Multimedia "Portraits of America" to be Featured in International Arrivals Areas, U.S. Embassies and Other Venues to Welcome Visitors to the United States

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State in partnership with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts premiered "Welcome: Portraits of America," a multi-media initiative to welcome international visitors to the United States. The donation from Disney included a seven-minute film and hundreds of still images, featuring American people from all regions and walks of life. Disney commissioned the project as part of the Rice-Chertoff Initiative, which seeks to secure America's borders while welcoming legitimate visitors to the United States.

"We greatly appreciate Disney's significant contributions to our efforts to make America's embassies and airports more welcoming to our international guests. Disney's creativity and excellence wonderfully capture the essence of America, which is embodied in the diversity and values of our people," said Karen Hughes, Under Secretary of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Department of State.

"Travelers form their first impressions of America when they arrive at our borders. Our global reputation therefore depends on making visitors feel every bit as welcome as they feel secure," said Stewart Baker, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Department of Homeland Security.

"We are proud to partner with the U.S. government to extend a world class welcome to America's guests," said Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "This project showcases America's greatest asset: the ordinary people who make this nation extraordinary."

The film and still portraits showcase the diversity, friendliness and optimism of the American people. The film will be shown in the Federal Inspection Areas of U.S. airports, and in U.S. embassies and consulates overseas, while the still portraits will be incorporated in posters, banners and other imagery welcoming visitors to the U.S. The video and images will not feature or promote any commercial entities. The first airports to feature the images will be Washington Dulles International Airport and Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, to be followed by the nation's other international airports.

For the project, Disney attracted a world-class creative team including producer Federico Tio, a highly-regarded marketer of some of America's best-known motion pictures. Born in Havana, Cuba on May 1, 1962, Tio came to the United States on one of the first "Freedom Flights" in 1965. Tio's crew embarked on a cross-country odyssey to capture the content for the video, including images of ordinary Americans at work, play, with family and at moments of introspection.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff announced a joint vision to enhance border security while streamlining security processes and facilitating travel for legitimate visitors in January 2006. As part of this initiative, the Secure Borders, Open Doors Advisory Committee was established with participation from the business, travel and tourism and academic communities. One of the goals of the Advisory Committee is to help the Departments of State and Homeland Security establish a friendlier, more welcoming process for visitors from the time they apply for a visa to their entry into the United States.

Overnight travel by Canadian residents to the United States rose 4.2% to almost 1.5 million, setting a new record for overnight air travel in the process. Canadian residents took 498,000 overnight plane trips in August, up 2.3% compared with the previous month.

Overnight car travel also increased, with a 5.3% jump in August compared with July. The number of same-day car trips increased a more modest 0.6% to nearly 2.0 million trips.

Although the Canadian dollar was 9.5 US cents higher in August than in January, the Canadian dollar actually fell 0.7 US cents from July to 94.5 US cents. In relation to other major currencies, the Canadian dollar rose against the euro and the UK pound sterling but declined against the Japanese yen in August compared with July.

Overall travel from abroad increased 2.4% from July, as US and overseas travellers took nearly 2.6 million trips to Canada in August.

Travel to Canada from the United States rebounded in August after witnessing across the board declines in July. American residents took 2.2 million same-day and overnight trips to Canada in August, up 2.8% from the previous month.

Overnight travel from the United States increased 4.3% in August to 1.1 million trips, while same-day car travel rose 0.9% to 975,000 trips.

Overnight car travel witnessed the largest increase, as US residents took 665,000 trips in August, up 4.7% from July. Overnight travel by plane and by other modes increased 4.4% and 2.3%, respectively.

Although travel to Canada from overseas countries remained stable at 385,000 trips, travel from 7 of Canada's top 12 overseas markets increased in August compared with July. Among the top 12 markets, travel from Mexico posted the largest gain (+5.8%), while travel from China recorded the largest decrease, dropping 3.4%.

The University of Guelph has created a special University Research Chair to focus on issues of importance and interest to the tourism and hospitality industry.

Prof. Marion Joppe, director of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM), will be the inaugural chair holder. She has relinquished her current duties to take on the five-year position.

"This is a unique opportunity to position and advance collaborative research on a number of fronts of great concern to the industry," said Joppe. "These include the looming labour shortage, the environmental impact of travel, and the repositioning of Canada in light of rapidly changing consumer attitudes and motivations."

Joppe, who joined U of G in 2003, has an extensive research career that focuses on the planning, development and marketing of destinations, with particular focus on heritage, ethnic and wellness tourism. She is also interested in trade and incentive travel as well as e-commerce.

During her career, Joppe has received a number of prestigious awards and grants, including ones from the Society of Incentive and Travel Executives Foundation, the Ontario Hostelry Institute, the Ontario Accommodation Association and the HAFA/HTM Alumni Association. In 2007, she was appointed to a seat on the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council and is the current Chair of the Ontario Tourism Education Corporation. She also has a long-standing involvement with the Canadian Tourism Commission’s Product Enhancement and Innovation Committee.

"This appointment recognizes Marion's personal achievements as a scholar in tourism research and the importance of this field to the School and College of Management and Economics (CME)," said dean Chris McKenna.

"Through this research chair, Marion will continue to provide leadership in the tourism area, both in her research and through her involvement in several national and international organizations."

McKenna added that Joppe made many positive changes as HTM director, including boosting the reputation of its restaurant and programming, improving external relations and enhancing graduate programs. She also helped position the school as a leader in preparing students for industry.

Joppe has been teaching and working in the hospitality and tourism industry for more than 20 years internationally and in Canada. She worked for the provincial government as its senior policy adviser for tourism and was a faculty member with Ryerson University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Waterloo and received her master’s and doctorate from the Université de Droit, d'Économie et des Sciences d'Aix-Marseille III in France.

MONTREAL - VIA Rail Canada is pleased to announce it has partnered with Premier Spas of Ontario to introduce the new Spa Train Route. Passengers can immerse themselves in the relaxing comforts of train travel while contemplating the peaceful spa treatments that await them at one of the Premier Spa destinations along the Spa Train Route. So grab your girlfriends for a special getaway, celebrate your anniversary with special his-and-her treatments, or leave the world behind and get back in touch with yourself. Let VIA Rail and Premier Spas show you the "Human Way to Travel."

VIA Rail's Spa Train Route gives you access to 18 quality-assured Premier Spa destinations in Ontario that are waiting to indulge you with facials, massages, body wraps and other luxurious treatments to rejuvenate your body - and soul. Each of the participating Premier Spas offers packages that include return train travel and shuttle transportation to and from the nearest VIA Rail station.

Use VIA Rail's Spa Train Route and take the healthy track to any of the
following Premier Spas:

- Au Naturel Spa - Ottawa, ON (nearest station: Fallowfield)
- Holtz Spa - Ottawa, ON
- Claramount Inn & Spa - Picton, ON (nearest station: Belleville)
- The Hillcrest -Valenova Hotel & Spa - Port Hope/Cobourg, ON
- HighFields Country Inn & Spa - Zephyr, ON (nearest station: Oshawa)
- Ste. Anne's Spa - Grafton, ON (nearest station: Cobourg)
- Elizabeth Milan Day Spa - Toronto, ON
- Elmwood Spa - Toronto, ON
- HealthWinds - Toronto, ON
- Rosewater Health and Beauty Spa - Oakville, ON
- SilveryBlue Butterfly Spa - Oakville, ON
- Magnolia House Spa - Waterdown, ON (nearest station: Aldershot)
- Langdon Hall Country House Hotel and Spa - Cambridge, ON
- Pillar & Post 100 Fountain Spa - Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (nearest
station: St. Catherines)
- The Spa at White Oaks - Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (nearest station:
Niagara Falls)
- Fayez Beauty Spa - London, ON

Looking to explore Ontario a bit more? There are also two Premier Spas of Ontario destinations north of Ontario, along VIA's flagship Canadian route:

- Trillium Resort & Spa - Port Sydney, ON (nearest station: Washago)
- Inn at Manitou - McKellar, ON (nearest station: Parry Sound)

For more information on the Spa Train Route and the various spa packages,
go to viarail.ca/spatrain.

Visits for pleasure, vacation, holiday, and visiting friends and relatives represented 91% of all domestic visits. Together, these visits increased 2.1% in the third quarter of 2006 compared with the same period in 2005.

Intra-provincial visits reached 58.5 million in the third quarter of 2006, while inter-provincial visits totalled 7.6 million.

In Canada, 9 domestic visits out of 10 were taken within the traveller's province of residence.

Same day visits reached 32.9 million in the third quarter of 2006, while overnight visits totalled 32.0 million.

Canadian residents spent an average of four nights away from home during their overnight visits in Canada. Of the 116.2 million nights spent away from home, 50.9 million were spent in a commercial establishment.

Domestic travel usually peaks during the summer vacation period. The number of visits in Canada was 23.2 million in July, almost equal to the 23.5 million visits recorded in August, and in September it reached 18.2 million.

Canadian travellers spent $11.8 billion within the country during the third quarter of 2006. When taking inflation into account, spending on domestic visits totalled $11.0 billion (in 2002 dollars) for this same quarter.

More than 60% of all domestic expenditures were for transportation ($3.9 billion) and food and beverages ($3.4 billion).

In the third quarter of 2006, Canadian spending on domestic visits for pleasure, vacation, holiday, and visiting friends and relatives increased 2.0% compared with the same period in 2005.

Americans made only 1.1 million overnight trips to Canada in July, about 81,000 fewer than in June. This was equivalent to a 7.1% decline, which was the fastest in over four years.

The level was the lowest since the height of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) crisis in May 2003, and the second lowest level in over a decade. (Unless otherwise specified, monthly data are seasonally adjusted.)

In fact, overnight travel from the United States was down across the board. Declines in overnight border crossings were recorded in all regions of Canada. Also, overnight car travel dropped 6.4% to its lowest level in over 22 years, while travel by plane fell 5.5%.

American residents made 959,000 same-day car trips to Canada in July, 3.9% less than in June. Same-day car travel from the United States had increased during the previous four months.

Overall, travel from the United States dropped to 2.1 million trips, down 5.2% from the previous month and the second lowest level since record-keeping started in 1972.

Turmoil within the mortgage and credit sectors in the United States may have kept Americans from travelling to Canada in July. Another factor may have been the Canadian dollar, which has been gaining ground against its US counterpart. The loonie increased for a sixth consecutive month, hitting a 30-year high of 95 US cents in July.

Travel from countries other than the United States also fell, but to a lesser extent. Travellers from overseas countries made 376,000 overnight trips to Canada, down 1.4% from June.

The major security breach at Glasgow Airport in Scotland on June 30 does not seem to have deterred residents of the United Kingdom from travelling to Canada in July. Travel from the UK, Canada's most important overseas market, reached 76,000 trips, up 0.5%.

Among Canada's top 12 overseas markets, travel from Mexico recorded the largest decline (-12.1%), while travel from Hong Kong had the largest gain (+8.4%).

Also, travel to the United States showed a slight increase, with Canadian residents taking 3.4 million trips south of the border, up 0.2% from June.

The increase was the result of a 0.6% gain in overnight travel by car and a 2.0% increase by plane. Overall, overnight travel to the United States moved up 0.7% to 1.4 million trips.

Same-day car travel to the United States slipped 0.1% to 2.0 million trips in July.

Travel to overseas countries remained stable in July, with Canadians taking 605,000 trips to non-US destinations.

Note: Revisions have been made to some non-seasonally adjusted series for each month of the fourth quarter of 2006 and the first quarter of 2007.

HONG KONG - Worldhotel-link.com Limited (WHL) announced the launch of its network of travel sites (www.whl.travel) in over 70 destinations in 40 countries, including China and India. The sites are catering to those wishing to travel "off the beaten track" and who are tired of the "fast food" travel options being offered by most online service providers.

Increasing numbers of independent travelers are heading for emerging destinations in search of an authentic experience, but have not been well served by the mainstream travel market. WHL has set out to change this with local partners on the ground in each destination they service.

"So far, most of the accommodation and activities mentioned in guidebooks like Lonely Planet have not been bookable online," said Len Cordiner, CEO of WHL. "Our new network not only gives travelers a choice of interesting accommodation and activity options, but it also gives them a more personalized way of connecting with the locals and the place."

WHL, a private company, originated from a project sponsored by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), partof the World Bank Group, to help interesting and unique travel service providers in the developing world gain access to global markets. "Accommodation and activity providers in places like Madagascar and Mongolia face big challenges in connecting with travelers," says Len Cordiner, "so we have local people on the ground in each destination to enable that connection and provide a local concierge type service."

More than this, WHL is committed to putting more and new interesting and exciting experiences within the travelers' reach, particularly those that enhance the character of the destination being visited: food, aesthetics, culture, heritage, and environment. WHL encourages travelers to get involved in "Caring for the Destination." WHL is also working on ways to profile local climate change initiatives such as the Plant a Tree Today (PATT) initiative in Laos, as well as ways to improve the travelers experience by integrating grassroots businesses, such as township B&Bs in South Africa, and community initiatives.

Canada's largest cities are the country's arts and culture hubs, with the size of an area's cultural workforce depending largely on the area's total workforce. Despite this reality, a number of rural areas and small cities, particularly in British Columbia, Nunavut and Quebec, show unusually high proportions of cultural workers, according to a new study.

The study, "Towards a Geography of Culture: Culture Occupations Across the Canadian Urban-Rural Divide," used 2001 Census data. The Canadian Framework for Culture Statistics was used to define the culture sector in the workforce and to examine the proportion of cultural workers in the overall workforce in Canadian cities and rural areas, as well as the diversity of cultural occupations in those areas. While certain rural areas boasted a high proportion of cultural employment, those occupations tended to be specialized, the study found, with the largest cities showing the biggest variety of cultural occupations.

Relative to its overall workforce, the highest proportion of cultural workers was found in British Columbia's Capital Regional District, near Victoria. Of the four rural British Columbia areas that had very high shares of visual arts and design workers, three were on Vancouver Island, with the nearby Sunshine Coast completing the cultural "supercluster."

Another supercluster exists in the vicinity of Montréal, including two small cities and three rural areas with high cultural employment. Montréal had both the highest proportion of cultural workers among Canadian cities and the most diverse cultural workforce, with a large number of occupations in literary arts, performance arts, culture management, and technical as well as culture-related manufacturing occupations.

Nunavut, and particularly its Baffin Island region, had a high proportion of visual arts and design employment, the result of the production of Inuit carvings, tapestries, weavings and other artwork made for shipment elsewhere. In a few other rural areas, particularly in Quebec, cultural employment was dominated by manufacturing, with a limited range of manufactured culture products shipped to larger markets in Canada and abroad.

Among small cities that showed higher-than-average cultural employment, some, like Owen Sound, Ontario, and Magog, Quebec, also relied on shipments of manufactured culture products elsewhere. Others featured a greater presence of cultural venues, such as libraries, museums and theatres. Small-city clusters tend to have a more diverse cultural workforce than rural areas, implying that the range of cultural goods and services available for local consumption is greater.

For rural regions and small cities with high cultural employment, exports or proximity to a large urban centre were important, since local markets were generally too small to support the industry; Stratford, Ontario, for example, attracts audiences from nearby Toronto, Hamilton and Detroit to its theatre festival. In Canada's largest cities, on the other hand, cultural employment levels depended strongly on changes in the overall workforce size, indicating the importance of local demand.

Taxes on products, such as the goods and services tax (GST) and provincial sales taxes, comprise the single largest source of government revenue from tourism, according to a new study.

In total, tourism generated an estimated $19.4 billion in revenue for all three levels of government in Canada in 2006, up from just over $15.0 billion in 2000.

In 2006, taxes on products accounted for 51% of the federal government's revenue from tourism. For the provincial and territorial governments, the proportion was 61%, the study found.

Income taxes, such as those on employment income and business profits, were the second most important source of revenue from tourism for both the federal and provincial/territorial governments. Property taxes were the main source of revenue for municipalities.

Taxes on products generated $10.3 billion for the three levels of government combined, over half of the revenue attributable to tourism in 2006. Income taxes generated another $4.5 billion, close to one-quarter of the revenue from tourism.

Other taxes on production (e.g., property taxes) generated $2.3 billion, while contributions to social insurance plans amounted to $1.9 billion. Government sales of goods and services to tourists (e.g., park entrance fees) added another $400 million.

Government revenue from tourism increases faster than tourist spending

The increase in revenue that tourism generated for governments between 2000 and 2006 outpaced the gain in spending on tourism by both Canadian and international travellers.

The tourism revenues of governments rose at an annual average rate of 4.5% during this period, while spending by tourists increased at an average rate of 3.8%.

This increase stemmed in part from the introduction of the air travellers security charge in 2002, as well as increased tax revenues from products purchased by tourists, like alcohol and tobacco, vehicle fuel, and recreational and camping equipment.

Government revenue from tourism slipped in only two of the seven years covered by this study. The declines occurred in 2001, when the 9/11 terrorist attacks dominated the tourism landscape, and in 2003, when the issue was the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak.

According to Statistics Canada's most recent release of the National Tourism Indicators, Canadian and international tourists combined spent $66.8 billion in Canada in 2006.

For every $100 of this spending, the study found that governments raised $29.10 in 2006, up from $27.90 in 2000. The federal government raised $13.60, the provincial and territorial governments took in $13.90, while municipal governments received $1.60.

The federal government took in $9.1 billion from tourism in 2006. Taxes on products, mainly the GST, were its single most important source of tourism revenue, raising $4.6 billion.

The provincial and territorial governments collectively raised $9.3 billion. Again, taxes on products, mainly provincial sales taxes, were the largest source of revenue, bringing in $5.7 billion.

The municipal governments received a much smaller $1.1 billion. Almost all of this came from other taxes on production, mostly property taxes.

The one-percentage point reduction in the goods and services tax that took effect July 1, 2006, slowed the growth of tourism revenue at the federal level to 2.4% in 2006. This was less than half the growth rate of 7.1% for the provinces and territories, and the rate of 5.6% for municipalities.

Tourism accounting for higher share of government revenues

The study found that tourism accounted for 3.9% of government revenue in 2006. This reflected the relatively high taxes on many goods and services bought by tourists, such as fuel, alcohol, and entertainment in casinos. At the same time, tourism accounted for 3.8% of all jobs in the economy and 2.0% of Canada's gross domestic product (GDP).

Moreover, tourism's share of government revenue was higher in 2006 than it was in 2000, unlike its share of overall GDP and jobs.

In 2002, tourism accounted for 4.0% of government revenue. This contribution slipped a quarter of a percentage point in 2003, the year of the SARS outbreak, and since then it has been growing.

Between 2005 and 2006, government revenue from tourism rose by 4.8% (in nominal terms). All levels of government registered higher tourism revenues, with the federal and provincial/territorial governments taking the lion's share.

Summary indicators
	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
Government revenue attributable to tourism ($ billions)	15.0	14.9	16.3	16.1	17.1	18.5	19.4
year-over-year growth (%)		-0.6	9.3	-1.5	6.6	8.1	4.8
as a share of government revenue in scope (%)	3.77	3.79	4.00	3.76	3.79	3.87	3.91
per $100 dollars of tourism spending ($)	27.90	27.60	28.80	29.30	29.20	29.60	29.10
Gross domestic product at basic prices ($ billions)	999.9	1,032.2	1,068.8	1,128.8	1,201.0	1,280.7	1,349.1
Tourism gross domestic product at basic prices ($ billions)	22.4	22.5	23.3	22.4	24.0	25.7	27.4
Tourism's share of GDP at basic prices (%)	2.24	2.18	2.18	1.98	2.00	2.01	2.03
Total employment (thousands of jobs)	15,052	15,204	15,583	15,913	16,193	16,459	16,756
Employment generated by tourism (thousands of jobs)	610	608	611	612	616	622	634
Jobs attributable to tourism (%)	4.05	4.00	3.92	3.85	3.80	3.78	3.78

Note to readers

This new research study aims to fill an information gap on government revenue generated by tourism. When a tourist pays for a room in a hotel, for instance, this generates GST, PST and room tax to the various levels of government. In addition, income taxes are generated on the earnings of hotel employees, on the profits of the business, as well as property taxes. Governments also obtain revenue directly from tourists, for example, through museum admission fees and park entrance fees.

This study provides details on the revenue tourism generates for government, how much of it goes to each level of government, and how much comes from the various sources, both tax and non-tax. These data are not directly available in either the Canadian Tourism Satellite Account, or the National Tourism Indicators.

This study improves the timeliness of estimates of government revenue attributable to tourism, compared with a similar report released in 2003 based on results for 1998.

It provides preliminary estimates for 2006, nine months after the reference year. In the previous study, the lag between the reference year and publication was almost five years.

In addition, it provides the first time series of annual estimates of government revenue attributable to tourism, covering a period of seven years, 2000 to 2006.

In terms of the various sources of government revenue included or considered in-scope, this new study provides the same level of coverage (about 85% of revenue from all sources) as the previous one.

This study was funded by the Canadian Tourism Commission.

“The new hotel’s location, 5 miles from the Kitchener Airport and 30 miles from the Toronto Person Airport , makes our city an ideal market for an upscale, extended-stay hotel like Homewood Suites by Hilton,” said Billie-Anne Ryan, general manager.

“Our hotel is designed for guests who stay for five or more nights, but is also perfect for short stays and families who need to feel more at home while they are traveling,” Billie-Anne Ryan said. “We are the ideal place for those travelers who are away from home or the office for several days but still need to have a full kitchen, executive business center and complimentary high-speed internet access.”

The Homewood Suites by Hilton Cambridge - Waterloo address is: 800 Jamieson Parkway, Cambridge Ontario. The hotel is conveniently located near many local tourist attractions including shopping within a 2 mile radius and African Lion Safari within a 15 mile radius.

The 6-story Homewood Suites by Hilton Cambridge - Waterloo features residential-style studio, one- and two-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens and spacious sleeping and living areas that are large enough for work, study, entertaining or relaxing. In an effort to help guests be more productive, complimentary high-speed Internet is available in each guest suite, as well as in the Lodge and meeting rooms. In addition, the Hilton Family of Hotels custom-designed its own clock for each guest suite, featuring one of the easiest-to-set alarms. What's more, the new clocks also feature a connection cable for MP3 players and other portable music devices including ipodsâ, an addition Hilton made after research revealed that consumers prefer to maintain their own music lifestyles while on the road.

The deficit dropped for the second consecutive quarter since reaching a record high of $2.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2006. However, the travel deficit still remains one of the highest ever.

Increased travel spending in Canada contributed to the trimming of the deficit. Foreigners spent $4.2 billion in the country in the second quarter, up 2.1% from the previous quarter.

Also, Canadian travel spending abroad slipped for the second consecutive quarter, down 0.8% to $5.9 billion. Prior to this, it had increased for nine consecutive quarters.

Travel deficit with the US lowest in a year

The travel deficit with the United States dropped for the first time in a year in the second quarter of 2007, falling to its lowest level since the second quarter of 2006. The deficit slipped to $1.1 billion, down $195 million from the 13-year high observed at the start of 2007.

Travellers from the United States spent $2.1 billion in Canada in the second quarter, up 4.4% from the previous quarter. This was the first increase in spending in a year and only the second since the end of 2004.

Increased overnight travel spurred the higher travel spending from the United States. American residents took 3.4 million overnight trips in the second quarter, up 3.7% from the first quarter.

A drop in spending by Canadians in the United States also contributed to lowering the deficit. Canadian residents spent $3.2 billion in the second quarter, down 3.3% and the lowest level in a year. The decreased spending occurred despite a 13-year high in overnight travel south of the border, which reached 4.1 million trips, up 0.9% from the previous quarter.

In the second quarter, the Canadian dollar reached an average of 91 US cents, up 6.7% from the previous quarter and the highest level in nearly 30 years.

Record spending by Canadians pushes travel deficit with overseas countries upward

Canada's travel deficit with overseas countries climbed to $668 million in the second quarter of 2007. This was a $64 million increase from the previous quarter and the second highest level in over three years.

Record spending in overseas countries contributed to the higher deficit as Canadians spent $2.7 billion, up 2.3% from the previous quarter. Spending overseas has shown an upward trend recently, falling only twice since the second quarter of 2003.

This surge in spending can be attributed to a jump in travel to non-US destinations. Travel to overseas countries has increased in the last seven quarters and has risen 54.0% in the last five years.

International travel account receipts and payments
	Second quarter 2006r	First quarter 2007r	Second quarter 2007p	First quarter to second quarter 2007
	Seasonally adjusted1
	$ millions			% change
United States
Receipts	2,243	2,022	2,110	4.4
Payments	3,129	3,276	3,169	-3.3
Balance	-886	-1,255	-1,059
All other countries
Receipts	1,970	2,084	2,081	-0.1
Payments	2,556	2,688	2,749	2.3
Balance	-586	-604	-668
Total
Receipts	4,213	4,106	4,191	2.1
Payments	5,685	5,964	5,918	-0.8
Balance	-1,472	-1,859	-1,727
r revised p preliminary 1. Data may not add to totals due to rounding.

In the second quarter, Canadians took a record 1.8 million trips overseas, up 0.6% from the previous quarter.

Spending by travellers from overseas countries in Canada slipped 0.1% to $2.1 billion in the second quarter. The minor setback was caused by a 1.5% drop in overnight travel from overseas countries.

Despite the drop in the number of tourists, travel from overseas countries is more popular than ever, as the two highest quarterly levels on record were reached in 2007. In the second quarter, over 1.1 million tourists from overseas countries visited Canada.

During the second quarter, the Canadian dollar gained against other major international currencies, such as the Japanese yen, the euro and the UK pound sterling.

Note to readers

This international travel account analysis is based on preliminary quarterly data, seasonally adjusted unless otherwise stated. Amounts are in Canadian dollars and are not adjusted for inflation.

Receipts represent spending by foreigners travelling in Canada, including education spending, medical spending and spending by crew members. Payments represent spending by Canadian residents travelling abroad, including education spending, medical spending and spending by crew members.

Overseas countries are those other than the United States.

Gasoline prices were only slightly higher in the first quarter compared with the same period in 2006, with prices in the United States and Canada being 0.9% and 1.5% higher respectively.

American residents made fewer than 800,000 overnight pleasure trips to Canada in the first quarter, a 10.9% drop compared with the same period last year. While the number of business trips increased 7.6% to 440,000, overnight trips for visiting friends and relatives declined 3.4% on a year-over-year basis.

American tourists spent an estimated $915 million in Canada, down 5.0% from the first quarter of 2006.

Travel to the US: Heading for the sun

In the first quarter, overnight travel to the United States rose to its highest first-quarter level since 1993. Canadian residents took about 3.7 million trips south of the border, up 4.8% from the same period in the previous year.

First-quarter Canadian overnight travel to the United States increased for the fourth consecutive year. Contrary to this upward trend, however, the Canadian dollar was valued at 85.4 US cents in the first quarter of 2007, down 1.5% compared with the same quarter in 2006.

Florida continued to be the most visited state as Canadians took over 1 million overnight visits to the Sunshine State in the first quarter. Southern states proved to be popular destinations, with both Florida and California recording strong increases of 14.2% and 13.7% respectively compared with the same quarter in 2006. However, Canadian tourists made 10.3% fewer visits to Arizona.

Pleasure trips, which accounted for 58.7% of overnight Canadian travel to the United States, rose 9.2% from the first quarter of 2006. During the same period, the number of business trips increased 2.2%, while trips to visit friends and relatives posted a more modest 0.4% gain compared with the first quarter of 2006.

Although the price of gasoline continued to rise, overnight car trips by Canadians to the United States increased 5.6% from the first quarter of 2006 to over 1.8 million.

Even though new passport requirements for Canadians entering the United States by airplane came into effect in January 2007, the number of overnight trips taken by air rose 4.7%. Canadians took 1.7 million overnight plane trips to the United States. It was the highest figure ever recorded for a first quarter.

About 26.6% of all overnight plane trips by Canadians to the United States in the first quarter were for business purposes.

Canadian spending in the United States rose 5.0% to about $3.1 billion.

Canadians travel overseas in record numbers

Canadians continued to travel to overseas destinations, setting yet another record for trips to overseas destinations between January and March.

Canadian residents made nearly 2.5 million overnight trips to overseas countries during the first three months of 2007. It was a first-quarter record, up 11.4% from the same quarter in 2006 when the previous record was set.

A sunspot was the most popular type of destination for Canadian residents in the first quarter. The top three most visited overseas countries for Canadians were Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

Over half a million overnight visits were made to Mexico alone, an increase of 24.6% from the first quarter of 2006. Visits to the Dominican Republic and Cuba rose 34.1% and 9.8% respectively compared with the same period in 2006, as nearly 400,000 overnight visits were made to each country.

Overall, travel to Central America rose 31.7%, while travel to the Caribbean increased 17.7% in the first quarter compared with the same period in 2006.

Travel to Europe, however, dropped 14.7% over the same time period. This was also the second consecutive year in which travel to Europe declined in the first quarter. This is perhaps a reflection of the 9.5% decrease in the value of the Canadian dollar against the euro in the first quarter.

During their trips to overseas countries, Canadians spent an estimated $3.0 billion, a 7.3% increase from the first three months of 2006 and a new record for a first quarter of the year.

More overseas visitors come to Canada

Just as travel by Canadians to overseas countries increased in the first quarter, so did the number of overseas trips to Canada.

Overseas tourists took an estimated 663,000 overnight trips to Canada between January and March 2007, up 7.2% compared with the same period in 2006.

The United Kingdom remained the top overseas country of origin, as its residents made 141,000 overnight trips to Canada. France ranked second with 58,000 tourists coming to Canada.

Overall, overseas residents spent an estimated $930 million on overnight trips in Canada, up 6.4% from the first quarter of 2006.

From Alternative Power Sources to Dissolvable Golf Balls, The Orphalese, Endeavors to Be All Luxury, All Green

NEW YORK, NY- Luxury residential cruise ship, The Orphalese, will lead the maritime industry in being the first ship of its kind to implement various innovative environmental or green initiatives and serve as a true cruising laboratory concerning ecological issues.



As The Orphalese circumnavigates the globe during its inaugural season, beginning in 2010, the residential cruise ship will endeavor to be as green as possible, as well as manage its overall impact on the delicate global ecosystem. The Orphalese will preserve not only the oceans but the lands that she will visit, especially as she spends 200 days in port.

Setting the green benchmark for other residential cruise ships, The Orphalese will use salt, instead of chlorine, as the catalyst in its ocean-based water desalinization units for recycling used water. In addition, The Orphalese will be in the vanguard of ships to feature solar panels for the generation of energy for the ship's exterior lighting. The residential cruise ship will also have a unique regeneration system utilizing exhaust gases from the engines to heat water and provide heat for onboard residences.

The Orphalese will sample from the most effective green land-based initiatives, adapting them for an environmentally friendly ocean-based luxury lifestyle. The ship's designers are working with the top designers and manufacturers in their respective fields to outfit the residences on-board with state-of-the-art environmentally friendly appliances that conserve energy and water. For example, The Orphalese will feature washing machines that use sound waves to clean clothes and conserve gallons of water.

Chief Administrative Officer of Orphalese Cruise Line, Victoria Ying Jin, said, "It's going way beyond keeping up with an environmentally friendly trend but more keeping in line with our guests and owners' lifestyles and what's important to them. Our owners and guests expect the very best and they are not going to forfeit their environmentally based values when they board the ship. We want to set an example and be the most luxurious residential cruise ship as well as the most environmentally friendly."

The Orphalese will pride herself on maintaining the highest environmental standards through the following green initiatives:

-- An on-board recycling plant that will recycle 100% of all solid waste products. In addition, it will also feature a wastewater treatment plant. Water reclaimed by these systems will be used for external ship cleaning purposes only.

-- Satellite positioning system will guide the ship to prevent dropping anchor on precious sea beds and coral.

-- The ability to run on green diesel as well as put in place special engine seals to prevent oil leakage.

-- Water desalinization units will use salt as the catalyst instead of chlorine.

-- LED lighting that will use 50% less energy than regular lighting and reduce carbon footprint by 70%. Solar panels will be installed to light ship's exterior.

-- Residences will feature state-of-the-art washing machines that use less water and sound waves to thoroughly clean clothes. These washing machines will use 10 gallons of water versus 60 gallons in a conventional washing machine.

-- All cleaning supplies on board will be biodegradable.

-- And for the ever mindful avid golfer, the golf balls used will be ones that can dissolve into fish food if they land in the ocean.

-- Recycling programs on board for passengers and employees.

VANCOUVER - The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) leads industry in changing Americans' views of Canada Since 1982 guests from around the world have been taken on a tour of beautiful Canadian landscapes and diverse cultures as they watched the film O Canada! in the Canada pavilion at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL.

Now, the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) and tourism industry partners have collaborated with the Walt Disney World Resort and Walt Disney Imagineering to give this movie a facelift. The newly enhanced film spotlights Canada in a modern, witty way - much like the CTC's new Brand Canada - by showcasing Canada's self-deprecating sense of humour and best-loved icons in a fresh, unexpected way.

This fall, the reworked version will light up the screen in the Canada pavilion at Epcot. Actor Martin Short, a Hamilton, ON native, confronts Canadian misconceptions head- on and demystifies them. Viewers take a journey through a country they thought they knew, but discover Canada is so much more than vast landscapes.

The film is 14 minutes in length with 65% new footage, including six new aerials of Montréal, QC, Toronto, ON, Calgary, AB, Vancouver and Victoria, BC and Niagara Falls, ON. Instead of cars, clothes and cityscapes, the film takes in acrobatic Cirque du Soleil performances and rowdy rodeo action at the Calgary Stampede. Scenes portray Canada's diverse people, culture and wilderness - a modern, young and beautiful nation. The soundtrack features 2006 "Canadian Idol" winner Eva Avila, a singer from Québec.

With this updated film, the CTC and its tourism partners hope to change perceptions. Canada is the world's No. 3 most-livable country and everybody wants a Canadian friend, according to Anholt Nation Brands Index. Even so, many Americans think Canada is a cold, northern place with little to do except explore nature. And Americans' opinions matter. The US is Canada's No. 1 international tourism market, attracting 14 million travelers a year. But since 9/11, these numbers have declined.

sound bite: "This film is a huge success story for Canada," says CTC President and CEO Michele McKenzie. "It does what our Brand Canada does - paints a picture of Canada as it is today: progressive, colourful, multi-ethnic and original. It's time we show Americans and the world what Canada really has to offer."

facts:

- The Canada film is presented in the Canada Pavilion at Epcot. This pavilion is part of the World Showcase at Epcot which features 11 countries that surround a 1.2-mi promenade that encircle the World Showcase Lagoon.

- The Canada pavilion features a replica of Fairmont Le Château Frontenac and a log cabin-style boutique selling Roots clothing and other popular Canadian products.

- Disney owns the film rights. Walt Disney Imagineering worked closely with the CTC and Canada's tourism leaders to provide content to update the film.

- The new Canada film is just one of many initiatives the CTC is taking to reach Americans. Most recently, the CTC and its Canadian tourism partners launched an aggressive print and billboard campaign in New York, Boston and Los Angeles. The campaign runs through this summer.

From photos of Marilyn Monroe during the filming of her 1953 movie Niagara to a black-and-white video of a couple on their honeymoon circa 1930, the Blog illuminates Niagara Falls' significance as a cultural icon as much as a natural phenomenon. More than entertainment and reminiscences, though, it is chock full of interesting and useful information--currently including photos and history of the nightly Niagara Falls illumination as well as tidbits about Journey Behind the Falls.

Anna Pierce, Executive Director Niagara Falls Tourism, notes, "The Visitors Blog will take on a life of its own and as more people learn about it, the information will be almost entirely driven by what our visitors consider important or interesting about Niagara Falls. We are part of an important new wave in providing travel information."

With the "Visitors Blog," FallsTV and a compelling new design, the new www.niagarafallstourism.com offers visitors something of the compelling sights and sounds they will experience on their Niagara Falls vacation. Enhancing this virtual experience is practical information about Niagara hotel packages, restaurants, shopping and special events.

Laurie Schutt, Executive Director at the Wye Marsh says, “Our Behind The Scenes programs bring our natural world into perspective in a friendly and informative way. Many of our first time visitors often become nature enthusiasts and rave about their experience.”

The Outings Group of the Canadian Federation of University Women recently experienced a behind the scenes canoe eco-tour and made the following comments in a letter after their visit.

“The Wye Marsh is a wonderful … resource staffed with knowledgeable and impassioned staff, which we encourage everyone to experience. Its simple, unspoiled beauty reminds us our entire true place in the world and the importance of harmony with nature. Our compliments to a well-presented nature facility with excellent and diverse programming.”

Schutt adds, “We feel our programs create a sense of ‘awe’ with participants and they leave with the understanding that they too can make a difference with their newly acquired information on how environment plays into so many aspects of their lives.”

Wye Marsh naturalists have developed three significant areas of interest for behind the scenes tours in addition to the Canoe Eco Tour. They include Trumpeter Swans, Birds of Prey, and Amphibians & Reptiles of Georgian Bay. Each of the programs is limited in size to optimize dialogue and participation with each of the participants. Groups are limited to 10.

As an example participants in the Amphibians & Reptiles program will learn about the handling, safety, and animal keeping; find out what is involved in a day in the life of a reptile keeper; get up close and personal with some of Ontario’s snakes, turtles, and amphibians; complete a canoe turtle survey through the channels of the Wye Marsh.

Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre is located 35 minutes northwest of Barrie in Tay Township in the heart of Southern Georgian Bay’s Historic Resort Destination near Midland Ontario. www.wyemarsh.com

Fastball Fever. Catch it at the Worlds!!

KITCHENER - 67 men's teams competing for 2 championship titles in 171 fastball games. Players will travel from Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America, Australia and New Zealand. This is the best of the best in World Elite player fastball action.

There is also an opportunity for future players. The "Bridge to the Future Skills Clinic" is where the worlds greatest fastball players share their knowledge and experience with kids. For a registration form for those clinics, visit the tournament website. www.kwfastball.com

ISC Tournament:
August 10 - 18, 2007 games held at Peter Hallman Ball Yard, Budd Park, Kitchener, Ontario

ISC II Tournament of Champions:
August 14 - 18, 2007 games held at Budd Park, Kitchener; and Riverside Park, Cambridge

“Our airport provides guests with a convenient alternative to Toronto,” said Jeff Schelling, Manager of Airport Development for the Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF). “Processing the 136 guests travelling to Calgary daily requires a full two hours prior to departure to complete check-in and security screening.”

“WestJet’s modern fleet of aircraft and award-winning guest experience has been well-received by the people of Waterloo Region,” said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President Guest Experience and Marketing. “We want to ensure our guests start their holiday off the right way and these tips can help make their flights stress free.”

WestJet's Top 10 Tips for Summer Travel:

1) Check your flight

Summer is a busy time for airports, so double check that your flight is leaving on time before you leave home. Up-to-date flight information is available through the WestJet Flight Tracker feature at westjet.com. Guests can use this feature to check on the most current WestJet arrivals and departures.

2) Arrive Early!

Determine your home-to-airport travel arrangements ahead of time. Reserve your taxi or airport limo at least 24 hours in advance. Airport parking can be challenging, so leave time to park. WestJet recommends guests arrive at the airport a minimum of two hours prior to flight time due to the volume of travellers and heightened security requirements. Guests must be at the departure gate a minimum of 30 minutes prior to their scheduled departure time. Guests arriving at the gate less than 10 minutes prior scheduled departure time risk losing their reserved seat.

3) Choose the check-in option that is right for you

WestJet offers three check in options at the Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) for your convenience:

Web check-in - You can check in 24 hours to 60 minutes prior to your flight (domestic flights only) using our web check-in feature at westjet.com. Pick your seat and print your boarding pass at home! Remember to drop your baggage at the WestJet Baggage Drop when you arrive at the airport.

Mobile check-in - You can check in 24 hours to 30 minutes prior to your flight from your personal mobile device (i.e. Blackberry) with WestJet's newest self-serve product, Mobile check-in! Just type http://mobile.westjet.com on your device. Check in and select your seat and indicate the number of bags to drop off and simply print your boarding pass at the WestJet Baggage drop counter.

Airport check-in - If you prefer to check-in traditionally, or need to speak to a Customer Service Agent, guests can always visit a friendly WestJetter at the check-in counter.

4) Pack properly

All wrapped gifts should go in checked baggage. Security will unwrap any wrapped items in carry-on baggage, causing delays at security for you and your fellow guests. Fragile and valuable items should be packed appropriately as WestJet is unable to accept responsibility for loss or damage to these items. We recommend bringing these items in the carry-on allowance whenever possible. Anything fragile that must travel in checked baggage should be packed appropriately and tagged 'fragile' at the airport.

5) Tag your bags!

Make sure your bags are clearly tagged and there are no loose straps, etc. WestJet allows two pieces of checked baggage per guest at 60 lbs per piece. Any additional pieces (up to two) can be loaded on a space-available basis; however, they are subject to a $75 excess baggage fee. Pack all essentials in your first two checked pieces as there is no guarantee there will be room for additional baggage. Any overweight or oversized items will be charged a $40 fee. Sporting equipment such as water skis and bikes are considered to be part of the checked baggage allowance of two pieces.

6) Beware of carry-on restrictions

Since most flights are filled to capacity, carry-on size and weight regulations are strictly enforced. Also, make sure you are aware of Transport Canada's restrictions for carry-on contents.

WestJet accepts two pieces of carry-on per guest at 22 lbs each. Transport Canada will allow the following items in carry-on baggage:

- Liquids, gels and aerosols through security screening at Canadian airports provided the items are packaged in containers with a capacity of 100 ml/100 grams/3.4 oz or less. The containers must fit comfortably in one clear, closed and re-sealable plastic bag (such as a Ziploc) with a capacity of no more than 1 litre (7" x 8" or 6" x 9"). One bag per guest will be permitted.

- Prescription medicine with a name that matches the guest's ticket, insulin and other essential non-prescription medicines will continue to be permitted.

- Baby formula, baby food and milk, when guests are travelling with a child aged two years or under. Prescription medicine and essential non-prescription medicines are exempt from the container size restrictions and are not required to be placed in a plastic bag. However, all such items not in a bag or in containers over 100 ml/100 grams/3.4 oz. must be declared to screening authorities.

7) Plan for your pets

Only leak-proof soft-sided kennels designed for airline travel are accepted in the cabin. Duffle bags, gym bags, other non-kennels, or hard-sided kennels cannot be accepted. The animal must be fully enclosed in the kennel. Kennels taken in cabin must be able to fit under the seat in front of you and your pet must remain in the kennel at all times.

8) Bring games and toys for kids

Make sure to pack some small games or toys for the little ones. A long trip will pass much quicker with some entertainment. Remember that WestJet now offers live seatback television provided by Bell ExpressVu on the majority of its fleet.

9) Make sure to stay hydrated!

The aircraft cabin can be very dry, so make sure to drink lots of water during your flight. WestJet offers complimentary refreshments plus buy-on-board service with a variety of snacks and beverages to purchase.

10) Share a joke with the in-flight staff!

WestJetters are always looking for new material! If you have an appropriate joke that makes you laugh every time, feel free to share it on board!

Discover Ontario And The Best Fresh Water Cruising In The World

SAULT STE MARIE, ON - The Ontario government is helping the Ontario Marine Operators Association (OMOA) to promote the province as "the best fresh water cruising grounds in the world," Minister of Tourism Jim Bradley.

"Cruising is an increasingly popular way to travel and explore a new destination," said Bradley. "The Ontario government is pleased to help promote recreational boating and draw more visitors to our province's beautiful waterfront communities."

The $60,000 grant from the Ministry of Tourism will be used to help OMOA market Ontario as an ideal recreational boating destination. The funding will help OMOA to build on its VISION 2020 promotional campaign, which includes a "Boating Ontario - Discover DVD Cruising" series, the Boating Ontario magazine, a Marinas and Destination Guide, and the association's website, www.omoa.com.

With the ministry's support, the association plans to work with marinas in five areas - Sarnia, Leamington, Kingston, Toronto and North Channel - on a pilot project called "Boating Ontario Thank You!". The project will include welcome packages that contain vouchers and coupons for area attractions and encourage return visits by boaters.

"Thanks to the support provided by the McGuinty government, we can build on our plans to bring more boating enthusiasts to Ontario's waters," said OMOA Executive Director, Al Donaldson.

The Ministry of Tourism's Industry Partnership Proposal Program assists the tourism industry to develop and implement innovative and co-operative marketing projects. The projects must contribute to developing Ontario as a four-season destination, increasing visitor stay and improving the economy through increased tourism spending.

"Tourism is a major economic driver in many of our communities," said Sault Ste Marie MPP David Orazietti. "By working with organizations like OMOA, we are giving a boost to local businesses and giving visitors a refreshing new way to discover Ontario."

Third quarter 2007
Canadian hotel operators were less optimistic about the 2007 summer outlook, according to the Business Conditions Survey for the Traveller Accommodation Industry. Hoteliers were expecting fewer room nights booked, lower occupancy rates and fewer corporate travellers. Furthermore, hotel operators reported that, for the first time, the exchange rate fluctuation was a greater business impediment than labour shortages for the spring of 2007.

Over a quarter of hotel managers (26%) anticipated the number of room nights booked to decline, while over a fifth (21%) expect it to rise. A similar pattern was also observed for occupancy rates as well as for the number of corporate travellers.

However, hoteliers were still optimistic about the anticipated average daily room rates. According to third quarter results, 45% of respondents anticipated an increase, while 18% anticipated a decrease in the average daily room rate.

Overall, hotel managers foresaw no change in the anticipated total number of hours worked by their employees. Third quarter results show that there were as many hoteliers who anticipated the total number of hours worked to be higher (20%) as there were hoteliers who anticipated that number to be lower (20%).

The exchange rate fluctuation was the new major impediment to the traveller accommodation industry in the second quarter. According to the results, 38% of hoteliers found the exchange rate fluctuation to be a business impediment. During the second quarter of 2007, the Canadian dollar appreciated by about 3% each month against the American dollar.

Both skilled and unskilled labour shortages were still considered business impediments by about a third of hoteliers. As well, the number of hoteliers who reported no difficulties for the second quarter of 2007 reached a low of 20%.

The survey of around 1,325 businesses, mostly hotels, was conducted in July and assessed the outlook of key indicators compared with the same period in 2006. Some of these key indicators include bookings, occupancy rates, room rates and hours worked by employees.

Note: The Business Conditions Survey for the Traveller Accommodation Industry is made possible with the support of industry partners, the Canadian Tourism Commission, the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Saskatchewan, the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage and Industry Canada. Results are based on survey questionnaires sent to traveller accommodation providers and are weighted by their operating revenues. Consequently, the larger businesses have a correspondingly larger impact on the results than smaller businesses.

Traveller accommodation industries
	Second quarter 2005	Third quarter 2005	Fourth quarter 2005	First quarter 2006	Second quarter 2006	Third quarter 2006	Fourth quarter 2006	First quarter 2007	Second quarter 2007	Third quarter 2007
Number of room nights booked will be:
About the same (%)	49	47	48	48	48	46	50	45	50	53
Higher (%)	31	31	27	30	32	26	18	26	31	21
Lower (%)	20	23	25	22	20	28	32	29	19	26
Balance of opinion	10	8	3	8	12	-2	-14	-3	13	-5
Occupancy rate will be:
About the same (%)	51	46	50	48	46	44	51	45	51	51
Higher (%)	30	32	25	31	35	29	20	28	32	23
Lower (%)	20	23	25	22	20	27	29	27	17	27
Balance of opinion	10	9	0	9	15	2	-8	1	14	-4
Number of corporate/commercial travellers will be:
About the same (%)	59	57	57	55	56	55	56	60	57	61
Higher (%)	23	22	22	24	27	17	15	17	25	18
Lower (%)	18	21	21	21	18	27	28	22	18	20
Balance of opinion	4	2	1	3	9	-10	-13	-5	8	-2
Average daily room rate will be:
About the same (%)	46	44	46	53	44	43	40	44	44	37
Higher (%)	39	39	35	34	45	40	40	41	49	45
Lower (%)	15	18	19	13	12	18	21	16	7	18
Balance of opinion	24	21	16	21	34	22	19	25	42	27
Total number of hours worked by employees:
About the same (%)	63	62	56	59	54	58	59	61	59	60
Higher (%)	19	20	20	19	31	25	16	18	26	20
Lower (%)	17	18	24	22	15	17	26	21	15	20
Balance of opinion	2	2	-4	-3	16	8	-10	-3	11	0
	First quarter  2005	Second quarter  2005	Third quarter  2005	Fourth quarter  2005	First quarter  2006	Second quarter  2006	Third quarter  2006	Fourth quarter  2006	First quarter  2007	Second quarter  2007
	%
Business impediments
Exchange rate fluctuations	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	22	38
Shortage of unskilled labour	15	21	22	24	32	34	36	28	36	34
Shortage of skilled labour	21	23	23	21	24	31	29	25	33	30
Excess room supply	25	26	21	23	22	22	19	26	24	26
Lack of attractions or complementary facilities in the vicinity	19	16	13	16	12	22	23	25	19	23
Canada's reputation as a desired tourist destination	9	11	8	11	11	12	15	19	16	15
Abnormal weather and/or natural disasters	12	11	4	9	4	4	3	14	11	10
Regional economic conditions	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	11	9
Security concerns	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	9	8
Public health	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	2	1
No difficulties at this time	30	32	38	31	30	26	23	26	24	20
Ontario- The Blue Province-The World’s Fresh Water Capital Barrie, Ontario.- How Many Lakes Exist in Ontario? No one has been able to count the exact number or agree on what constitutes a size to say it is a lake. However, some estimates are in the 250,000 plus range. In addition to bordering four of the Great Lakes including Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario Many include Georgian Bay area as separate and the only large body of the Great Lakes that is 100% Canadian. Lake Simcoe is often named the 6th Great Lake however Lake Simcoe drains throughout the Trent-Severn Historical Waterway to Georgian Bay. Ontario also borders James Bay and Hudson Bay. Watersheds emptying into James and Hudson’s Bay offer up billions of liters of fresh water. As the first week of August continues to heat up Ontario residents and visitors are blessed with a ready supply of cool fresh water. The great summer pastime of swimming and cooling off at an Ontario beach http://www.400eleven.com/ontario-beaches.html is usually only a short drive or walk away. Ron Taylor Publisher of Ontario Travel North of Toronto http://www.400eleven.com/fishing.html says, “More than 95 % of our 150 member properties have access to fresh water beaches either on site or nearby in the local community. Fresh water swimming continues to be one of the number one fun activities for families traveling in Ontario during the summer. When looking at a Google satellite Map there is no question that Ontario could well be classified as the Blue Province and the Fresh Water Capital of the World”, adds Taylor. An Ontario travel experience offers so many fresh water options it is hard to choose. There are Provincial Parks, National Parks, Historic Waterways, and Historic Rivers most with beaches and swimming areas. Most waterfront communities have public beaches. Next to swimming fresh water fishing in Ontario is a perfect kids activity for Ontario Travelers, either off the dock, in a canoe, or from a boat. Then there is water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, wind surfing, sailing, or just old-fashioned beach combing. An Ontario tradition in the summer sees most Southern Ontario residents heading north into Ontario Cottage country http://www.400eleven.com/type-of-cottage.html to their favorite lake usually with a dock or a beach area, searching out the cleanest and freshest water available. For families and couples who do not own a cottage property, thousands of accommodation properties offer up beach resorts, cottage-resorts with beaches, country inns on the water, b&b locations on the water or near a public beach. Ontario Travel North of Toronto provides hundreds of summer getaways and packages http://www.400eleven.com/getaways-summer.html at Ontario resort destinations with swimming and beach opportunities onsite or nearby.
Restaurants, caterers and taverns May 2007 (preliminary)- Previous release Total estimated sales of the restaurants, caterers and taverns industry reached $3.5 billion in May, a 3.2% increase from May 2006 on a year-over-year basis. (Data are neither seasonally adjusted, nor adjusted for inflation.) The increase in sales, at the national level, was due to higher sales at limited service restaurants (+3.8%). Sales for full service restaurants rose 3.3%. These two sectors accounted for more than 86% of the industry's sales in May. The food service contractors sector also increased (+8.8%). That sector accounted for more than 5% of the industry's sales in May. Note: Sales estimates at the provincial and national levels were revised for March and April. Food services sales   May 2006r April 2007r May 2007p May 2006 to May 2007   Not seasonally adjusted   $ thousands % change Total, food services sales 3,394,305 3,264,892 3,503,350 3.2 Full-service restaurants 1,561,970 1,495,874 1,614,296 3.3 Limited-service restaurants 1,355,580 1,292,878 1,407,700 3.8 Food service contractors 176,123 204,666 191,609 8.8 Social and mobile caterers 76,909 63,540 76,280 -0.8 Drinking places 223,723 207,934 213,465 -4.6 Provinces and territories         Newfoundland and Labrador 33,977 32,689 34,032 0.2 Prince Edward Island 12,854 10,619 12,201 -5.1 Nova Scotia 77,783 70,470 78,755 1.3 New Brunswick 56,079 52,349 55,070 -1.8 Quebec 721,854 655,527 738,850 2.4 Ontario 1,339,997 1,279,668 1,382,094 3.1 Manitoba 86,576 79,569 84,188 -2.8 Saskatchewan 83,975 87,852 90,279 7.5 Alberta 418,189 448,630 443,728 6.1 British Columbia 553,259 537,115 572,776 3.5 Yukon 2,688 2,813 3,247 20.8 Northwest Territories 6,692 7,282 7,821 16.9 Nunavut 382 310 307 -19.5 r revised p preliminary Accommodation Industry Profits Reach New Highs OTTAWA - Strong travel spending by Canadians and healthy price increases will enable Canada's hoteliers to post their second consecutive year of record profits in 2007, according to the Conference Board's Canadian Industrial Outlook: Canada's Accommodation Industry - Summer 2007. "After three years of improvement, accommodation profits are expected to rise slightly to $982 million in 2007," said Michael Burt, Senior Economist. "However, with labour shortages and the resulting increases in wage costs limiting profits, the industry can expected weaker profits next year." An ongoing decline in foreign spending on accommodation is also limiting the profit outlook. Although visitors from countries other than U.S. rose in 2006, the declining number of U.S. visitors caused real foreign spending on accommodations to fall. This trend is expected to continue due to the surging Canadian dollar and the ongoing implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). However longer term, strong growth in domestic travel spending will continue to support the industry. Once the WHTI is fully implemented, foreign spending will also start to recover. Finally, the Vancouver Olympics in 2010 are expected to provide a boost to the industry's performance. Note: Due to a revision in Statistics Canada data, historical and forecast profit levels for the industry have been revised upward since the previous Accommodation industry outlook. Canadians 'Tip' Toe around Etiquette Survey finds Canadians Don't Tip Enough TORONTO - Canadians may need some 'tips' on tipping. According to a recent Bank of Montreal survey, 78 per cent of Canadians tip 15 per cent or more in restaurants. However, Canadians are not nearly as generous to workers in other service sectors. In fact, fewer than 40 per cent of Canadians tip 15 per cent or more to food delivery workers, taxi drivers, aestheticians, hair stylists. Salon owners are snubbed entirely by more than 54 per cent of Canadians. That could be unwelcome news for the ranks of students who join the service sector work force each summer hoping to replenish their bank accounts in preparation for the financial demands of the upcoming school year. The annual surge of summer jobs is expected to swell Canada's work force significantly between July and August. Most of those jobs will be service-related positions filled by students who count on the generous gratuities of satisfied patrons to boost their summer earnings beyond minimum wage. However, the size of those tips may depend more on where they work rather than how hard they work. Nancy Marescotti, Director, BMO Mosaik MasterCard, speculates that one reason some Canadians don't tip is that they simply hadn't planned for it. "Tipping does not have to be painful experience if you're prepared for it. A credit card is always handy because it eliminates the problem of not having enough change and it lets you be more discreet about how much you tip," she said. "And if you use a credit card with a rewards program, you can even get some of that tip back," added Ms. Marescotti. "For example, Mosaik MasterCard holders can triple their AIR MILES reward miles with the new Mosaik RewardsPlus program by paying with their credit card at participating restaurants. Adding the tip on the credit card just increases the number of rewards you earn and provides a permanent record of the total cost of the meal which is also useful for bookkeeping and budgeting." "Tipping is a very personal decision that can be influenced by circumstance, quality of product or service and mood," said Ms. Marescotti. "Most of our customers tip 15 per cent or more, whether at brunch, lunch or dinner," said Biana Zorich, owner of popular Toronto restaurant, Bistro & Bakery Thuet. Francois Pellerin, chef-of-the-year and co-owner of Fourquet Fourchette restaurants in Montreal and Chambly, Quebec agreed. "When they dine out, people are prepared to tip based on the quality of their experience; and while 15 per cent seems to be the norm for good service, some definitely go beyond that to demonstrate how much they enjoyed themselves." Contrary to the tipping norms practiced in the restaurant industry, BMO's survey showed that Canadians are not nearly as certain about who to tip or how much to tip for services provided at retail outlets such as a spa or nail salon. In fact the BMO Mosaik MasterCard Tipping Etiquette survey found that 24 per cent of Canadians never leave a tip for these services. "Patrons are confused when it comes to tipping staff at a spa or a nail bar," said Kristen Gale, owner of 10 Spot Nail Bar in Toronto. "People often tip only five to 10 per cent and sometimes not at all. It really should be a standard 15 per cent, just as it is in the restaurant industry." The same confusion occurs at hair salons. Canadians, unsure of who to tip or how much, often don't tip at all. For example, 42 per cent of Canadians do not tip an assistant stylist, such as the person who shampoos their hair. "It is customary to tip the standard 15 per cent to everyone separately," said Howard Barr, John Frieda Canadian Creative Consultant. "The stylist, the hair assistant and colourist should all receive tips." Almost two-thirds of domestic visits recorded in the first quarter of 2006 were same-day visits (27.0 million), while overnight visits reached 15.4 million. Statscan - The visits made by Canadian travellers in Canada totalled 42.5 million during the first quarter of 2006. Visits for pleasure, vacation, holiday and visiting friends and relatives represented 86% of all domestic visits. Together, these visits increased 2% in the first quarter of 2006 compared with the same period in 2005. Intra-provincial visits reached 39.2 million in the first quarter of 2006, while inter-provincial visits totalled 3.4 million. In Canada, 9 domestic visits out of 10 were taken in the traveller's province of residence. Almost two-thirds of domestic visits recorded in the first quarter of 2006 were same-day visits (27.0 million), while overnight visits reached 15.4 million. Canadian residents spent an average of three nights away from home during overnight visits. Of the 41.0 million nights spent away from home, 11.8 million were spent in a commercial establishment. Distributed by month, the number of visits in Canada was 14.7 million in January, 13.7 million in February and 14.0 million in March. Canadian travellers spent $5.9 billion within the country during the first quarter of 2006. When taking inflation into account, spending on domestic visits totalled $5.6 billion (in 2002 dollars) for this same quarter. More than 60% of all domestic expenditures were for transportation ($1.9 billion) and food and beverage ($1.7 billion). In the first quarter of 2006, Canadian spending on domestic visits for pleasure, vacation, holiday and visiting friends or relatives increased 7.1% compared with the same period in 2005. Note: The total domestic visit estimates for the first quarter of 2006 are preliminary and are not comparable with the preliminary data released for the first quarter of 2005. Two categories of visits (business and other) are affected as a result of changes made to the TSRC questionnaire, starting from the reference month of September 2005. These two categories represented 14% of domestic visits in the first quarter of 2006. The remaining categories of visits, which include pleasure, vacation, holiday and visiting friends and relatives, are comparable. This survey, which started in 2005, provides estimates of domestic travel that are more in line with international guidelines as recommended by the World Tourism Organization. A domestic visit is one that originates and occurs within Canada, is less than 365 days in duration, ends during the reference period, and is outside the respondent's "usual" environment.