Don’t bite the hand that feeds many Island businesses
To the Expositor:
I was on a Destination Northern Ontario tourism call this week and was surprised to hear some businesses saying they are getting calls from their US tourists asking if it is going to be safe to come again this year. How sad that they would not feel safe here in this welcoming place. Perception is reality so let’s take this concern seriously and be sure that we put out a positive message to our American friends, neighbours and tourist alike that we are a great place to come.
Now is not the time for political rhetoric when it comes to tourism. The US residents are Canada’s largest inbound tourism market, the US traveler is a high value and important market for Northern Ontario and Manitoulin Island. Americans are key to the ongoing success of Manitoulin Island tourism. Tourism is a key element to 80 percent of the businesses here on Manitoulin Island, so be welcoming and supportive.
All this to say, tourists are important, so don’t bite the hand that feeds many a Manitoulin Island business. The US Administration is doing its best to make our economy suffer, we do not need to add to that, but we need to look for ways to counteract that and being mean to potential tourists who want to come here and support the small businesses here on Manitoulin Island is not the way to go.
Barbara Baker
Little Current
