Ottawa Tourism has shared with Catherine McKenna, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change and MP for Ottawa Centre, its five short-term priorities in the local tourism sphere and asked various federal government departments to contribute to their realization.
The priorities have been identified by the Tourism Development Council, an Ottawa Tourism working group comprised of key leaders in the field.
“With the arrival of a new federal government, and on the brink of the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the time was right to highlight the most important steps that can be taken to improve the local tourism landscape,” said Dick Brown, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “As the capital, Ottawa has a unique relationship with the federal government; much of our destination development work is dependent on maintaining a good working relationship and highlighting where our interests coincide.”
The priorities include:
Continuing the project to develop LeBreton Flats Ottawa Tourism urges the federal government to continue on schedule with the selection of a development proposal for LeBreton Flats, and not to halt or delay this important process. The release of the two proposals for public consultation on January 26 and 27, 2016 is the next important step.
Returning the “celebrations” function (Winterlude, Canada Day) currently under the mandate of the Department of Canadian Heritage back to the National Capital Commission Ottawa Tourism recommends that this mandate and its associated resources be returned to the NCC to allow for collaboration with local communities on matters pertaining to celebrations within the National Capital Region.
Optimizing the experience and animation of the Rideau Canal Ottawa Tourism recommends that the Ministers responsible for working with the NCC and Parks Canada remove barriers to projects that stimulate interaction with and animation of the Rideau Canal.
Establishing a proper Ottawa visitor information centre that is tourism industry-run and -managed Ottawa Tourism recognizes that a local, industry-driven visitor information centre is a crucial component of an effective tourism strategy for Canada’s capital, and proposes to establish such a centre within a high pedestrian traffic area in downtown Ottawa.
Reinstating the project to transform the former U.S. Embassy into a national portrait gallery Ottawa Tourism encourages the federal government to resurrect the plan to create a national portrait gallery in the former U.S. Embassy building across from Parliament Hill. The building currently sits vacant: a hole in the heart of the Parliamentary precinct.
Ottawa Tourism looks forward to working with Minister McKenna and other key Ministers to make progress on these files in the short term.
Ottawa Tourism provides destination marketing, strategic direction and leadership in cooperation with members and partners to attract visitors, tours and conventions to Ottawa and Canada’s capital region. Its vision is to build recognition of Ottawa as an outstanding four-season tourism destination.
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