COTA responded to an article published in the Vancouver Sun on May 28, 2009 that criticized the industry, citing a lack of preparedness for the 2010 Olympic Games.

The editorial stated that "the tourism industry must build now to prepare for an increase in both international and domestic visitors," and suggests that we are not presently able to cope with border, ferry, and cruise-ship lineups. The conclusion is that we should consider reducing taxes on hotels and reduce flight costs to stimulate demand, and that businesses should begin to staff-up now to address anticipated volume increases.

While the intentions of these statements are entirely laudable, they don't really reflect the true composition and reality of the tourism industry.

Click here to view the full article from the Vancouver Sun.