ONTARIO IMPROVES THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

McGuinty Government Invests In Tourism Training

News

Customer service at tourism destinations throughout Ontario should improve thanks to a series of training initiatives supported by the province.

 

The workshops will help businesses better serve visitors from new markets, like China. The workshops also focus on specialty areas like wine and culinary tourism, green tourism and lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified (LGBT) travel.

 

Ontario is providing $296,000 to fund seven training projects:

1. Durham Region – Go Green workshops to encourage sustainable business practices
2. Georgian Bay Region – Employee education on the Georgian Bay Coastal Route
3. Niagara Region – “Made in Niagara” service training and a new program to welcome cyclists
4. Ottawa Region – Pilot program to increase market readiness for Chinese visitors
5. York Region – Service training and a pilot training/accreditation program for local students
6. LGBT Diversity Workshops – Increasing market readiness for LGBT travellers
7. Ontario Wineries Quality Service Training – Setting new standards at Ontario wineries

QUOTES

 

“Service excellence is one of the hallmarks of a top tourism destination,“ said Tourism Minister Peter Fonseca.  “Partnering with tourism businesses and employees to improve their skills will ensure Ontario’s tourism industry is competitive in the global market.” 

 

“Ontario is competing with the world’s leading tourist destinations and our tourist industry needs people who are not only enthusiastic and knowledgeable about our province and its residents, but also possess the skills to meet the diverse demands of today’s travellers,” said John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

 

QUICK FACTS

 

The training is part of the $40-million Employment Ontario strategy to support skills development, customer service training, standards development and labour market studies to develop HR capacity in industries experiencing skill shortages.

1. Tourism employs more than 213,000 people in Ontario. 
2. Tourism is Ontario’s largest seasonal employer and the single largest employer of young people.

LEARN MORE

About Employment Ontario, Ontario's Employment and Training Network

About tourism training at Ontario Tourism Education Corporation

– 30 –

 

Contacts:

Alicia Farrow, Minister’s Office, (416) 325-4543
Gary Wheeler, Communications Branch, (416) 325-8391