Minister MacDonald encouraged by Canadian Council of Tourism Meeting

January 28, 2016
The 2016 Canadian Council of Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, hosted by the Government of Manitoba earlier this month, was considered a great success as federal, provincial, and territorial representatives met to discuss various themes important to the competitiveness of Canada’s national tourism sector.

“The entire day was full of great discussions on Canada’s tourism sector, including marketing and collaboration in the US market. While the tourism industry is incredibly important to Prince Edward Island’s economy, it was encouraging to see the level of commitment from all attendees at the FPT meeting,” said Minister Heath MacDonald, Economic Development and Tourism.

Meeting attendees, which included ministers, deputy ministers, and departmental staff from across the country, collaborated on key priority areas, including discussions on the national tourism strategy; Canada’s marketing in the United States; aboriginal tourism; and the sharing economy. Presentations from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Canadian Heritage were also well received.

During the meeting, the ministers agreed to invest in Connecting America, a comprehensive, three-year, industry-aligned marketing campaign in the US, to be launched in the spring of 2016. Connecting America is expected to help boost travel and tourism. Roundtable discussions were also held to allow ministers to discuss their respective governments’ successes and challenges, as they relate to tourism.

“As a province, we are committed to growing tourism and driving demands. With last year’s record year, our tourism operators are to be commended for their tremendous work in attracting visitors and enhancing their experiences on the Island,” said Minister MacDonald. “We will continue to support PEI companies in external markets and attract new tourism related businesses to the province. We look forward to working with our tourism counterparts from across the country to elevate Canada’s national reputation in the tourism sector.”

Tourism is a vital industry in Prince Edward Island that provides over 7,000 full time equivalent jobs for Islanders. It accounts for approximately $400 million in economic activity each year and seven percent of GDP, the highest of any Canadian province.
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Media Contact: Sheila Kerry

NT5