Destinations

Up For The Challenge

Bardish-Chagger

Canada’s newly-minted small business and tourism minister recently received an enthusiastic round of applause from the nation’s top tourism marketers and receptive companies when she announced that, in concert with her cabinet immigration colleague, she will reinstate visa-free travel for Mexican visitors, reports Montreal editor, Mike Dunbar in this week’s digital edition of Canadian Travel Press.

The Mexican short-stay market had been decimated by the previous Tory administration’s requirement that tourists obtain visas to land here.

Minister Bardish Chagger made the announcement at the 2015 congress of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC).

In a brief luncheon speech, Chagger said resolving the Mexican visa issue is one of her short-term priorities as well as a commitment that the new government will continue to invest in US marketing efforts via her department.

She elicited further warm applause from several hundred delegates in Ottawa when she told them, “I am eager to work with you because I am big on collaboration. You have my word that I will work with TIAC as well as with my provincial counterparts.”

And she stressed, “Tourism is a part of every community and while challenges exist, I’m up for challenges because results count not words, so we all need to come together to champion the Canadian brand.”

While she’s still new to the job, the minister predicted, “ 2016 promises to be a dynamic year for Canadian tourism.”

For the full story, check out this week’s digital issue of Canadian Travel Press by clicking here.