OTTAWA, March 22, 2013 - The Federal Government's Budget 2013 includes an important strategic investment in Canada's visa processing capacity.  As announced yesterday afternoon by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, $42 million will be invested over the next two years to support enhanced processing capacity within the Temporary Resident Program, which issues visitor visas.  

 

This initiative helps to respond to one of the key "access" issues raised by TIAC, as much of Canada's international tourism growth is being fuelled by an influx of new travellers from emerging economies like China, Brazil, Mexico, and India.

 

While the federal government had made significant progress in reducing wait times and rejection rates in recent years, application backlogs were typical at peak times of the year, particularly in markets like China, where leisure travel had grown exponentially. This game-changing investment will facilitate travel for the millions of visitors looking to spend their travel dollars in Canada while effectively balancing legitimate security and immigration concerns.

 

Also included in Budget 2013 were further investments in the Beyond the Border Action Plan which will harmonize and enhance trusted trader and traveller programs, and increase the quantity of and access to NEXUS lanes. TIAC has been involved from the outset of this initiative, emphasizing the need to improve the flow of travelers through Canada's airports and land borders.

 

The implementation of an Electronic Travel Authorization system to improve screening of all visa-exempt foreign nationals (excluding U.S. citizens) was also announced, and has the potential result in a re-examination of the need for visas from some low-risk countries which have high-potential as sources of international travel.

 

The re-investment in processing capacity and the Electronic Travel Authorization were both recommendations made by TIAC in its 2012 whitepaper on modernizing Canada's visitor visa system.

 

CTC Funding

 

Budget 2013 did not include a new investment model for international tourism promotion. It is regrettable that in this budget cycle - despite strong industry representation and broad media and third-party consensus - the government did not recognize the vital role that marketing plays in bolstering our international tourism competitiveness. TIAC will continue to work with industry to press the government to find a competitive and success-based model for the Canadian Tourism Commission.