Advertising campaign intended to serve the interests
of the Liberal Party, more so than tourism
A self-serving advertising fund being spent by the McGuinty Liberals is ignoring the urgent needs of Ontario's tourism industry, says MPP Ted Arnott.
“Visits from the United States to Ontario continue their steep decline and the McGuinty Liberal Government has virtually written off the American market,” said Mr. Arnott the Ontario PC Critic for the Minister of Tourism.
Mr. Arnott responded to an editorial published in the Toronto Star on May 7th which stated that: “The number of American visitors – the lifeblood of a vibrant tourism industry – is in freefall.” The article cited the US-led passport requirement as part of the problem that has led to a dramatic decline in US visits to Ontario, even though it isn't in effect for car travel this year.
“Our American friends have long counted on Ontario as a clean, safe and beautiful place to visit,” said Mr. Arnott. “Unfortunately, it's unclear for US visitors whether or not they will need a passport to get back home.”
“The Ontario Ministry of Tourism should do targeted advertising that tells Americans that they're welcome here, and that they currently don't need a passport when they leave Ontario to return home. We're heading into the peak tourism season, so they should be doing this right now,” Mr. Arnott added.
Just before the end of the year, the McGuinty Liberal Government announced a $22 million fund to encourage Ontarians to take their holiday within the Province. This followed on the heels of an ‘economic stimulus' package announced in the Finance Minister's Fall Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review.
“While I hope that it benefits our tourism industry, it appears that the Government's advertising is really intended to create a positive impression of the Ontario Liberal Party in the lead up to the Provincial election,” Mr. Arnott concluded.
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