by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 1:30 PM ET, Tue March 4, 2025
The Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) issued a passionate statement calling for the end of long-threatened tariffs that have the potential for far-reaching consequences.
In the statement, the organization which bills itself as being “dedicated to promoting and supporting the interests of tour operators in Canada” relays concern for the thousands of jobs on both sides of the border in hotels and restaurants, travel agencies, tour operators, and transportation services that may now be at risk, as well as the relationship between our country and the U.S.
The statement urges those in the tourism industry to work towards dismantling the trade barriers, offering the following suggestions:
1. Raise Awareness: Share the facts about the impact of these tariffs on your community and the tourism sector. Educate your customers, colleagues, and partners about how these trade barriers harm jobs and businesses.
2.Speak Out: Use your platforms - from social media to industry forums - to voice your opposition to these tariffs. Whether you are a business owner, a worker, or a consumer, your voice matters.
3. Join Forces: Collaborate with industry associations, chambers of commerce, and advocacy groups that are working to reverse the tariffs. Together, we are stronger and can amplify our collective message.
4. Engage Policymakers: Contact local and national representatives to express your concerns. Urge them to protect the tourism industry by pushing for the removal of tariffs and the restoration of fair, free trade between the U.S. and Canada.
5.Support Tourism-Friendly Policies: Advocate for policies that encourage travel and tourism between the U.S. and Canada. Remind lawmakers that tourism is not a luxury - it is a critical economic engine that creates jobs and drives prosperity for millions of people.
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