Posted By JOHN ROBBINS REVIEW STAFF WRITER
The Canadian tourism industry is experiencing its longest period of decline since the 9-11 terrorist attacks almost eight years ago, according to Statistics Canada report released Monday.
But if the recent experience of the Niagara Parks Commission is a good indication of what’s happening elsewhere in Niagara, Ontario and across Canada today, the Statistics Canada figures showing a 1.3 per cent decrease in tourism spending during the first quarter of 2009 will be seen as comparatively good news.
Parks commission chairman Jim Williams says the NPC has seen its revenues fall sharply since the beginning of June when new border-crossing regulations came into effect.
“We were actually having a fairly good turnaround from Nov. 1 until May 31,” said Williams. “Overall, our numbers were up eight per cent or thereabouts, year over year.
“But since the beginning of June, there has been a dramatic decline … We’ve experienced anywhere from 15 to 20 per cent decline in all of our various revenue generating operations just since June 1.”
Williams attributes the decline in large measure to the introduction of the border-crossing documentation requirements imposed by the United States under the so-called Western Hemisphere Travel Initiatives.
The legislation requires Americans and other citizens entering the United States to show a passport or some other form of secure identification, such as a Nexus Card or enhanced driver’s licence.
“My guess is this is pretty much the norm right across the tourism industry, particularly border sites that rely on a lot of American tourism.”
Highlights of the Statistics Canada report released Monday include:
* The first quarter of 2009 was the first time tourism spending has fallen for three consecutive quarters since 2001. During that downturn, tourism spending fell by a cumulative 5.3 per cent in real terms;
* Spending by international visitors fell 5.7 per cent during the first quarter of 2009 -the 14th decline in 17 quarters and the sharpest decline since the SARS outbreak during the second quarter of 2003;
* Spending by Canadians on tourism in Canada edged down one-tenth of a per cent during the first quarter of 2009, following “modest” declines during the last two quarters of 2008.
Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor said the Statistics Canada figures are disappointing by not surprising, considering the state of the economy worldwide.
Craitor said he’s hopeful government investment in tourism-related infrastructure, such as the new convention centre in Niagara Falls, support for festivals and events and spending on marketing Ontario, will help stem the losses.
