News
Airport Competitiveness a Key Link in the Tourism Value Chain

June 17, 2008, Ottawa – CNW Telbec – "Canada's airports are a key part of Canada's tourism value chain – a part that must be competitive in order for Canada to be competitive in the tourism business," Canadian Airports Council President and CEO Jim Facette today told members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology.
       
"As gateways to the communities they serve, Canada's airports have an integral role in the promoting and furthering of tourism in this country. We are a key part of Canada's tourism value chain," said Mr. Facette. "In order for Canada to be competitive in the tourism business, each link in the valuechain must be competitive, efficiently operated and customer focused."
       
The comments came in a presentation to the House committee as it studies Canada's competitiveness as a world tourism destination. According to a recent report from the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), Canada's travel deficit has ballooned to $10.3 billion in 2007 and the latest quarterly numbers for 2008 show a continued deterioration.

"Working with their local and provincial tourism sectors, Canada's airports today are actively promoting their communities in the U.S. and overseas," said Mr. Facette. "They attend air service trade shows, they're meeting with air carriers from around the world, and they are making a case for Canada. We need federal policies that encourage more tourists not ones that will result in a less competitive business."

About the Canadian Airports Council
The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) is the voice for Canada's airports. Its 49 members represent more than 180 airports, including all of the National Airports System (NAS) airports and most significant municipal airports in every province and territory. Together, CAC members handle virtually all of the nation's air cargo and international passenger traffic and 95% of domestic passenger traffic. They create in excess of $45 billion in economic activity in the communities they serve. And more than 200,000 jobs are directly associated with CAC member airports, generating a payroll of more than $8 billion annually.