Uphill road

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that 2011 will be another challenging year for the tourism industry in Northwestern Ontario.
The high-flying loonie, soaring gas prices, and people still struggling to make ends meet in the wake of a devastating recession all make life tough for area tourist operators trying to lure U.S. visitors here.
Throw in the ongoing woes over stricter border regulations and it’s a “perfect storm” for an industry key to the economic fortunes of our neck of the woods.
The onus certainly is on tourist camps, and border towns like Fort Frances, to evolve to meet ever-changing consumer tastes and demands. After all, what attracted people here 20 years ago no longer may apply in the 21st century. And simply relying on repeat customers only can last so long before they have to be replaced by new ones over time.
That being said, most of the waves crashing over the industry are beyond its control. Clearly, the provincial and federal governments need to realize the importance of tourism to our region and work with camp owners to find solutions to pull through these hard times. That includes making sure legitimate security concerns don’t put a stranglehold on tourist traffic crossing the border.
In the meantime, all of us must do our part in rolling out the welcome mat. Our region depends on tourism to thrive and every effort is needed to ensure our visitors are treated warmly and courteously, whether with a simple smile in the store or friendly help with directions.
We all are ambassadors—our actions very well could mean the difference between a return visit and never coming back.
The tourism industry faces an uphill road and needs every push we can give it.