Welcome tourists

Possible flurries in the forecast. Temperatures stubbornly staying well below normal for this time of year. Alas, it seems Mother Nature has forgotten the Victoria Day long weekend is supposed to herald the beginning of summer.
This weekend also marks the traditional start to tourist season in Northwestern Ontario—and the forecast looks to be equally gloomy this year.
Unfortunately, many of the factors spurring the woes facing the tourism industry these days are beyond the control of area operators. The loonie inching up compared to the U.S. greenback, and gasoline prices already on the rise in anticipation of the higher summer demand, certainly could impact the flow of American visitors north. Then there’s the deep and prolonged recession, where people either have lost their jobs or are curbing spending on things like vacations to get by.
And, as if sitting in a two-hour lineup waiting to pass through U.S. Customs isn’t enough to sour someone’s mood to come back this way anytime soon, there’s the new identification requirements at the border, where even Americans will need a passport or similar secure document to get back into their country starting June 1.
These may be pretty daunting hurdles to overcome, but we just can’t throw in the towel, either. Tourism is crucial to the economic fortunes of Northwestern Ontario, particularly with the forestry industry in such a tailspin. As such, every effort must be made to market our area as a premier destination and offer the amenities people have come to expect in the 21st century.
Truth be told, however, what we may boast in terms of fishing, natural beauty, and other attractions means little if we fail to welcome our visitors with open arms. Yes, that can start with their experience at Canada Customs, but it also extends to local businesses offering a fair exchange on the dollar to a passer-by courteously giving directions to someone who is lost.
Frankly, Fort Frances could have the Taj Mahal at Pither’s Point Park, but no one will stop here if we have a reputation for rudeness or condescension towards tourists.
As the saying goes, we only have one chance to make a good first impression—and that responsibility rests with all of us.