October 2022 E-Newsletter

President’s Message

Fall is upon us! As we enter the month of October, we welcome the gorgeous red colour that fills our great Canadian frontier!

Not only do we celebrate the change of seasons this month, but we also celebrate the end of travel restrictions in Canada and across the world! The Canadian border measures have ended as of October 1^st, and it won’t be long before many countries in Asia also start to do the same! This also ends the self-isolation that many countries like Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan have in place which has deterred outbound travel and tourism. We’re almost at the end of the tunnel, we can finally see the light.

The past two years have been a tough ride for our industry, Covid forced us to adapt to how we go about our everyday life. Everything from tourism to even the simpler things such as grocery shopping or dining out, we now take that extra step to ensure our own safety.

While we’ve had to say good-bye to a lot of our friends in the industry, we also see new faces that will bring a new dynamic to our already fantastic group. We’d love to see how these new players will change the tourism game and we’re ready to travel over the horizon with them.

Looking back over the past years, CITAP+ keeps in touch with all members and continues our educational direction. Thank you to the many members who helped us with our monthly Road to Recovery session with RTOs, as well as the Spring Thaw/ Fall Colours Events. We also have a chance to work closely with DC on panel discussions of the overseas market update. Our advocacy committee also communicates on an ongoing basis with TIAC, ARF-Quebec and the Minister of Tourism office, delivering the message of the labor shortage which affects the cost increases which the hampering of the competitive capacity of Canada and entry visa issues. Our Chinese-speaking guide training has continued in the past two years, and we hope to provide more professional services for Chinese-speaking tourists from all over the world who visit Canada in the future.

Last year’s winter function gathered over 100 members that attended in person. This year’s Summer Hidi Nishi Classic Golf tournament welcomed 41 golfers and over 100 members for dinner. In our upcoming Winter Function, we will return to the traditional event which will have a market update and seminar in the morning, and an afternoon with Marketplace followed by the evening reception and dinner.

Also, a more exciting note about our new branding, “CITAP +”! After receiving feedback from members and a long discussion with our Board, we think this change will allow more RTOs to join and CITAP+ to expand its membership base beyond the traditional Asian Pacific markets, bringing in more diversion to appease the new markets and benefits to members.

This will be increasingly beneficial when partnering more broadly with organizations like TIAC and DC. This will provide a nimbler platform moving forward to support tourism and will keep Canada more competitive.

It’s my honor to take on the position of your President once again. I hope CITAP + can lead forward in new elements in 2022 as we celebrate our 25th anniversary.

As it is time to reconnect once again, we are looking forward to see you on Dec. 6 at the CITAP+ winter function!

Alice Lin

CITAP+ President

CITAP+: New Logo!

After consultations with the Board of Directors during the summer retreat, and after a vote by the Board, CITAP+ is proud to reveal its brand-new logo. It provides a fresh new look for the organization, with our maple leaf proudly featured at the centre. The two circular lines around the perimeter of the leaf are a subtle nod to “globalization”, but they also speak to momentum, evolution, ongoing motion & interaction that is core to our mandate. These lines are also a tip of the hat to the ongoing relationship we foster between RTOs (receptive tour operators) on the one hand, and PMOs, DMOs, and suppliers on the other. Our industry is changing, CITAP+ is changing, but getting connected and staying connected remains a constant.

Interview with CITAP+ CUS Member : Jennifer Burling, GreenStep Solutions

CITAP+ is pleased to introduce Jennifer Burling, Director of Sustainable Tourism, GreenStep Solutions. Jennifer shares with us some professional insights, as well as a few tidbits from her personal life…

1. You’ve been in tourism most of your life…..what drew you to the industry?

As I reflect on the past 20 years of my tourism career, I have realized that at the start it was the people that drew me in, and that same motivation remains today. Both those working in the industry, and the guests you encounter along the way. Each with a common curiosity, to see, to explore, to experience a world outside their own. The energy, the passion, and the positivity of those working in tourism is infectious. The chance to be a part of an industry that creates memorable experiences for others, through connection, and through a shared passion, is something that I am very grateful for, and I always say that once you work in tourism, you will be hooked, and never want to leave.

2. You work for GreenStep, which is Canada’s leading sustainable tourism service provider, and sustainable tourism offers are increasingly in high demand by travellers. What is your dream vision for tourism and sustainability in Canada for 2030?

Our vision for the tourism industry as it relates to sustainability is to see businesses, large and small, making decisions with sustainability at the forefront, measuring and improving their sustainability performance with as much emphasis as is placed on financial performance. In the end, sustainability is a pathway to improved resiliency and a powerful tool to regenerate and improve ecosystems, communities, and relationships with each other. If the industry continues to tackle the critical and imminent issues facing our communities, and our planet, then we will be in a much better place in 2030 then we are now, and we are optimistic that we are on the right path with the effort that we are seeing from businesses of all sizes, across every province in Canada.

3. You live in beautiful Squamish, BC. What is your favourite thing to do in and around your city?

Squamish is known as the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada, and it lives up to that title with the many outdoor activities on offer. Even after 13 years of living in Squamish, I still find new things to try and new areas to explore. I recently hiked the Sea to Summit trail underneath the Sea to Sky Gondola. It was steep and challenging, but so rewarding, and the views can’t be beat. We also like to spend time paddle boarding and swimming around the lakes or the ocean throughout the summer, and of course love to camp throughout the sea to sky corridor. Squamish is a special place, with mountains in your backyard and the ocean in your front, you are never far from nature, which is a privilege that I do not take for granted.

4. If a friend asks you for a movie or series recommendation…..what would you recommend?

Well I would have to say I have always been an original Top Gun fan, and so Top Gun Maverick was the most recent movie I saw and loved. I also have enjoyed watching the very popular Yellowstone and Ozark series, and recently I started watching Virgin River, as it is filmed in Squamish, but the jury is still out on that one. I am also a big fan of Ted Lasso, if you like a clever comedy.

Interview with CITAP+ Board Member : Nancy Johnston, Jonview Canada

Please meet Nancy Johnston, Vice President, Contracting & Product at Jonview Canada

1. You joined Jonview almost 30 years ago. What do you love most about your company?

Hands down…the people. I have been fortunate enough to work with excellent, talented colleagues through my tenure. We challenge each other regularly, always with the understanding that it is to better ourselves. There is incredible support, as we rally to solve whatever the most pressing issue may be or dedicate time to reflect and strategically plan for what’s next.

2. As CITAP+ board member, you represent the European market. If you could choose one European country to spend a year in, which one would it be?

Very tricky, but probably France. It was one of my backpacking destinations right out of university. Each return trip reminds me of those very good times, but in a much, much more comfortable style. On my last trip there, my husband and I got a bit lost on our departure. A random person approached us and helped with directions, then said “Paris loves you and welcomes you back”. I have had nothing but a warm reception on every visit.

3. You live in the Greater Toronto area. What is your favourite destination in Ontario?

Northern Ontario. About 6 hours north of Toronto, you will find New Liskeard. The journey there takes you through Muskoka, North Bay and Temagami. Such raw beauty. It is an area I have fallen in love with. You can breathe deeper, sleep more soundly, and eat without regret after a day out hiking or swimming.

4. If a friend asks you for a movie or series recommendation…what would you recommend?

My darker side would say Ozark. Excellent script and casting. Jason Bateman is so likeable in pretty much everything he does, and with Ozark, he also shows off his directing capabilities. My only critique is that it ended☹

My lighter side would say Modern Family. Again, fantastic script and cast. So witty. Definitely a show that will make you laugh, but listen carefully, they are quick and you will miss out!

2023 CITAP+ Membership- Renew Now!

It is that time of year again! As 2022 is coming to an end, we come to you with a reminder that your membership to CITAP+ needs to be renewed. We understand how difficult these last few years have been, but we want to ask for your support as we move forward in our industry’s recovery.

To renew your membership, simply follow these steps:

1. Log in to your account on our website: https://citap.ca/my-account/.
  If you have forgotten your password, please use the “lost your password” link to retrieve access to your account.
  If there has been a change in personnel in your organization, please create a new profile online with your credentials when completing the checkout process.
2. Once logged in, go to the “Become a Member” page, and add your respective membership to your cart to prompt the checkout process.
3. Complete payment information.

2022 Winter Function registration is now open!

CITAP+ is ecstatic to announce that registration for our 25th annual Winter Function is NOW OPEN!

The 2022 25th Anniversary CITAP+ Winter Function will take place on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, and will return to its pre-pandemic format. It will consist of a full day of events, including morning educational sessions at Science World and an afternoon marketplace and dinner reception in the beautiful Pacific Central Station. We will also once again be collaborating with RTO members to organize official CITAP+ in-person sales missions from December 5-8.

Pricing and registration information can be found on our website.

Join Us October 27th- Sustainability in Tourism with GreenStep Solutions

Join GreenStep’s Sustainable Tourism team to learn more about why you should invest in sustainability and how you can leverage the benefits to improve the performance of your business. In a world with increasing carbon taxes, industry-wide labour shortages, and ongoing weather events, the risks and added costs of doing nothing are greater than ever.

Improve your knowledge of sustainability as a topic as it relates to tourism
Build an understanding of globally recognized assessment criteria for sustainable tourism
What are the key drivers and benefits to measuring the sustainability performance of your business
Gain tips on creating an action plan, long-term goal setting, and how to engage your customers and staff in your sustainability journey
Learn how your sustainability efforts will have a direct impact on your profitability

Welcome New and Returning Members

Jonview Canada
Canada Guo’s Travel Solutions & Consulting Inc.
Fresh Tracks Canada
Discover Holidays
Evergreen Adventures
Southern Quebec / Tourism Eastern Townships
ARF Quebec
Valcartier Parcs Hotels Spa
See Sight Tours
Edmonton Tourism
Quebec City Tourism
Tourisme Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suties
BC Ferries
Northern Tales Travel
Sun Peaks Grand Hotel
Tourism Saskatchewan
Rimrock Resort Hotel
Bluestar Coachlines

RTO Market Reports

Market updates are written by Receptive Tour Operator members and in this issue we have updates from the following markets: Europe, Australia, China, Japan, South East Asia, and Korea. Enjoy their anecdotal assessment of each of our markets with a combination of overview, economy, and forecast. Read the full report on our Reports and Presentations page.