Ontario’s tourism industry to receive nearly $1-million to train new staff

Nearly $1-million has been issued to help boost Ontario’s tourism industry.

According to an official release by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO), the Forward Ready Tourism incentive is a collaborative effort designed to overhaul the province’s tourism sector to match the pace of ongoing demands — including a dire need for both workforce attraction and retention.

Representatives met with both industry leaders and conducted focus groups to gain insight into the scope of the situation and the dollar amount required to initiate mass training and hiring initiatives, specifically attained through the province’s Skills Development Fund.

As a direct result of ongoing partnerships with industry leaders, secondary tourism organizations, and workforce leaders, the TIAO has been supplied with $850,000 toward the incentive, which will help train nearly 600 new workers in the Ontario tourism sector.

“We are proud to support the Forward Ready Tourism initiative through the Skills Development Fund,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, in an official statement. “Workers in the tourism industry put Ontario on the map, keep us competitive, and keep our economy moving forward.

TIAO representatives have stated that this project will help jump-start the careers of individuals in Ontario looking to pursue careers in tourism-related prospects, especially as TIAO’s CEO, Andrew Siegwart, stated that “Ontario’s tourism industry is at a turning point.”