Tourism will be the topic of discussion this Monday as government representatives meet in Halifax.
Ministers responsible for tourism and their delegates from every province and territory in Canada will come together Monday, May 20, 2002 for a day-long discussion of some of the key challenges and opportunities facing Canada's tourism industry. The agenda includes air issues, federal/provincial/territorial funding agreements and strengthening partnerships with the federal government in tourism policy and development.
"This is the type of forum that allows the partners in Canadian tourism to work together to strengthen our industry," noted Greg Deighan, Minister of Tourism for PEI. "We are a large country with diverse tourism opportunities from coast to coast, and our goal is to celebrate this diversity in the best possible way, enhancing the visitors' experience and building the industry."
The provincial and territorial tourism ministers have met annually since 1998. At last year's meeting in Toronto, Ontario, they agreed that the federal government needs to take a more active role in ensuring the continued growth of Canada tourism industry. The group specifically identified federal participation as essential in addressing issues such as airline restructuring, federal-provincial-territorial funding agreements and national parks policy.
"Tourism plays a significant role in this country's economy," said Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Tourism and Culture for Nova Scotia, host province of the event. "Every province and territory in Canada benefits from tourism. These annual meetings provide us with the opportunity to work together as a unified group focussing on the same goals."
While in Halifax, tourism ministers will also be attending Rendez-vous Canada. This year the Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership (ACTP) is hosting Rendez-vous Canada in Halifax from May 18 to 22. Rendez-vous Canada brings together more than 250 major buyers from all over the world with more than 800 suppliers from Canada.