New strategy will empower communities and create jobs for the middle class
Sherbrooke, Quebec - Canada's tourism sector is booming, bringing in record numbers of international visitors in 2017 and 2018. It's our number one service export and accounts for one in ten jobs. The Government of Canada is committed to building on this momentum by investing in tourism to create middle class jobs, grow Canada's economy, and bring new opportunities and pride to communities looking for a chance to show the world what they have.
That's why the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, was in Sherbrooke today to meet with agriculture entrepreneurs to discuss Creating Middle Class Jobs: A Federal Tourism Growth Strategy.
This strategy will empower communities of all sizes through short- and long-term measures by:
- providing $58.5 million in funding through the Canadian Experiences Fund to enhance Canada's tourism products and experiences;
- changing the way we invest in tourism by developing Tourism Investment Groups where all levels of government will collaborate to invest more efficiently while meeting local priorities and identifying ways to raise private investment; and
- creating the new Tourism Industry Economic Strategy Table to provide a platform for government and industry leaders to collaborate on overcoming sector challenges.
These three pillars will take a whole-of-government approach to addressing barriers to growth, such as lack of investment coordination and labour shortages.
Many international travellers choose their destinations partly based on gastronomy. Through the Canadian Experiences Fund, the new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy will prioritize investments in various agritourism-related projects involving, for example, breweries, wineries, farms and maple syrup producers. This will help strengthen Canada's reputation as a country that offers a wide variety of highly regarded homegrown and locally sourced products.
Source : Government Of Canada