Ottawa is one of the few cities in all of Canada that does not provide direct financial support to its tourism industry, said mayoral candidate Jim Watson.
The industry that has not received the kind of attention it should have, and under his leadership, it will get back on the radar, said Watson, who released his tourism platform Wednesday.
“Tourism is our third-largest industry in Ottawa,” Watson said.
Watson said Ottawa should be “at the epicenter” of the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.
“We should host the nation, and in fact, host the world,” he said.
If elected, Watson said he would immediately begin bringing together leaders from the tourism industry, the NCC and other levels of government to “to ensure this aspiration of owning 2017 becomes a reality.”
Watson said he would also help develop Canada House, which would gather the souvenirs of the country’s accomplishments and work to attract more national and international events to Ottawa.
