TCI and CTC Want You to Stay Home to Discover Your Own Country in 2004
We live in a fabulous country and it's not hard to see why most of us think that way. With some of North America's premiere ski and golf destinations located on the West Coast, to the natural wonders such as Niagara Falls in central Canada, our country has much to offer its residents with no need to cross the border to the south.
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| Ken Tomikawa, President of Toyota Canada and Michele McKenzie, President and CEO of the Canadian Tourism Commission have teamed up to help boost Canadian tourism. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) and the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) recognize how unique our country is and have joined together in a new national program designed to help boost tourism. They have done this by inviting Canadians to "drive the world's greatest country." Other partners in this venture include Esso, National Car Rental, Delta Hotels, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, The Hilton Family and the Hudson's Bay Company.
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| "Canada is a magnificent country, with more to do, see and discover than virtually anywhere else on our planet." (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
Ken Tomikawa, President of TCI stated that, "Canada is a magnificent country, with more to do, see and discover than virtually anywhere else on our planet. We have great beaches, impressive mountains, bustling cities and more, but most of us have never really seen them. This inspired the 'Get Going Canada' campaign with the CTC and our partners."
Inspiration also stemmed from Canada's declining tourism industry due to recent world events such as a slow down in the economy after September 11th, the threat of SARS, and the war in Iraq. Michele McKenzie, President and CEO of the CTC remarked, "With total tourism spending in Canada reaching $50.8 billion in 2003 and providing close to 574,000 jobs, tourism is a vital component to the Canadian economy. After experiencing a very difficult 2003 tourism season that saw these numbers come down, the industry is looking for new and exciting programs to motivate Canadians to discover their own country."