Glen Falls Post Star - Canadian Tourism Good For Our Region

Op-Ed

By William Owens

Editor:

In your recent article entitled "Canadian tourists sought," you highlighted Michael Consuelo, executive director of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visitors and Convention Bureau, and his work to attract Canadian tourism to the region.

Consuelo should be commended for his efforts. Canadian tourism is vital to our economy. New York is the leading destination for Canadian tourists.

In 2010, Canadians made 3.4 million visits to our state and spent an estimated $1.2 billion here. Canadian trade and investment, both from tourism and industry, sustains more than 20,000 jobs in our region.

According to National Geographic, an estimated 75 percent of the entire Canadian population lives within 100 miles of our shared border.

Streamlining the flow of Canadian travelers and goods across our border and encouraging Canadian investment here, as Consuelo has done, should be one of our top economic focuses.

We are already seeing this strategy work. According to The New York Times, as many as 5 million Canadians cross the border to fly from American airports each year because of lower fares and the convenience of traveling domestically.

In my hometown, Plattsburgh, between 80 and 85 percent of all air travelers are Canadian.

Whether Canadians are drawn to vacation in the Adirondacks to explore the history of our nations at the region's many French and Indian and Revolutionary War battlegrounds, or to shop and dine in our small towns, Washington, Warren and Saratoga counties have much to offer.

Recent efforts at the state level have focused on attracting tourists from New York City. We should make at least the same effort to attract visitors from Montreal and the surrounding areas.

Thank you for highlighting Consuelo's important work that creates business opportunities and jobs in our community.

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