Prime Minister Paul Martin flew into 樱桃视频Thursday (March 31) and then drove through the fog to Whistler to make a major announcement.
Martin and MP David Emerson announced the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) is relocating to British Columbia, making the CTC the first federal organization to locate its headquarters in this province.
The office is currently located in Ottawa. One of the key reasons for moving the office to Vancouver is the west coast city's proximity to China.
The Chinese government recently gave British Columbia approved destination status. The declaration means Chinese citizens are clear to come here and travel experts predict visits from China to increase significantly in the future.
Emerson said the CTC will continue to be a national organization serving the country in both French and English.
"The CTC has an excellent record of promoting Canada as the destination of choice throughout Europe and the Americas," said Emerson.
"While continuing to expand these existing markets, we need to capitalize on the great potential within the Asia-Pacific marketplace to ensure Canada's competitiveness in the global tourism industry."
Martin and Emerson were accompanied at the announcement in Whistler by MPs Don Bell of North Vancouver, Raymond Chan of Richmond, Stephen Owen of Vancouver and Senator Mobina Jaffer. Former West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast Liberal candidate Blair Wilson was also in attendance.
Michelle McKenzie, the president and CEO of the CTC, was also in the resort for the announcement and she said her organization is looking forward to capitalizing on new opportunities.
"The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games will raise the awareness of Canada as a destination of choice for visitors from around the world," she said. "We will take full advantage of this awareness to boost tourism revenues across the country."
Lee Malleau, Squamish's economic development officer, attended the announcement and said the news is tremendous for Squamish.
"From a political perspective for the west it is important," she said. "The fact it is coming out west, for us as a community and the things we are trying to accomplish, we will have direct access to a national organization that we can tap into."
According to Malleau, having the CTC in Vancouver will make it easier to develop and maintain a relationship with the CTC and groups like it.
"The fact that they are here in our front yard and back yard makes it easier to develop those relationships," Malleau said.
