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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:  

• 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.  

• 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 

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: 

• Enable tourism employers to competitively recruit and retain talent; 

• Ensure that international students in-demand sectors like tourism and hospitality can access the jobs they have trained for;  

• Build a stronger domestic pool of talent; and 

• 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

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 

Today, January 18th, is the deadline for tourism businesses with CEBA or RRRF loans to repay most of their loan in order to have up to $20,000 forgiven. After today, CEBA and RRRF loans will start to incur 5 per cent interest with the full principal amount due at the end of 2026. Operators who secure refinancing have until March 28 to repay their loan while maintaining access to the forgivable portion. As we have advocated in meetings, submissions, letters, media appearances, alongside our partners, and in our 2022 State of the Ontario Tourism Industry Report: this is not enough.  

Businesses who have been impacted by the slow return of key markets, high interest rates, inflation, rising commercial costs, the labour crisis, and dampened consumer sentiment need more time to generate the revenue required to pay down their debts. The absence of an extension will weigh heavily on the capacity of small tourism businesses to recover sooner and to take advantage of the opportunities to grow, thrive—and generate the tax revenues that support our economy, our social services, and help pay down the provincial and national debts.  

We are disappointed that the federal government has not heeded our calls for much-needed debt relief. But we thank our partners for advocating alongside us, including the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), Canadian Federation of Independent Business, and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. We also thank Premier Doug Ford and Minister Neil Lumsden for their advocacy on our industry’s behalf right up until today’s deadline.   

Last week, I had the opportunity to talk about the debt and labour challenges that Ontario tourism businesses are still facing, and which have been exacerbated by the unseasonably warm weather we saw over the holidays. In case you missed my media appearances, you can find them at CityTV, CTV Barrie, and NEWSTALK 1010.  

I also had the opportunity last week to present before the provincial Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. This was a valuable opportunity for TIAO to illustrate that while we are recovering and rebuilding, the economic contribution of our industry is still not quite where it needs to be. While we have regained the domestic visitor market, international numbers remain below pre-pandemic figures and behind some of our domestic competitors. The US market, for instance, is down 14 percent from 2019 and the Chinese market is still down 79 percent. As of last summer, convention bookings at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and Ottawa Convention Centre alone were down by over 40 percent compared to 2019. For many local festivals and events, attendance and revenues have not returned to 2019 levels, with ongoing challenges in obtaining the required public and private funding. Inflation and the cost-of-living crisis have dampened consumer spending. And while rates have gone up, hotel occupancy is still down by 25 percent. Moreover, seasonal businesses have borne the brunt of climate change impacts, with summer wildfires and warm winter weather affecting the length of key tourism seasons and the perception of Ontario as a consistently reliable visitor destination. 

In the Committee hearing, TIAO called for: provincial budgetary investments to attract major events and conventions, which will inject direct visitor dollars into local, regional, and provincial economies; the implementation of many recommendations outlined in the Auditor General’s report, including strategic regional planning to take destination marketing to the next level, recalibrating existing funding opportunities, better leveraging gateway cities and our convention centres, and developing a data strategy to guide local and regional tourism planning; and, ultimately, the need for a tourism strategy in partnership with our industry and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport—a strategy which will increase economic productivity for industry and for government.  

Finally, TIAO will be attending the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference next week. With the support of our tourism delegation and led by our incoming President & CEO, Andrew Siegwart, TIAO will be advocating for a number of economic, labour, and infrastructure asks and building support around the Cabinet table for a provincial tourism strategy.  

Three weeks into 2024 and TIAO’s advocacy is full steam ahead. 

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 

I’m not great at goodbyes, but today is my last working day at TIAO, and my final day has fallen on a Thursday to give me one more chance to write to you all and share my thoughts. I want to start with a simple thank you – thank you to those that would often write back to these remarks with your feedback, questions, concerns, or simply with a ‘keep going!’. Whether it’s been via email, our virtual town halls, or meeting in person at one of our events it’s been a pleasure to interact and learn from you all.  

Last month in Mississauga, at the Ontario Tourism Summit, I hinted at my deep frustration at the standstill we’ve reached. We have all worked so hard to get through the pandemic – not only to survive it – but to lay the foundations of a recovery amidst the perfect storm of rising interest rates, spiraling inflation, a broken supply chain, and geopolitical uncertainty. We came together to build a roadmap to recovery and to finally realise our potential and the growth we all know could lead to new jobs and greater economic prosperity. Yet many of these ideas and practical solutions are still only ink on paper and have not been put into practice. 

We need governments at all levels to collaborate with us as we come to a critical point in our future. As we tackle some of the most pressing challenges, we’ve faced we can redefine what the future of tourism in Ontario will look like.  Across the world ambitious governments are investing in their tourism sectors and seizing the opportunity to reap the economic, health, social, and cultural benefits that it brings. In destinations across the world there is a shared understanding that tourism is the driver of culture for visitors and locals alike – it brings people together in unforgettable experiences that engage body, mind, and soul. As we face ever more complex challenges tourism continues to be the forum where we remind ourselves and others who we are – as individuals, peoples, and nations.   

I know that the next President and CEO of TIAO, with your support and a talented and dedicated TIAO team, will break the logjam and grasp the opportunities that are there for the taking.  I now return to the UK both with an enlarged personal family and as a permanent member of the Ontario tourism family. I will be rooting for you all from across the pond and I know that if the past four years are any indication, you will yet again blaze a trail for others to follow. 

It’s been an honour.  

Despite the ongoing pressures on small businesses in the tourism sector I was disappointed – if not surprised – that the Fall Economic Statement contained no new measures to support small businesses. This is despite consensus among business and association leaders on the need for changes to the CEBA loan repayment schedules for which they have been long advocating. The government didn’t deliver on any meaningful time extensions to ensure businesses can take advantage of the forgivable portions of the loans especially when we’re living through these volatile economic times. With high interest rates and inflation combining with ever increasing costs, a labour crisis, and a disrupted supply chain this would have been the perfect time to give small businesses some more breathing room in repayments without penalties.  

In better news the Federal Tourism Minister, the Hon. Soraya Martinez Ferrada, announced the launch of the Tourism Growth Program (TGP). With $108 million in federal funding the TGP will be delivered by Canada’s seven regional development agencies over three years, starting in 2023-24. We’ve already received several inquiries from members about the criteria of the program and we’re pleased that FedDev and FedNor will be hosting webinars shortly to answer all questions TIAO members may have.  

Finally, as a reminder if you have not already put forward your ideas on what TIAO should include in our provincial budget consultation then please don’t hesitate to do so. Over the past three years we’ve been successful in winning economic packages and regulatory changes that helped mitigate some of the worst impacts of the pandemic. However, as we edge closer to a recovery these gains have not been secured. We need to ensure that we’re pressing governments at all levels to take the next steps to empower the tourism industry to be competitive and to reach growth targets. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please reach out to Dr. Jessica Ng at jng@tiaontario.ca or Alexander Miceli at amiceli@tiaontario.ca. 

Chris Bloore
President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

From Tuesday, November 14th to 16th, TIAO had the privilege of participating in the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit in Sault Ste Marie. Dr. Jessica Ng and Carol Greenwood delivered a presentation updating attendees on our advocacy efforts for tourism in Northern Ontario, emphasizing our key focus areas: economic recovery, labour, economic development and regulatory reform, and infrastructure. 

During our presentation, we highlighted our objectives to extend the CEBA and RRRF repayment period, allowing for partial loan forgiveness until December 31st, 2025; the labour crisis in Northern Ontario, including the impact of Transport Canada anti-fatigue regulations on exacerbating the pilot shortage; and the need to expand provincial EV charging infrastructure in rural and remote areas. Additionally, we discussed our continued advocacy alongside our Northern partners for tourism revenue tools tailored for Northern and remote regions to amplify tourism marketing and product development in destinations located on crown land, in unorganized townships, or beyond municipal boundaries. 

Concluding our session, we delved into upcoming trends and opportunities in the tourism sector – including opportunities to expand outdoor and nature-based tourism and agritourism – and current and upcoming programs and events at TIAO.  

In addition, Destination Northern Ontario passed a resolution to provide their utmost support to help alleviate homelessness as well as addiction and mental health challenges across Northern Ontario. The resolution was accompanied with an acknowledgment of the economic impact of homelessness and the need to directly address it for the full recovery and future growth of the tourism sector.  

The Northern Ontario Tourism Summit (NOTS) was a great opportunity to reconnect with our partners at NOTO and Destination Northern Ontario, meet many of our Northern tourism stakeholders, and hear the latest issues and updates in Northern Ontario tourism. We look forward to NOTS 2024!  

Alexander Miceli 
Manager of Policy and Government Affairs
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

Today, the Government of Ontario released its Fall Economic Statement. Some key highlights include:  

• Proposing to extend the current gas tax and fuel tax rate cuts, keeping the rates at 9 cents per litre until June 20, 2024.  

• Proposing to remove the provincial portion of the HST on new purpose-built rental housing through the Ontario Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) New Residential Rental Property Rebate.    

• Providing an additional $100M to the Invest Ontario Fund to help attract more leading companies to Ontario.  

• Creating a new arms-length agency called the Ontario Infrastructure Bank to invest in large-scale infrastructure projects across the province and to attract institutional investors to help build critical infrastructure.  

• Investing $200M over three years in a new Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund that will protect communities and help unlock new housing opportunities. This complements the recently-announced $1.2B Building Faster Fund to support municipalities achieve their housing targets. 

The Ministry of Finance reiterated its intent to undertake a review of the Province’s tax system to support the competitiveness and long-term growth of Ontario businesses.  

The Fall Economic Statement also outlined a gradual growth in government program expenses through to 2026, with healthcare, education, and postsecondary education sectors to receive increases in budget.  

The Ministry of Finance forecasts that Ontario will face a longer path to fiscal balance than projected in last spring’s budget, as high interest rates and inflation put pressure on the province’s economy. While unemployment remains low, with employment up 1% since April, projections for growth and job creation have been revised downward. The projected deficit for this year has increased to $5.6 billion, up from $1.3 billion in March, with Ontario expected to get back to balance in 2025-2026, with a projected $500-million surplus.  

Over the next few days, we will review the details of the Fall Economic Statement in greater depth. 

Please note that the Ontario Government will be launching the 2024 Budget Consultation platform and online survey on November 13, 2023. You can share your feedback and ideas by January 31, 2024. 

Thank you for your continued support. And, of course, 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 

The pack-up is well underway this morning at the Hilton Toronto Airport as we reflect on two content-rich days and a wonderful evening celebrating the achievements of our industry at the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence. As we reflected on the progress of the past twelve months, a phenomenal 561 delegates joined us and our host, Tourism Mississauga, and we look forward to the future with optimism and confidence. We firmly banished the memory of our virtual only summit from a socially distanced studio in Mississauga three years ago. 

The lineup of speakers this year helped to address the state of the tourism sector in Ontario on Day One, discussing the challenges and obstacles to growth and then looking to the future and new opportunities on Day Two. 

I was also delighted that the federal Minister for Tourism: The Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, and Ontario Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport: The Honourable Neil Lumsden, and Leader of the Official Opposition in Ontario: Marit Stiles, were able to address delegates about their vision for the future of tourism. At a time when TIAO is working diligently to put forward pragmatic solutions to the challenges we face, it is critical that we build consensus and support across all political parties across all levels of government. 

It is impossible to come away from Mississauga without feeling the growing sense of momentum behind Ontario’s Tourism industry. One of the most impactful elements of the summit has always been its unmatched ability to bring people together, to spark collaboration, and inspire. I know from the feedback from delegates with whom I spoke, that the appetite for working together is stronger than ever. Next year we will be celebrating campaigns and programs inspired by the presentations given at the summit, in addition to the meaningful conversations at networking breaks or even the connections made at Club Ontario.

The Ontario Tourism Summit could only be made possible thanks to the kind support of our sponsors and partners that help make such a compelling event. We are incredibly grateful for your continued support. In the coming days the reordered sessions from the summit that we were able to secure with the permission of their respective presenters, will be made available to watch on our conference app and later our website.

Finally, I would be remiss not to say how touched I was by the kind comments regarding my departure from TIAO at the end of the year. It really does mean the world to me, and I could never have imagined such a response. 

Normal service will resume in our newsletter next week as we start the process of engaging with members on TIAO’s Ontario Provincial Budget priorities.

Sincerely,

Christopher Bloore

President and CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario 

The Ontario government will release its annual Fall Economic Statement on November 2, 2023. Afterward, starting from November 6, Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy, along with his Parliamentary Assistants Stephen Crawford and Rick Byers, will attend a series of in-person townhall meetings in various communities across the province until January 2024. They aim to gather insights and ideas from organizations and businesses for the 2024 Budget. 

TIAO will be submitting a response for the provincial pre-budget consultation and is eager to hear your input and concerns. We encourage you to share your comments with TIAO, and we will diligently advocate to ensure the government prioritizes the tourism sector’s needs. This is your chance to have a say in the Ministry’s plans for the upcoming year. Send your ideas to Alexander Miceli, Manager of Policy and Government Affairs, at amiceli@tiaontario.ca  

You can also share your thoughts through a guided online survey, a new online submission portal, or by mailing your feedback to the Ministry of Finance. Please access the following link to learn more about how to submit your ideas directly to the Ministry. 

Alexander Miceli 
Manager of Policy and Government Affairs
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

In yet another busy week for the TIAO Team, we’ve continued to meet with MPPs to discuss the continuing challenges that businesses in our sector are facing during Tourism Day at Queen’s Park on September 26th. We regret that some MPPs were unable to attend and look forward to future collaboration.  

In recent days TIAO has met with MPPs Adil Shamji, Jennifer French and Joel Harden to share with them the issue of the increasing costs of operation facing businesses in the current economic climate. In addition, we discussed the continuing significant decline in visitors compared to pre-pandemic levels.  

During our meeting with MPP Shamji, we emphasized the need for affordable and attainable housing across many regions in Ontario, so the workers in our industry can sustain their employment. We also discussed the viability of tourism as a career option for both our international and domestic students. 

In another meeting with MPP French, we also had a productive discussion about the growing need for EV infrastructure and expanding the electrical grid in rural Ontario and remote communities. 

As we draw closer to the Ontario Tourism Summit, we know how important it is to continue to share crucial information with our elected representatives and give them a snapshot of what is happening in their communities across the province. One of those critical issues we highlight is the significant levels of debt still facing tourism businesses, plus the fast-approaching deadlines for repayment to ensure government forgiveness. As many of you already know, whilst the government announcement on extending payment deadlines was welcomed, it did not address the crucial issue of loan forgiveness. 

As tourism ministers from across Canada come together to meet the new Federal Minister in St. John’s, I am grateful to the Hon. Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport in Ontario, for continuing to raise the issue of debt repayment with the Federal Government. Minister Lumsden and his team are using data collected by TIAO and our provincial counterparts in partnership with TIAC to illustrate why businesses need more substantial mitigating steps to be taken. 
 

Chris Bloore
President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario

Earlier this week, TIAO participated in the Labour Market Forum in Ottawa, which ran from October 3rd to the 4th. The event, hosted by Philip Mondor, President and CEO of Tourism HR Canada, featured an impactful address and fireside chat with the Hon. Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister Responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. During her speech, the Minister emphasized the vital role that tourism will play in Canada's economy over the next decade and the need for effective policy solutions to support this sector.

Throughout the forum, we engaged in discussions on several crucial topics. These included addressing mental health challenges in the workplace, particularly within the tourism industry, as well as strategies for nurturing the Indigenous workforce to further enhance the burgeoning Indigenous tourism sector.

Additionally, we tackled pressing issues such as the housing crisis, labor shortages, and the necessity for immigration reform within the tourism industry. Kate Monk and James Murphy from Explorers Edge shared insights into Co-Creation Labs, while Aaron Binder from Better Way Alliance stressed the importance of increased investment in tourism businesses and operators. This investment aims to facilitate their cost-effective expansion and long-term profitability. The Co-Creation  Labs concept was discussed as a practical tool for engaging stakeholders and developing regenerative programs to assist struggling tourism businesses within rural communities. The forum concluded with a discussion on Canadians' positive perception of the tourism industry, highlighting the significance of maintaining this favorable view through active support for the communities frequented by tourists and addressing their specific needs. In addition, Tourism HR Canada proudly announced its commitment to the 2030 Pledge for Sustainable Tourism, further reinforcing its dedication to fostering responsible and sustainable practices within the tourism.

This week signalled the return of TIAO’s in person ‘Tourism Day’ at Queen’s Park and our popular ‘Taste of Ontario’ reception held in partnership with the Culinary Tourism Alliance. A welcome return to the Legislature for the first time since 2019.

On Monday evening we welcomed MPPs and their staff to sample some of the best food and beverages that Ontario has to offer. Each vendor was a member of the ‘Feast On’ program – North America’s largest and longest running local food certification program that recognizes businesses across the food tourism value chain, committed to sourcing Ontario grown food & drink. It was fantastic to bring people together again and give our delegation the opportunity to meet with elected representatives and their staff and to share their experiences. We enjoyed discussing how the challenges facing our industry have evolved since the pandemic in an informal atmosphere.

The following day, forty delegate representing the tourism industry held more than twenty meetings with government ministers, opposition leaders, and MPPs from all political parties to discuss the current state of the tourism industry in Ontario. As detailed in my column last week, our message was loud and clear: despite the significant progress we have made as an industry to undo the damage caused by the pandemic, tourism businesses now face a perfect storm of high inflation and interest rates, costly disruptions to the supply chain, rising fuel prices, an acute labour crisis, and a cost-of-living crisis that is affecting the consumer sentiment of both domestic and international travellers.

Just this week Destination Canada released detailed statistics that show that in July 2023 Canada welcomed 2.8 million monthly visitors – an increase of 34% over July of the previous year, which brought July arrivals up to 82% of pre-pandemic levels. Therefore, not only are businesses facing much higher costs, but they are also still missing one in five visitors from pre-pandemic levels.

From the issue of debt to the labour crisis, economic development and regulatory reform, to infrastructure and transportation, we continue to put forward common-sense and pragmatic solutions to support the industry.  In the coming days we will both review the feedback from our delegates and examine every opportunity for collaboration with the MPPs with whom we met on Tuesday and those that have arranged meetings for the coming days. 

The TIAO team would like to thank those elected members and their staff for meeting with us as well as our delegation for their commitment and diligence in their advocacy to support the tourism industry in Ontario.