On May 30th, BC Tourism, Sport and the Arts Minister Olga Ilich announced a one-time investment of $900,000 to go towards northern BC and north coast tourism.   The “Best Summer Ever” tourism marketing initiative is hoped to build tourism demand through programs targeted towards increased awareness, special offers and other integrated marketing activities.  The government’s investment will support components of community-led tourism activities and initiatives such as industry development, advertising and promotion.  Priority projects include local way-finding/signage, visitor servicing, event development and investments geared to enhancing the visitor’s experience.  Funding will be managed through Northern BC Tourism Association, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association and the Tourism Association of Vancouver Island.  Read more. 

Everyone hates idea of requiring passports at the border

By Pete McMartin, Vancouver Sun
Published Date: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Post-9/11 security frenzy an annoyance, but who would avoid taking a kid to Disneyland just over paperwork?

In my part of the world, it once was that the nearby and charming little border crossing into Point Roberts -- or as we locals like to call it, Point Bob -- was manned by U.S. border guards so friendly they made you feel like you were entering Mayberry.

Read more.

Border bill would designate whether driver is US citize

By Shaun Waterman
UPI Homeland and National Security Editor
Published May 26, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Buried in the huge border bill the U.S. Senate passed Thursday is a provision that would allow states to put citizenship details on new secure driver's licenses.
   
The pilot program, which would allow those getting new licenses the option to have the card confirm their citizenship as well as their identity, would make licenses an effective substitute for a U.S. passport at the nation's borders and throughout the Caribbean. And critics say it would be an important step towards a national identity card system.

The license provision is one of a series of changes inserted into the immigration reform bill at the last minute by lawmakers concerned about onrushing deadlines for the so-called Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative -- a congressionally mandated plan to tighten entry requirements at the U.S. northern border.

The initiative was authored in response to the Sept. 11 Commission, which found that the current northern border regime -- which effectively allows U.S. and Canadian citizens to cross with little more than a driver's license by way of identification -- was a major security vulnerability.

In the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, Congress mandated the introduction, for the first time, of a requirement that U.S. citizens crossing the border into their own country present a passport or -- in the somewhat indefinite language of the statute -- some other acceptable secure identification that establishes citizenship. The law set a deadline of Jan. 1, 2008.
    
But the vision of a seamless, secure frontier has bumped up against the reality of communities and families that sprawl across the border -- especially with Canada -- and of businesses that rely on frictionless travel between the United States and its northern neighbor.

Lawmakers and businesses from the northern border regions have become increasingly concerned as the deadline approaches. Disagreements between the State Department -- which issues passports and would produce any card-sized substitute -- and the Department of Homeland Security -- which controls the border -- have delayed key decisions, critics say.

The bundle of amendments passed Thursday was authored by Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn. It also postpones the implementation of the new tighter rules by at least 18 months. The language was made part of a so-called manager's amendment -- usually a collection of non-controversial technical or drafting changes made to a bill at the last minute -- and passed Thursday as part of the immigration and border reform bill.

Read more.

To read COTA's latest policy on U.S. Passport Requirements, click here.

The issue of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is moving very quickly these days.  Governments and businesses are working diligently to bring about some solutions that will meet American security requirements, while not adversely impacting the tourism industry and other economic sectors.

The successful passing in Senate of the Stevens-Leahy amendment may delay the implementation of WHTI until June 2009.  The amendment was attached to an immigration bill, which will be considered by the US government in the next few weeks.  Moreover, an amendment proposed by Senator Coleman was also been passed in the Senate.  This amendment includes:
-          extending the proposed passport cards to sea as well as land
-          using passport cards to provide a platform for trusted traveler programs in the future
-          keeping the fees for the passport cards at $24 US, reduced if the traveler is also applying for a passport, and waived for children under 18
-          allowing for the passport card to have the same time (10 years) as the passport, and the application points to be the same as the passport
-          allowing for a demonstration project of one or more states for carrying citizenship verification on a Driver’s License (which together with the requirements of the Real ID act that may come into effect in the spring of 2008 satisfy the requirements of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act of 2004), on a voluntary basis for the applicant
-          together with a reciprocity clause allowing the US to work with Canada for a similar program
-          expansion of trusted traveler programs such as NEXUS
-          allowing a program by which citizens of the US who do not have a passport or passcard, etc. to go out of the country for a maximum of 72 hours and re-enter
-          allowing children of 17 or less, or in groups of 6 or more to have the WHTI waived (providing parental consent is obtained)
-          providing for an aggressive communications program

The Coleman amendment has been bundled into a non-controversial manager’s package and attached to the immigration bill.  However, the bill still has to be agreed upon by both the Senate and the Congress through a process called “conference”, before it is legislated.

Come celebrate tourism during Tourism Week 2006!

In the early 1990s, tourism was worth less than $4 billion annually to the B.C. economy. The industry was just starting to show signs of becoming one of the province's leading generators of economic growth. Over the past decade, tourism has grown to the point where it now generates over $9.8 billion annually for our province's economy and directly employs 117,500 British Columbians. When tourism-related employees are included, the total swells to 266,000.

As one of the fastest growing industries in the world, tourism continues to offer enormous economic opportunities for communities across the province. Join guest speakers on June 6th as the industry celebrates tourism accomplishments and looks forward to a new season of prosperity.  Read more.

BC Environment Minister Barry Penner has announced $13.3 million in funds to go towards upgrading BC Parks infrastructure and to acquire additional park land to improve the camping and day-use experience for park visitors. 

Key infrastructure upgrades include:
* $2.7 million at Cultus Lake Provincial Park for water system and sewer reconstruction, and for replacement of picnic tables;
* $730,000 at Miracle Beach for drinking water and sewer replacement and upgrades;
* $655,000 at Golden Ears Provincial Park for campground reconstruction and alpine sanitary facility upgrades;
* $585,000 at Inland Lake Provincial Park to reconstruct eight kilometres of wheelchair accessible trail and numerous boardwalks and bridges;
* $335,000 at Lakelse Lake Provincial Park Picnic site to replace the sanitary facilities, replace the pumphouse and upgrade facilities;
* $250,000 at Naikoon Provincial Park to reclaim 15-20 beach side campsites that are in danger of being lost to erosion, replace Agate Beach Haida style picnic shelter and perform road upgrading;
* $358,000 at Meziadin Lake Provincial Park for access road improvements;
* $351,000 at Khutzeymateen Provincial Park for replacement of barge and trailers used as living quarters (and as a visitor centre by park rangers) and to undertake surface water system improvements; and
* $438,000 at Tyhee Lake Provincial Park to replace the drinking water system and upgrade facilities.

To read the Government’s press release, click here.To read COTA’s policy on Parks, protected areas and recreation areas, click here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (MAY 18, 2006)

Vancouver, BC - The Council of Tourism Associations (COTA), the voice of the BC tourism industry, is expressing renewed optimism that stringent U.S. border documentation requirements will be delayed until June 2009, after the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan amendment to the Comprehensive Immigration Act on Wednesday, May 17th.

The amendment, if passed into law, would allow for border documentation rules to remain as they are now – that is, U.S. and Canadian citizens would still be able to enter and leave both countries with a driver’s license or birth certificate until June 2009.      

But the legislation must still navigate a number of obstacles prior to being passed into law.

The immigration bill must still pass the U.S. Senate and, following that, leaders from the Senate and Congress must jointly develop a final compromise piece of legislation, to which they both agree.  

“The battle is far from over, but this is a significant breakthrough for us,” says C. Michael Campbell, Chair of the COTA Board of Directors.  “It signals a shift in momentum toward a more balanced approach to this issue.  There are so many ways we can work with our American partners to ensure that borders are secure, without unduly impacting our economies – particularly in border regions.”

Tourism industry representatives remain optimistic that the passage of Wednesday’s amendment may signal a crucial tipping point in the debate, as there appears to be mounting consensus on both sides of the border that the needs of security and commerce need not be mutually exclusive.

But the tourism industry also warns of complacency and excessive optimism about the implications of the Senate amendment.

“What we’re saying is ‘this is fantastic news, but it’s no time to sit on our hands,’” states Mary Mahon Jones, CEO of COTA.  “Now that we have a legislative amendment to delay the implementation of the border restrictions, we must continue to work with our US counterparts to ensure that this gets passed into law.  We’re encouraging all our partners in tourism and other industries to write their U.S. counterparts, and urge them to contact their local Congressmen and Senators in support of this amendment and ensuing legislation.”

Tourism officials also have hope that the delay may give Canadian and US governments sufficient time to retrofit provincial and state-issued driver’s licenses, so that they will be in compliance with the WHTI documentation requirements.  If driver’s licenses were to contain tamper-proof biometric and citizenship information, they could meet the requirements set out by the WHTI. 

COTA is a federation of organizations and businesses representing an industry of nearly 18,000 tourism operations throughout British Columbia. Tourism creates jobs for over 117,500 British Columbians and $9.8 billion in visitor spending in communities throughout the province.

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Contact:
Suzanne Lawrence, Industry Relations Officer
Council of Tourism Associations (COTA)
Ph (604) 685-5956   slawrence@cotabc.com

Dollar, gas prices worry tourism industry 
Projections suggest number of American visitors will drop while more Canadians will travel to U.S.

By: The Pique News Magazine: Andrew Mitchell
Published Date: 2006-05-17

The loonie has dipped slightly from a 28-year high on May 9 when compared to the American Greenback, and oil prices are slowly receding from record highs in Canada and the U.S., but the B.C. tourism industry remains concerned that both factors could be a one-two punch that drives visitors away this summer.

The third punch could come in 2007 and 2008 when a new passport requirement comes into effect for travelers visiting and returning to the U.S.

According to Mary Mahon Jones, the CEO of the Council of Tourism Associations of B.C., the exchange rate and gas prices are already having an effect.

"I would say (tourism associations) are very concerned about the U.S. market, and we’re definitely focusing our attention there right now, looking at the things we can actually change," she said. "Some things we have little control over, and others we can address. One of the main things is to have enhanced marketing for that market to try and bring them back… but we’re certainly up against some significant issues."

According to Mahon Jones, U.S. visits were down approximately two per cent from 2004 to 2005, and recent statistics show the decline continuing through the New Year into 2006.

"There are a number of different things going on, but gas prices are definitely part of it. Gas prices in B.C. are significantly higher than Alberta or Washington state, so when people do get up here they realize abruptly that there’s an added cost to travelling," she said.

Gas prices also have further reaching implications for the economy, adding to the price of food, transportation, hotel stays and other amenities. Not only is it more expensive to fly, all of your travel costs will also increase.

While fuel prices have always been higher in B.C., those prices have been offset in the past by the low dollar.

"Our exchange rate is not having the advantage it used to have. It’s not only a disincentive to come to Canada, but also an incentive for Canadians to go to the U.S. and other countries," said Mahon Jones.

While the passport requirement doesn’t kick in until New Year of 2007 for sea and air and 2008 for land crossings, Mahon Jones says that it’s already having an impact on travel. She blames that on the fact that there has not been enough communication in the U.S. to explain the new rules, which is why tourism organizations in the U.S. and Canada are lobbying for a delay in the implementation of the program.

Whistler’s own outlook remains positive despite the rising dollar and oil prices, according to Tourism Whistler director of communications Michelle Comeau. Based on the most recent hotel forecasts for the summer, occupancy is expected to be up between five and seven per cent compared to last year.

Summer visitor numbers have been increasing steadily in past years, and generally don’t fluctuate nearly as much as winter numbers, which are contingent on snow.

"All things considered it’s looking strong, and one of the reasons is because of a strong meetings business," said Comeau. "The meetings business is one of the things that can help to insulate Whistler from things like fluctuations in gas prices or in the dollar. In the long run those things can have a negative impact, but groups in many cases book years in advance… and they’re not going to change plans because of one small factor.

"We need to always ensure we’re offering good value, of course, but our research shows that people still very much want to come to Whistler."

Tourism Whistler did a study in 2004 when the first projections were made about Canada’s rising dollar and found that it was not a deal-breaker for tourists.

A five per cent increase in value for the Canadian dollar would cause Whistler’s room night forecast for the U.S. market to fall by 1.6 per cent. At the same time, a five per cent increase in the value of the loonie would also result in a 2.2 per cent decrease in Canadian visitors, as people take advantage of the exchange rate to travel to the U.S.

Canada-wide, a Canadian Tourism Commission study found that a five per cent increase in the Canadian dollar would result in a 0.7 per cent decrease in visitors from the U.S., with a five per cent increase in Canadian travel to the U.S.

But while the impact of the increases so far appears to be minor, the CTC study also found that people are aware of exchange rates and do figure them into their travel plans. For short haul markets, where there is more cross-border travel, 23 per cent of people surveyed identified the exchange rate as a factor in decisions. Only 17 per cent of mid-haul and 19 per cent of long-haul visitors found exchange rates to be a factor.

"One thing we have identified is that, all things considered, gas price or the Canadian dollar are not necessarily going to be deal breakers," said Comeau. "We had some amazing rates available this winter, where we also saw higher gas prices and a rising dollar… but it was still a great value.

"No doubt if trends continue over the long term, especially gas prices, that’s going to have an overall impact on the economy and income… and will impact on travel in general because people won’t have as much money to spend.

"We’re keeping a really close eye on the dollar, on gas prices, and anything that impacts our business, and coming up with ways like the Real Choices campaign to offer people rebates or added value."

The Real Choices campaign, which ran during the winter months, provides visitors with vouchers that could be used for a wide range of activities.

"It’s just a nice way to recognize there may be some challenges to travel, but the value is still here and people can use the vouchers on something to make their trip that much better."

Last winter was a positive one for Whistler. Room nights sold were up over three per cent between November and April compared to the previous winter, mostly because of the excellent conditions. January saw record snowfalls, and flurries took place regularly through the later winter and spring.

As a result, Whistler posted its best visitor tally yet from the B.C. market, as well as a strong winter for visitors from Washington state. The long-haul U.S. market was down considerably, but according to Tourism Whistler that is generally expected following a tough snow year – and 2004-05 was one of the worst years on record for the resort.

The loonie reached a 28-year high of 90.95 cents compared to the American dollar on May 9, and some economists are projecting the Canadian dollar to pull more or less even by early 2007. The increases are the result of the relative strength of the Canadian economy as well as a weakening of the U.S. dollar due to a growing trade deficit, rising debt, a strong Euro, and rising interest rates.

At the same time oil prices for June delivery were reported at a record $70.69 a barrel, with speculation that Iran will cut production as a result of its ongoing standoff with the U.S.

In preparation for, what is expected to be a busy long weekend, BC Ferries will be offered extra ferry services from Thursday, May 18th to Tuesday, May 23rd.   For the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route, an additional sixty sailings will be added, including 6:00AM sailings from both terminals on Tuesday.    Nine extra trips will be added to the Horseshoe Bay – Langdale route through the holiday Monday.  Read more.

On May 9th, the Government appointed Bruce Okabe as the new Deputy Minister of Tourism, Sport and theArts.  Bruce Okabe comes to the provincial public service from a successful career in the private sector. He has held several executive level positions at Telus, and most recently Vice President of business solutions. He has  strong business experience in sales and marketing and sound organizational and senior leadership skills.

In addition, Mr. Okabe holds several directorships, including the 2009 World Police and Fire Games, the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation and the Vancouver Community Foundation. He is a graduate of the Ivey Business School's Executive Development Program and the British Columbia Institute of Technology's Marketing Management
Program.

Mr. Okabe replaces former Deputy Minister Virginia Greene who was recently appointed  Deputy Minister, Intergovernmental Relations. His assumes his new position effective May 15, 2006.

Read the Government's full press release at http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2006OTP0089-000578.pdf

According to the River Forecast Centre within the BC Ministry of Environment, spring snow packs for the province indicate a fairly positive outlook for water supply.  The May 1st snow survey reflects the maximum accumulation for the year and according to the Ministry, the snow pact conditions are as follows (normal = 100%):  Vancouver Island (121%), South Coast (111%), Okanagan and Kettle basins (114%), South Thompson (99%), North Thompson (90%), Columbia (93%), Kootenay (91%), Similkameen (72%), Nicola-Coldwater basins (70%).  Unfortunately, northern BC’s snow packs are below normal with the Upper Fraser basin at 70%, the Peace River basin at 86% and the Skeena at 84%.    Based on these current levels, the Ministry is predicting below average water flows this spring throughout the upper, middle, and lower Fraser River.  However, rivers in the Kootenays and the Okanagan may experience average or above average peak flows during the snowmelt.  Read more. 

Tourism hoping for more from budget 
No help for CTC - tax measures may help businesses

Published Date: 2006-05-10 
By Clare Ogilvie, The Pique News Magazine

The recent federal budget is both good news and bad news for the tourism sector.

It includes measures that should put more money in the pockets of taxpayers – discretionary money they may choose to spend on travel – but it also neglects to increase funding of the Canadian Tourism Commission, according to the Council of Tourism Associations (COTA), the voice of the B.C. tourism industry.

For some time Canadian tourism representatives have been advocating for an increase of $100 million in federal funding for the CTC, the national Crown Corporation responsible for tourism marketing.

 Read more.

With June crude oil trading at $72.28 per barrel, a booming global economy and concerns over peace in the middle east, many BC tourism operators are beginning to worry that continued increases in transportation costs will negatively impact their summer traffic.  Some tourism businesses fear that higher fuel costs will not only mean a high price for services and goods, but a decrease in visitation rates to BC’s tourism destinations.  This could prove detrimental for an industry already battling a high Canadian dollar, the impending implementation of US passport requirements and an increasingly competitive international travel market.

As a result, some businesses are starting to question the imposition of the governments’ gas taxes and whether or not governments are simply ‘lining their coffers’ at the expense of the travel industry.  As such, this summary offers a breakdown of the different taxes imposed on gasoline, an estimate of their revenue and a brief description on projects they fund.  

Gas Taxes in British Columbia

In British Columbia, four levels of gas tax exist, including:  
1. Federal Excise Tax (11.0 cents per litre, 12.0 cents per litre for leaded gasoline)
2. Goods and Services Tax  (7%)
3. BC Provincial Excise Tax (14.5 per litre)
4. Municipal Excise Tax (in Victoria [2.5 cents per litre] and in Vancouver [6.75 cents per litre]

Source: Backgrounder - Oil and Gas Prices, Taxes and Consumers, Government of Canada, Department of Finance, [online], October, 2005

Federal Excise Tax
The federal excise tax currently raises about $5 billion each year ($4 billion from the gasoline and $1 billion from diesel and aviation fuel) with between 2% and 7% going into highway upgrades; the rest goes into general revenue.

With the ‘New Deal’ between the provincial and federal governments, half of the fuel excise tax will be given to municipalities over the next five years.  Money from this program will support environmentally sustainable infrastructure projects such as public transit, water and wastewater treatment, community energy systems and the handling of solid waste.  British Columbia’s communities will receive approximately $635.6 million.  Eventually, the government will be handing the equivalent of 5 cents per litre of gas revenues to these community projects (distributed on a per capita basis).

Goods and Services Tax (GST)
GST revenues are collect from the purchase of fuel on top of the existing excise tax.  Although the taxation of this commodity goes into general GST revenue, 2005 estimates suggest the total to be as high as $2 billion.

Provincial Excise Tax
Provincial tax rates vary depending upon the community.  In most communities, the Province collects14.5 per litre, which generated approximately $915,000,000 (2005/06 estimates) per year.  British Columbia dedicates 6.75 cents or the 14.5 cents per litre to the British Columbia Transportation Financing Authority to help finance major transportation projects.  For more information on BC’s gas tax rates see the chart below entitled BC Motor Vehicle Gasoline Taxes, 2004.

Municipal Excise Tax
BC’s Transit Authority Act allows municipalities to help finance their urban transportation by levying a tax on gasoline purchased in their area.   As a result, both the Vancouver and Victoria regional transit service areas have levied additional taxes on gas purchased within their jurisdiction.  Victoria dedicates their revenue, based on 2.5 cents per litre, to public transit and Vancouver’s tax of 11.5 cents per litre goes towards TransLink. 

Source: Perry, David and Karin Treff, David, Finances of the Nation 2005, [online], 2005, available at http://www.ctf.ca/FN2005/finances2005.asp.

To read more on the increased cost of gasoline and its potential impact on the BC’s tourism industry, purchase a copy of  our BC Tourism Review Series publication entitled Fuel Factor: The Impacts of Higher Fuel Costs on the BC Tourism Industry, click here. 

Tourism officials ask, "where's the money?"

By: CanWest News Service; Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, May 06, 2006

VANCOUVER -- Canadian tourism officials are criticizing the federal government's failure this week to boost the Canadian Tourism Commission's annual budget -- claiming it should be increased by $100 million so it can compete more effectively in global markets.

They claim a $100-million investment would result in a $620-million return for Ottawa in the form of additional tax revenues generated by increased tourism traffic to Canada.

Read more.

Vancouver, BC - The Council of Tourism Associations (COTA), the voice of the BC tourism industry, welcomes recent federal budget announcements of tax cuts and increased investment in infrastructure, but expresses concern over the continued neglect in funding Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) programs. 

The tourism industry in BC consists of nearly 18,000 businesses, which are mostly small to medium sized operations, many of whom will benefit from the increase of the threshold for small business income tax breaks and the lowering of the rate for eligible small business income to 11%. 

“The recently announced business tax breaks and infrastructure investments are a welcome initiative, but the budget doesn’t address the immediate need for funding to market Canada as a travel destination,” notes C. Michael Campbell, President and Chair of the COTA Board of Directors.

Canadian tourism representatives have been advocating for an increase of $100 million in federal funding for the CTC, the national Crown Corporation responsible for tourism marketing.   According to the Hotel Association of Canada, it is estimated that this investment would resulted in a $620 million return for the federal government. 

“For tourism businesses to thrive, we need the support of organizations like the Canadian Tourism Commission.  Unfortunately, the government’s neglect in properly funding their programs is going to hurt all of us in the long run,” says Mary Mahon Jones, COTA’s CEO.

Investments in borders, emergency preparedness, transportation infrastructure, transportation security and corporate tax reductions are also welcomed by the industry.  

Unfortunately, the Budget did not address the dire need of Canadian airports for increased funding through the Airport Capital Assistance Program.  A number of smaller airports are facing severe financial pressures and the 2006 Federal Budget does nothing to support these institutions.

The federal government’s announcement of a $25 million expansion of the NEXUS air program was good news for the industry.  The NEXUS project facilitates the quick movement of low-risk travelers between Canada and the United States.  It has been operating as a pilot project at Vancouver International Airport since the end of 2004.   With this additional funding, it will be expanded over the next two years to seven other major Canadian airports.  COTA urges the government to consider amalgamating air, marine and land NEXUS into a single program that is applicable to all Canada/US border crossings, with a single, affordable pricing structure.  This will go far in reducing line-ups at border crossings.
 
“The Canadian government’s $303 million towards secure and efficient border crossings is a much needed investment,” notes Mary Mahon Jones, COTA’s CEO.  “It is widely recognized that, with the impending US passport requirements in 2008, border crossings need to become more efficient.  Our industry is already feeling the impact of these new regulations and we need to act now.  I hope that these funds are representative of a forward-looking government that is willing to step-up and address this issue head-on.”

COTA is a federation of organizations and businesses representing an industry of nearly 18,000 tourism operations throughout British Columbia. Tourism creates jobs for over 117,500 British Columbians and $9.8 billion in visitor spending in communities throughout the province.

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Contact:

Suzanne Lawrence, Industry Relations Officer
The Council of Tourism Associations of BC (COTA)
(604) 685-5956, slawrence@cotabc.com

UNIGLOBE Travel (Western Canada) Inc. launched its Green Flight program today: a simple and effective offer for travellers who fly to counter the effects of their flight’s carbon dioxide emissions.

The Green Flight Program is Ecologo certified under the Environmental Choice Program from Environment Canada. Now, travellers who care about the environment can balance the negative effects of their air travel by opting to invest in Green Flight credits when booking through UNIGLOBE Travel.

UNIGLOBE agents will invite their clients to participate in the program for a fee calculated based on an estimate of greenhouse gas emissions for their chosen flight. Those travellers who opt in to the program will make a positive difference - and feel better about their decision to travel - as UNIGLOBE supports environmentally sustainable initiatives on their behalf, through its Green Flight program.

“UNIGLOBE is committed to helping address the negative environmental impact of air travel where it can,” said Michele Desreux, President of Uniglobe Travel (Western Canada) Inc. “The Green Flight Program is an easy and affordable way for flight passengers to neutralize harmful emissions when they fly. Take part in the Green Flight Program and feel good about air travel. That is our message. Together we can help combat a serious and growing environmental problem.”

Planes emit significant carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. For example, passengers taking one transatlantic flight produce about one ton of CO2 emissions. Moreover, the plane deposits the carbon dioxide where it does the worst possible damage, between 30,000 and 40,000 feet above the earth’s surface.

A sustainable or Green Travel movement is taking hold in the international travel business. Destination marketing organizations, hotels, attractions and tour operators around the world are seeking ways to protect and enhance the environmental, social and cultural impacts of travel. Limiting air travel is an unrealistic answer to questions about how to make a positive difference. Rather, programs such as Green Flight, give travellers opportunities to help neutralize CO2 pollution through other simple steps.

Desreux says, “UNIGLOBE is asking travellers to look at the environmental consequences of flying and invest a little to offset their flight’s impact. Their contribution supports projects that help to reduce the amount of CO2 emitted and adds momentum to an international green travel trend.”

UNIGLOBE Travel (Western Canada) Inc, believes that emissions trading is a long-term means to offset plane pollution, and to address the issue of global warming. It is part of worldwide travel franchisor UNIGLOBE Travel International with headquarters in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Read more.

Tourism industry plans to double revenues by 2015  

By: Bruce Constantineau, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, April 28, 2006

The B.C. tourism industry has embarked on a two-year project to develop a business plan that will promote maximum growth in the most environmentally sustainable manner possible.

The project -- called "Foresight: Shaping and Sustaining a Vision for Tourism in British Columbia" -- will attempt to guide the industry as it tries to double revenues by 2015, Council of Tourism Associations of B.C. chief executive Mary Mahon-Jones said in an interview.

Read more.

The Forest Practices Board, an independent public watchdog reporting on FRPA compliance, is calling for more details and improved accountability on the forest stewardship plans (FSP) under the new Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA).  FRPA is a results-based framework, replacing the former Forest Practices Code, that calls for companies to meet a wide range of objectives including protecting watersheds, species at risks, etc..  While the Act calls for companies to meet these objects, it does not stipulate how.  As a result, the Board argues that the forest service plans submitted under the FRPA make it difficult for the public and government to hold companies accountable. 

The Forest Practices Board has review 15 of the first FSP submitted under the FRPA and produced a report identifying  four key concerns:

• FSPs provide little detail about how, when and where logging will take place on Crown land. The plans cover huge land areas with no details of exactly where logging is proposed.
• FSPs are written in complex legal language that makes it very difficult for the public to understand and comment on.
• Most FSPs do not make commitments to measurable results or outcomes.
• Except for default practices required by legislation, the commitments in FSPs tend to be vague and non-measurable, which will be challenging for government staff to enforce.

For more information on COTA’s work representing the tourism industry on forest issues, click here. 

To read COTA’s policy on land use planning and resource management, click here.

Higgins' Statement to Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) released the following statement which was included in the record of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's hearing on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

"I have the honor of representing New York's Erie and Chautauqua counties, which include Buffalo, New York and the Peace Bridge crossing into Canada.  The people of Western New York have had close relationships with our Canadian neighbors for hundreds of years.  Our communities are woven together and our economies are interdependent.  Seventy-eight years ago this cooperative spirit resulted in the construction of the Peace Bridge between Buffalo, New York and Fort Erie, Ontario.  Our mutual investment in the Peace Bridge has paid dividends many times over, producing commercial and economic development that would never have been possible if citizens of each country did not have easy access to the other side of the border.  In fact, the Peace Bridge, and the easy flow of traffic to Canada, are largely responsible for saving jobs as demonstrated recently by Ford which spared the Buffalo Stamping Plant in its latest round of closings because of its proximity and collaboration with Ford's Assembly Plant in Oakville, Ontario.

"The Peace Bridge is the second busiest passenger vehicle crossing and the third busiest commercial crossing between the United States and Canada.  The commerce facilitated by this bridge is absolutely critical to the vulnerable Western New York economy.

"The easy flow of people over the border is equally as important as commerce.  Many of the students in my district go to universities along the Canadian shoreline, and Canadian students comprise a major component of our local colleges.  Canadians support Buffalo's arts and culture - they visit our zoo, shop our stores, and go to our local theaters; they are a large percentage of the fans in the seats at Bills, Sabres, and Bisons games.  In Western New York, crossing the international border is no different that crossing the 14th Street Bridge here in Washington, DC to get to Virginia - we do it to go to church, to buy groceries, and to visit our families and neighbors.

"The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative would decimate the economic viability and cultural and social fabric of my district.  While I believe strongly that our first responsibility is protecting national security, I fail to see how requiring the use of one form of a passport or PASS card is more secure than the documents currently required for cross-border travel.  I also do not understand why citizens in border communities should bear the economic burden of this policy; if this is truly a matter of "national security" then the entire cost for this program should be borne by the U.S. Treasury, not solely by border communities like ours. 

"The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State argue that the WHTI is mandated in the Intelligence Reform bill, passed two Decembers ago.  But the language in the bill directs DHS and State to 'develop and implement a plan as expeditiously as possible to require a passport or other document, or combination of documents, deemed by the Secretary of Homeland Security to be sufficient to denote identity and citizenship, for all travel into the United States.'  Additionally, DHS should conduct a cost-benefit analysis on a plan as significant as this in order to ensure that our community does not suffer from the strangling of legitimate trade and travel with Canada.

"The most efficient and effective flow of traffic between the U.S. and Canada is of paramount importance for the national security, economic development and life quality of my district.  The proposed passport requirement, as well as the PASS cards, will unnecessarily create delays that will stifle our local economy and place an undue burden on my constituents.

"Given the hundreds of years of excellent cross border relations between the United States and Canada and the strong interdependence for commerce, culture, entertainment, universities and quality of life, I continue to believe that the WHTI should be waived until the establishment and enactment of a new form of identification that will prioritize faster and less expensive passage instead of the slower and cost-prohibitive proposal on the table today."

Read the full press release, click here.

Read the latest update on COTA activites on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, click here.

The Council of Tourism Associations (COTA) represented BC’s tourism industry at the quarterly meeting of the BC Forest and Range Practices Advisory Council on April 11-12. 

The Practices Advisory Council is an advisory body established by the Minister of Forests and Range in 2002, with the mandate to review BC’s forest practices, and provide recommendations to the Minister on possible legislative changes.  At present, the main task of the Advisory Council is to assess the relatively new Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA), which came into effect on January 31, 2004. 

FRPA replaces the former Forest Practices Code, transitioning BC’s forest practices from a regulatory environment that was “process oriented” to one that is “results oriented.” 

In essence, this means that government provides overall guidance on the outcomes that need to be achieved within each forest harvesting area, rather than prescribing numerous specific measures that must be taken.  For example, when developing a harvesting plan for an area, a forest licensee must indicate how it will protect certain wildlife species, ensure that no landslides will occur, and provide other safeguards against negative environmental impacts – among other requirements.  It is then left in the hands of the forest licensee to determine how this will occur. 

This system of “professional self-reliance” exists in other sectors, such as within the medical profession, where government provides an overall framework regarding expectations of professional conduct and desired outcomes, and practitioners establish best practices and procedures for achieving these outcomes.

One common objection to FRPA raised by tourism operators is that forest licensees have no legal obligation to initiate formal consultations with them, even if tourism operations occur in areas directly affected by forestry practices.  This is a long-standing issue that the tourism industry has sought to change since the initial stages of FRPA’s development, and it remains one of the industry’s priorities to this day.

At present, prior to engaging in any harvesting practices, forest licensees must first draft a “Forest Stewardship Plan” (FSP) that addresses how their activities will address impacts on wildlife, soils, visual quality, and other factors.  After drafting this FSP, the licensee must post a message in the local newspaper indicating that the plan is available for public comment.  After receiving comments on the FSP, forest licensees must then submit a report to the Forest District Manager that describes all public comments, and whether/how public concerns will be addressed, prior to receiving approval from the District Manager to proceed with final site plans.

In order to ensure that tourism operators are duly considered in forestry practices that could affect their businesses, COTA recommends to operators the following:

• Contact forest licensees that operate in your area to determine whether there are any relevant plans affecting your operations.  If you don’t know which licensees operate in your area, contact your BC Forest Service Office (www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/regdis.htm). 
• If you wish to comment on a FSP, make sure you identify in as much detail as possible all of your interests and land use requirements in the areas of the licensee, including visual quality, wildlife, access roads/trails, and any other needs of your business. o If possible, map out the key interests and land use requirements
• Draft a formal statement requesting that impacts on your land use requirements be avoided or minimized as much as possible, and send a copy to the forest licensee, as well as the adventure tourism manager from the BC Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts who is responsible for your area – a listing can be found by clicking here.

Recommendations are more likely to be given due consideration if they are detailed, reasonable, and provide forest licensees with specific recommendations on possible changes to practices.  COTA urges tourism operators to establish positive, proactive relationships with forest licensees. 

The provincial government is actively encouraging the public to become involved in forest stewardship planning, and has provided for the public general information on FSPs and FRPA on their website: www.for.gov.bc.ca/code/

COTA will continue to ensure that the perspectives of the tourism industry – the “other resource industry” – are represented in decisions regarding the use of our province’s natural resources. 

If you are a tourism operator who has commented on a FSP and feel your comments and concerns were not adequately addressed, please contact COTA’s Senior Policy and Program Advisor, Peter Larose, at plarose@cotabc.com.