Hamilton, ON, November 17, 2016: Today, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has released new data that reveals a significant tourism opportunity gap when compared to international growth rates. According to the organization’s report, Closing the Tourism Gap: Creating a Long-Term Advantage for Ontario, Ontario has foregone nearly $16 billion in visitor spending between 2006 and 2012 by not keeping up with global growth trends. While this year has been a strong year for tourism in Ontario, it is important that this recent growth is translated into long-term, sustainable gains in tourism visitation.

“The tourism industry is an important economic driver in Hamilton as well as in many other communities across the province,” said Keanin Loomis, President & CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. “However, through research outlined in this report, we’ve found that Ontario is missing out on significant tourism growth in comparison to international trends. Our local industry and the province as a whole must take steps to boost our reputation as a global destination for foreign visitors and close the tourism gap.”

The Hamilton Chamber’s report identifies a number of challenges faced by tourism operators and the broader tourism community in Ontario, while presenting a series of action items to address them. The Hamilton Chamber is encouraged that the government is moving ahead with an action plan for the province’s tourism industry, a key consideration highlighted by its membership.

The Hamilton Chamber’s report is clear about the need for any provincial strategy to include measurable targets, a practice currently employed by many successful tourism destinations. These targets would help to organize and coordinate tourism activities amongst the diverse group of public and private tourism organizations in Ontario, another key recommendation of the report.

“Our community is situated on the base of the beautiful Niagara Escarpment, with easy access to its unique geographical attractions, in addition to having a unique cultural identity supported by a burgeoning local food, music and retail scene that already brings in thousands of tourists from across the province” said Keanin Loomis, President and CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. “Through coordinated support from the province, we can further achieve substantial economic gains while keeping up with global growth trends.” added Loomis.

To produce this report, the OCC convened a group of Ontario’s leading thinkers within the tourism community. The report builds on previous initiatives undertaken by members of the tourism industry and further substantiates the need for a focused and measured approach targeted towards supporting the future of tourism in Ontario.

CLICK HERE to read the report.

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Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Media Contact:

Name: Huzaifa Saeed | Policy & Research Analyst | Hamilton Chamber of Commerce | t: 905-522-1151 ext: 230 | e: h.saeed@hamiltonchamber.ca | c: 905-220-3030

OCC Media Contact:

Michelle Kelly | Senior Communications Advisor | Ontario Chamber of Commerce | T: 416.482.5222 ext. 2410

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