Campbell calls for tourist info. centres to be reopened

By Sarah Campbell
M.P.P.

Sarah Campbell, MPP Kenora-Rainy River, and NDP Tourism Critic Paul Miller, MPP Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, asked the Wynne government to outline how its tourism strategy is actually helping the province’s tourism industry.
Last year, Travel Information Centres in Kenora-Rainy River were replaced by a failed electronic Travel App, which the province contended met changing needs. The problem is it does not work in much of the North, says Campbell.
“Once tourists reach our border, they have absolutely no contact with our government, our knowledgeable travel experts, nor with our tourist destinations,” says Campbell, who points out that much of the region is a dead zone for cellular technology.
Meanwhile, travel centres in Manitoba remain open and the Ontario Government permits Manitoba to post tourism billboards on Ontario highways, while hardworking Northern Ontario tourist operators report difficulties getting their billboard space on these same highways.
“The Government has never provided a reasonable justification for closing the centres, the Travel App does not work, and now it’s allowing other jurisdictions to poach our customers inside our borders. Where exactly is the strategy to support Ontario’s vital tourism industry?” asked Campbell.
“When questioned about this ill-advised decision, the Minister simply spews scripted Liberal tag lines without any substance, real thought or consideration for the tourists and businesses in our North,” said Miller. “Same old lines, same old rhetoric, same old Liberal spin.”
“This government needs to show that it actually cares about tourism in Ontario’s North, cares about tourist operators, cares about small businesses and cares about the economic health of our North by rescinding this foolish decision and re-opening all Travel Information Centres,” said Miller. “Bring back the life-line for tourism in Ontario, rather than helping Manitoba take our tourist dollars west”.