Should Ottawa Get Involved in Tourism Promotion?

Tourism is an important part of a nation's economy. That is why cities, towns, villages, even, compete for the tourist dollar.

Now, the federal government has jumped in, head first, too. It has created a national strategy plan that it hopes will help the tourism industry flourish.

But: why should the government be involved at all? Well, the reason is simple: the more tourists, the more sales; the more sales, the more jobs in retail; the more sales and the more jobs, the more the government rakes in in taxes.

The question is: will the government's participation not interfere with the perfectly logical competition that exists between tourism companies, and that exists between provinces, cities, towns and villages, even?
It's not only about slick ads that have made Canada so irresistible to tourists. While concentrating on the wonders of our geography, now, these ads concentrate more on people – with the geographical wonders in a convenient background.

The federal government is facing a tough job in at least one of its goals: it wants to make it easier for tourists to come in and enjoy themselves, but – at the same time – it has got to keep a strict eye on whom it lets in. The post-9/11 world has changed not only our perceptions of reality, but the reality itself, too.

The government also said it would be doing its darndest to encourage "product development and investments in Canadian tourism assets and products." Well, whatever THAT is supposed to mean.

It also plans to foster "an adequate supply of skills and labour to enhance visitor experiences through quality service and hospitality."

These two last statements were verbatim quotes from the government's announcement.

The question, of course, is simple: tourism industry consists of many privately-held companies. Does this initiative not mean the government is wandering where it shouldn't be wandering? Can't the tourism industry create its own slick advertising campaigns? Can't the tourism industry train its own "adequate supply of skills and labour to enhance visitor experiences through quality service and hospitality?"

Yes, absolutely, it IS the government's responsibility to keep a jaundiced eye on the cross-border traffic. It's part of our safety and security, after all, and even our Constitution mentions this responsibility when it mentions we're entitled to "good government."

But the rest of it?

One wonders.

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