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FedNor funding will support tourism in the Niagara region

More than 30,000 jobs in Niagara rely directly on tourism
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NEWS RELEASE
MP VANCE BADAWEY
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WELLAND - Ongoing efforts to raise the concerns of Niagara’s tourism sector during the COVID-19 pandemic appear to have paid off as the Federal Government announced it is directing $30 million to southern Ontario’s tourism industry.

“One of the most significant areas of concern during this pandemic, especially where Niagara is concerned, has been the region’s tourism sector and its ability to rebound from the financial losses suffered while the economy has been shut down,” said Niagara Centre Member of Parliament Vance Badawey following the funding announcement by the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages.

“It's vitally important that our tourism sector receives the help it needs to survive this crisis if Niagara’s economy is going to be able to return to the robust level of activity we enjoyed before this disease spread to Canada and the rest of the world,” said Badawey.

More than 30,000 jobs in Niagara rely directly on tourism.

Badawey said he has been in regular contact with representatives of Niagara’s tourism and business sectors throughout the pandemic and has been communicating their concerns with various officials and ministers at the federal level.

“I appreciate all those that continue to be in direct contact with me to ensure their interests are heard in Ottawa and I was very pleased by Minister Joly’s response in addressing Niagara’s challenges,” he said.

Minister Joly announced yesterday that the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) will receive $30 million in FedDev Ontario RRRF funding to provide financial relief to destination marketing organizations (DMOs) across southern Ontario that have experienced significant revenue shortfalls.

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario supports Ontario’s vibrant and diverse tourism industry and advocates for the importance of the industry to economic development and job creation.

DMOs are critical to the fabric of local tourism sectors in communities across the region. The funding delivered by TIAO will support southern Ontario’s 66 DMOs to drive visitors back into local communities as the economy reopens. This, in turn will help generate new revenue for tourism dependent SMEs and help local economic recovery in communities across the region. Applications can be submitted online starting June 5. For more information on how to apply, visit www.tiaontario.ca.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound economic impact on businesses and organizations across the country. The tourism sector in particular has suffered, as travel and tourism-related activities have ceased. From the outset, the Government of Canada has introduced measures to support sectors affected by the pandemic, including the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF), launched on May 13.

"From local wineries to natural attractions, we want to support the businesses operating in this sector so they can keep showcasing our region’s attractions. FedDev Ontario’s partnership with the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario will do just this, delivering targeted funds to the organizations best equipped to market southern Ontario’s tourist attractions and keep them resilient," said Kate Young, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedDev Ontario).

The national $962-million fund, being delivered through Canada’s regional development agencies, aims to support businesses and tourism SMEs across Canada that have been unable to access existing federal relief measures. In southern Ontario, FedDev Ontario is delivering $213 million to support the region’s SMEs.

Quick Facts
  • The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario represents 200,000 businesses and 400,000 employees and takes on pressing policy issues that impact the Ontario tourism industry.
  • Destination marketing organization members typically include hotels, restaurants, transportation organizations, tourism operators, retailers and other tourism-dependent businesses in a local community.
  • The amount of funding available to individual DMOs will be determined by TIAO, based on each DMO’s annual operating budget. TIAO will be releasing additional details on the project in the coming days.
  • In Ontario, tourism accounts for $39.4 billion of GDP and directly and indirectly supports more than 820,000 jobs.
  • Minister Joly also announced that over the next 18 months, Destination Canada, Canada’s national marketing organization, will partner with provinces and territories to deliver locally-led marketing programs encouraging Canadian’s to discover local tourist sites. Destination Canada will invest $30 million with provincial marketing organizations (PMOs), which will be matched by provinces and territories bringing the total investment to $60 million.

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