Time to “seize the moment”

Destinations and providers of tourism products at Rendez-vous Canada (RVC) in Québec City in June were told to ‘seize the moment’ and take full advantage of Canada’s surging popularity.

Speaking at the country’s first totally inperson Rendez-vous for four years, Randy Boissonnault (pictured right), Canada’s ebullient Minister of Tourism, said: “We are all ambassadors for our communities and for our country.

“Canada is open for business... and U.S. president Joe Biden was right when he visited Canada recently and said that ‘the world wants what Canada can offer’.”

The minister added: “Canada has wide open spaces, three oceans, grand adventures, exciting attractions, nature in abundance and 230,00sq kms of coastline, one of the largest in the world.”

He added: “It has the Trans Canada Trail, the longest network of multi-use recreational trails in the world, and top-ranked international ski destinations – with visitors able to choose from 290 ski resorts – and 48 National Parks.

“RVC offers an unprecedented opportunity for communities large and small to showcase the best of our country to buyers around the world. I can’t wait to see how high our tourism sector will soar – we are ready,” he enthused.

Marsha Walden, President and CEO for Destination Canada, said tourism is at the very heart of Canada’s economic engine and benefits more regions than any other industry. “It enriches the lives of our guests and generates wealth and wellbeing for all Canadians.”

She added: “If there was any silver lining in the pandemic it’s that people emerged from it with a recognition of what tourism and hospitality means to communities and what travel means to their personal lives.”

Rendezvous Canada was first staged in 1977 and is one of the world’s longest-running travel trade shows.

The event was worth an estimated C$3.6 million in direct economic spin-offs to host province Québec during the week of the show but over C$90 million in long-term economic benefits for the industry nationwide.

Next year’s RVC will be held in Edmonton, Alberta, with dates still to be decided. rendezvouscanada.ca

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