Banff-Airdrie Conservative MP Blake Richards has received an award for his contribution to tourism.
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) has recognized Richards, who currently serves as the opposition’s critic for tourism and democratic institutions, with a Tourism Champion Award.
The award follows Richards’ tenure as chairman of the Parliamentary Tourism Caucus, an all-party caucus assembled to support Canada’s tourism sector, an $84.3 billion industry that employs more than 600,000 Canadians in every region of the country.
“Whenever hard work is recognized it’s a good feeling, but I don’t obviously do what I do for awards,” said Richards.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with the tourism industry, both in our riding and across the country, and have been able to accomplish some good things to help the industry be successful.”
Richards was named in 2011 as chairman of the Parliamentary Tourism Caucus, which helped deliver initiatives such as providing $30 million over three years for a Destination Canada campaign to improve Canada’s global competiveness in attracting more U.S. travellers.
Other initiatives included securing Canada Approved Destination Status for Chinese tourists, significantly increasing tourism from China, visa improvements and modernizations to expand Electronic Travel Authorization eligibility to low- risk travellers from priority markets.
As tourism critic now, Richards said he looks to these successes as a solid foundation for continued work with operators, small business owners and other stakeholders across the industry.
“I hope to build on our record,” said Richards, who in 2014 and 2015 was recognized as Best Constituency MP and Hardest Working MP in the Ottawa-based Hill-Times.
“I really believe tourism is a non-partisan issue and I always approached it that way when on the government side.”
