Will TIAC Reach Out to smaller tourism operators during Tourism Week in 2008?

During the 2007 Tourism Week (last June) TIAC published a supplement in the Globe and Mail that tried to support the Business of Tourism in Canada and failed. A large ¼ page add was placed on behalf of the border Duty Free Stores on the front page of the supplement with a message that Canadians should travel south and save. The major focus of the supplement was heavy on the efforts surrounding the passport issue (a good cause but overdone).

The supplement also had advertisements that were promoting travel in Canada, and ended up as a bit of fish and a bit of fowl, neither a good promotional piece, nor a good advocacy effort. It confused more than educated. I encourage TIAC to rethink their promotion of Tourism Week to reflect more on what there is to see and do in Canada, and encourage Canadians to see Canada first as well as support smaller Tourism businesses and operators in their local communities.

The TIAC website states that “Tourism week provides a focal point for activities organized by provincial and territorial tourism industry associations, provincial and territorial marketing organizations, destination marketing organizations, individual businesses and other partners”.

Lets make some changes and TIAC may attract more grass roots tourism businesses and operators to join the association.