Minister Joly continues her cross-country listening tour in Quebec

Minister engages with local tourism sector experts throughout the province as she develops Canada's new tourism strategy

RIMOUSKI, QC, Jan. 26, 2019 /CNW/ - The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, was pleased to hear from front-line tourism sector experts in Quebec as she continued her cross-country listening tour. The Minister hosted tourism roundtables in Beloeil and Cookshire-Eaton, where she gained valuable insight from key tourism stakeholders.

She went on to Jonquière and Rimouski, where she highlighted the economic potential of tourism in Canada and how the sector creates good jobs to support middle-class families.

Since November 2018, the Minister has been hosting roundtables with a wide range of Canadians working in the tourism sector to gather their ideas and hear about their experiences. These valuable discussions will help in developing a new federal strategy to maximize Canada's tourism potential.

At the beginning of her listening tour, Minister Joly announced the creation of the Advisory Council on Jobs and the Visitor Economy. The Council will help identify important issues facing the tourism sector in Canada and will provide advice and recommendations on growing tourism and increasing its competitiveness.

Minister Joly will be continuing her listening tour in the coming months. These roundtables are providing her with important insight into what is needed to further grow Canada's visitor economy. Expanding tourism opportunities in Canada will help attract new visitors in every region, rural and urban, of the country.

Quote

"Our government knows that tourism helps every part of the country, including Rimouski, by creating good jobs for middle-class families. Over the last few months, I've had the privilege of meeting people across the country who work relentlessly to make Canada a tourist destination of choice. Their unique experiences and the work of the Council will inform our new federal tourism strategy to maximize Canada's potential. The future is bright for Canadian tourism."
? The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

Quick facts

• Tourism represents 2% of Canada's gross domestic product.
• Tourism supports 1.8 million jobs in Canada.
• Tourism supports 355,100 jobs and 32,000 businesses in Quebec, according to the Alliance de l'industrie touristique du Québec.

Associated links

• Tourism in Canada
• Advisory Council on Jobs and the Visitor Economy
• Minister Joly creates the Advisory Council on Jobs and the Visitor Economy to maximize Canada's tourism potential

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SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada