Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. A few words this morning about our tourism industry and the welcome news yesterday, Mr. Speaker, that the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has a very bold plan to top up current government investment by $1 million a year. We want to lever that into almost $3 million a year in new annual investment in tourism. The goal is to increase overall tourism spending over the next five years by 50 percent. That is a very lofty goal, probably attainable, but it is going to take some work and some investment and a lot of heart. A lot of heart is what the people who own and run our tourism businesses have.
Mr. Speaker, I have been involved in the tourism industry. I have owned a tourism related business myself and I know the hard work, the dedication and the rewards that come from it. So this is a welcome gesture from this department.
Mr. Speaker, there are a couple of areas that I hope that, as this tourism plan called Tourism 2010 evolves, we can invest some new energies in a couple of specific areas that I don't see a lot of mention in.
Mr. Speaker, something that I have talked about frequently is the importance of festivals and events, not only to the cultural life and enhancement of our communities, but it is a very genuine way of showcasing who we are and what we are to the world. We are unique. We are special. We are very worth coming and seeing. I would advocate that putting our support, money and strategies specifically behind this area would have a great return.
Also, Mr. Speaker, conventions and meetings, I think, are a very viable aspect of the tourism industry that is under its 11th different study right now to see whether or not we can do something. There is a great viability there.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, the arts and the arts and crafts sectors. We have a shared strategy between two departments. There is a lot more mileage that we can get out of this area, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much.
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