TORONTO, April 6, 2009 — The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), today launched the Marquee Tourism Events Program, a program to help fund festivals and tourism events across Canada. This federal investment will help protect and create jobs across the country and stimulate the visitor economy. It will also help Canada to become an even more vigorous player in the competitive global tourism industry.
“Our government is delivering quickly on its Economic Action Plan commitments to support the tourism industry. Marquee tourism events play an important role in bringing Canadians together and attracting international visitors with our world-class programs and experiences,” said Minister of State Ablonczy. “This investment supports the business development needed to help encourage and grow the visitor economy.”
Tourism is a major Canadian economic driver that promises significant returns on investment. It contributes as much to our country's wealth as agriculture, fishery and forestry combined. Today's investment of $100 million over two years for marquee tourism events will help stimulate the Canadian tourism industry and our economy as a whole.
This funding will start flowing quickly, with one injection of funds, the Summer 2009 Marquee Tourism Events funding stream, aimed at ensuring upcoming summer tourism events receive the support they need to help them have a successful 2009 season in the face of the current recession. Over a two-year period, funding will continue to be delivered so that eligible events are afforded the opportunity to participate in the program and receive assistance to help expand their reach.
In addition to the one-time funding being provided immediately for summer 2009 events, there are two main funding streams for applicants. The first stream, or Tier 1, is for significant events that have an established international presence, with overall attendance of at least 250 000 visitors. The second stream, or Tier 2, is intended for those smaller events with a minimum overall attendance of 50 000 visitors that may have an international presence or are proposing to develop one with program support.
Marquee tourism events drive tourism in communities and regions across Canada. They provide significant cultural, sporting and recreational opportunities for Canadians, attract national and international audiences to all parts of the country, and spur business development. Support for these events contributes to Canada's visitor economy by sustaining or increasing the level of tourism and tourism-related spending that these events generate for hotels, restaurants and a variety of small and medium-sized businesses.
“The Hotel Association of Canada, on behalf of its 378 000 employees, congratulates the Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) on today's announcement of the funding for marquee tourism events across Canada,” said Tony Pollard, President of the Association. “This is exactly the type of economic stimulus that the lodging industry needs. It will put heads in beds. The Hotel Association of Canada was pleased to be a part of the process, and we thank the Minister of State and her department for rolling it out so quickly.”
“The Marquee Tourism Events Program announced today is a timely and vital investment in Canada's tourism sector,” said Tourism Industry Association of Canada President and CEO, Randy Williams. “By ensuring that these world-class events have the necessary funding to succeed and prosper, this program will help to provide travellers from around the world with undeniably compelling reasons to visit communities across Canada in the coming summer travel period and beyond.”
For more information on how to apply, please visit our website at www.ic.gc.ca/tourism.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Catherine Godbout
Office of the Honourable Diane Ablonczy
Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism)
613-947-5856
613-668-5406 (cell)
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
