Tourists are being deterred from visiting Canada due to a complicated and expensive visa process says tourism industry.
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12 October 2011
Tourists deterred by Canadian visa system
The Canadian tourism industry has spoken out about the potential tourist dollars lost due to the Canada visa application system.
Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) CEO David Goldstein told the Montreal Gazette yesterday that Canada is missing out on the economic benefits of tourism as potential visitors are being deterred by the process to obtain a Canada visa.
Mr Goldstein said that surveys conducted by TIAC show that prospective tourists to Canada find the visa process complicated and expensive. TIAC has also called on the Canadian Government to lower or abolish airport landing fees and taxes which raise airline ticket costs.
The status quo is having a negative impact on the global competitiveness of the Canadian tourism industry, Goldsmith argued.
"It's a lost opportunity. Canada's tourism industry is worth $74 billion and supports 617,300 direct jobs," he explained.
"Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the global economy - and Canada's share is shrinking. In 2002, Canada was the seventh most popular international tours destination, UN World Tourism Organization figures show. In 2010, we had dropped to 15th place on the list and our travel deficit - the money Canadians spent abroad vs. the money international visitors spent here - hit $14 billion".
TIAC suggests that Canadian immigration authorities remove bureaucratic restrictions to entering Canada and make it easier for US nationals to cross the border.
The Canadian Visa Bureau is an independent migration consultancy specialising in helping people make their application to the Canadian Embassy.
