meeting next Monday March 25 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM.
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP and register via the following Zoom link:
RVSP for Advisory Call If you have feedback or questions that you would like to submit in advance of or in lieu of attending the meeting, please direct them to Alexander Miceli, Manager of Policy & Government Affairs at amiceli@tiaontario.ca.
Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca.
Dr. Jessica Ng, PhD
Director, Policy & Government Affairs
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
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- 15 Mar 2024 by Andrew Siegwart
Exciting updates and important actions are underway at TIAO!
In response to the recent changes in visa requirements for Mexican citizens, TIAO and 14 member partners have swiftly mobilized. We've penned a letter to The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, urging for immediate action. Our goal: expedited visa processing for those with pre-booked departures to Canada. By uniting our voices, we amplify our impact, pushing for timely decisions that benefit our communities. Please take a moment to review the letter and share it within your networks. Your feedback on how this affects your business is invaluable; reach out to us via email to share your thoughts: jng@tiaontario.ca.
Read the Letter In other news, the spotlight shines on festivals and events across Ontario. Media coverage has soared this week, highlighting both the challenges and the remarkable impact of festivals and events. TIAO and our partners have been actively engaged in these discussions, emphasizing the vital role festivals and events play in our communities. We've also championed the investments made by the Province through the Experience Ontario program, eagerly awaiting updates—a key priority from our pre-budget submission.
Finally, today I had the privilege of delivering a deputation to Prince Edward County's Committee of the Whole. I shared insights and best practices on Municipal Accommodation Tax implementations, supporting our members in the County while providing valuable recommendations to local council members. This opportunity excites me, and I'm eager to extend this support to members across the Province. Don't hesitate to reach out—I'm here to help!
Let's continue driving positive change together.
Best,
Andrew Siegwart
President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
- 08 Mar 2024 by Andrew Siegwart
Congratulations to Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation (SWOTC) and Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association (HHBRTA) for a successful joint conference and Awards Gala this week in Sarnia, Ontario!
Throughout the conference, we discussed the ongoing challenges and opportunities facing tourism in Ontario, and how TIAO and industry stakeholders across many different regions in Ontario can collaborate together for a thriving industry. It was an honour to participate, share insights, learn, make connections, and celebrate amazing tourism leaders together!
On this upcoming International Women's Day, we celebrate and thank all of the dedicated women across Ontario's tourism industry who are pushing boundaries to make a difference, and inspiring inclusion while strengthening communities and economies. Click here to learn more about Government of Canada’s theme for International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024, Invest in women: Accelerate progress.
Andrew Siegwart
President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
- 04 Mar 2024 by Andrew Siegwart
TIAO has been actively responding to the recently announced international student permit cap, which aims to enhance the student experience and address housing concerns by reducing undergraduate study permits by 35% nationwide. Ontario, hosting 70% of Canada's international students, is expected to be disproportionately affected, particularly impacting its renowned post-secondary programs in tourism and hospitality, and their students who work in tourism while studying in Ontario. A TIAO member survey highlighted concerns such as increased recruitment costs, reduced service levels for customers, and revenue losses for operators.
TIAO has advocated for emergency funding, immigration reforms, increased promotion of high-school level hospitality programs, and funding for private-sector workforce housing development. TIAO's efforts thus far have resulted in substantial media coverage, including this CBC Radio interview.
The Ontario Government's subsequent announcement of $1.3 billion in funding is viewed as a positive first step by TIAO; however, we continue to press for further measures to support schools, students, and industry.
Read More Andrew Siegwart
President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
- 13 Feb 2024 by Jessica Ng
A little over two weeks ago, the federal government announced a reactionary policy to cap the number of international student permits, to be applied and weighted by international student population within individual provinces and territories. Along with this policy, the federal government announced eligibility changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program and eligibility changes for open work permits available to spouses of international students.
Given the significant representation of international students in Ontario tourism and hospitality postsecondary programs, the federal cap is expected to disproportionately impact the tourism and hospitality industry. International students and graduates are global assets to the tourism and hospitality workforce, ensuring that Ontario’s service economy can adeptly meet the needs of an increasingly global visitor market.
Since the announcement, TIAO has been engaging in rapid data collection to understand the anticipated tourism industry impacts of the policies, particularly the international student permit cap. According to the member survey we released, almost half of respondents reported that the federal cap on international student permits will affect or might affect their business, with members anticipating recruitment and retention to be more expensive or resource-intensive, not being able to hire for necessary positions, understaffing, and having to scale back services or offerings.
Consultations with TIAO’s post-secondary partners revealed anticipated impacts to tourism and hospitality programs, particularly for programs where international students comprise 50% or more of student enrolment – significantly higher than the University (17.6%) and College (22%) enrolment average in Canada during 2021-2022. With Ontario accounting for 70% of Canada’s international higher education enrolment, food and beverage, events, and other tourism and hospitality sectors that rely heavily on these programs to meet employment demand will be particularly hard-hit.
Using this data, TIAO released a comprehensive response this week to the federal cap on international student permits. We called for immediate consultation and collaboration between tourism stakeholders, the provincial government, and the federal government in order to assess impacts and develop a response plan to protect the viability of post-secondary tourism programs, the experience and opportunities for international students, and the short- and mid-term economic performance of the tourism industry.
We have called for urgent, collaborative solutions to:
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Enable tourism employers to competitively recruit and retain talent;
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Ensure that international students in-demand sectors like tourism and hospitality can access the jobs they have trained for;
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Build a stronger domestic pool of talent; and
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Ensure that the supply of attainable housing keeps up with the demand of Ontario’s population.
To read our press release and see our full list of recommendations, click here.
Thank you to members who participated in the survey; RTOs, DMOs, and sector associations for amplifying the survey to tourism operators; and many thanks to our postsecondary partners who shared their insights with us.
International students are a vital contributor to the province’s tourism industry. TIAO will continue to monitor the impacts of the federal cap and will be working with industry, provincial, and federal counterparts on immediate and longer-range solutions.
And in case you missed it, TIAO recently submitted its 2024 pre-budget submission, which you can find here. On top of a range of economic, labour, and infrastructure recommendations, we have called on the Province to work with tourism stakeholders to develop an Ontario tourism growth strategy – one that outlines clear goals to maximize the economic impact of our industry, solidifies our domestically and globally competitive position as a visitor destination, and contributes to sustainable tourism management and growth.
Join us on February 21st at 1pm (EDT) for a fireside chat with me and President & CEO Andrew Siegwart as we do a deep dive into our recommendations. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and share their experiences. Register here for this upcoming Forward Motion session.
Thank you for your continued support. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca.
Dr. Jessica Ng, PhD
Director, Policy & Government Affairs
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
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- 25 Jan 2024 by Andrew Siegwart
The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO), along with participating member organizations from across the province, convened with 15 Ministers, Parliamentary Assistants, and party leaders, including Minister Lumsden, at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference this week. The nature and timing of this event provided a robust platform for us to advocate key economic, labor, and infrastructure priorities necessary to mitigate risks and stimulate growth in the tourism industry for 2024.
In these meetings, TIAO approached the discussions by presenting focused solutions, showcasing our members' innovative problem-solving approaches, and seeking collaboration across multiple ministries to develop a new strategy for growing Ontario's tourism economy. We extend our gratitude to Minister Lumsden and his incredible team for their support and recommendations.
For more details on our key recommendations, please visit: https://silkstart.s3.amazonaws.com/db3cbfdc-a0ac-42f9-a44b-89f2008d8c9c.pdf
We express our appreciation to Camping in Ontario, Culinary Tourism Alliance, Destination Northern Ontario, Indigenous Tourism Ontario, Kingston Accommodation Partners, Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association, and OTEC for their support to the TIAO team and their efforts on behalf of all members. (Insert a nice photo from our meetings with Minister Lumsden).
The federal government has recently imposed a two-year cap on international student permit applications, anticipating around 360,000 approved study permits, reflecting a 35% decrease from 2023. Individual provincial and territorial caps, weighted by population, have been established, leading to more significant decreases in provinces like Ontario, which have historically welcomed a larger share of international students.
This decision, accompanied by several additional changes, will have substantial impacts on students, post-secondary schools, the labor market, and employers. We are actively engaging with member businesses and post-secondary schools across Ontario to assess the impact of these policy changes and to formulate meaningful and focused recommendations.
Please inform us of how your business will be affected by the international student permit cap by:
- Taking the following rapid survey: https://forms.office.com/r/A1ZLQkma0S
- Emailing Alexander Miceli, Manager of Policy and Government Affairs, at amiceli@tiaontario.ca
If you wish to learn more about the federal cap, please click here.
Lastly, thank you to the TIAO team and membership for the warm welcome as I assume this exciting new role. I eagerly anticipate connecting with members in the weeks and months to come, and I look forward to a strong 2024!
Sincerely,
Andrew Siegwart
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