 
Darwinism
Member
Username: Darwinism
Post Number: 721
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 9:50 pm: |    |
This may be slightly off-topic, but since Lowell endorses communities surrounding the Straits of Detroit, it might be relevant after all.
It may just be me, but I seem to notice high frequency of TV ads for Ontario tourism within the past few weeks.
Is the low U.S. dollar having a drastic negative effect on Canadian tourism ? The TV ad for Ontario is hard to miss, because it has a catchy tune. |
Miketoronto
Member
Username: Miketoronto
Post Number: 835
Registered: 07-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 9:55 pm: | |
Don't quote me 100% on this. But I do believe Ontario is advertising more, or trying out different marketing.
The tourism industry has seen major reductions in American's coming to Ontario. However it has not been fully negative, as we have gotten more tourists from places like China. However Ontario does need to get the Americans back 
I just find this whole dollar thing so weird. My family is middle class and not rich, however if there was someplace we wanted to go to in the USA, even during our low Canadian dollar days, we would still go.
I just can't believe how an equal dollar would scare people away if they really wanted to go somewhere. It does not cost that much more
The one Ontario commercials that really need a revap that you guys probably don't see, are the Foodland Ontario commercials, promoting the idea of buying local instead of imported food.
Anyway the singers they get really are not that great. Check it out at
http://youtube.com/watch?v=A7PsTZwk8s8
(Message edited by miketoronto on March 23, 2008) |
Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok
Post Number: 6552
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 10:47 pm: | |
I wonder how the strong Canadian dollar is affecting Casino Windsor? Not good I imagine.
Yes I too have been seeing lots of those Ontario commercials. |
Goat
Member
Username: Goat
Post Number: 10153
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 10:58 am: | |
The tourism, or lack thereof, is hurting Windsor's economy. So what does our illustrious mayor do? Raise the price of tolls at the tunnel. |
Spiritofdetroit
Member
Username: Spiritofdetroit
Post Number: 885
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 11:02 am: | |
Their commercials have been running daily...... |
Fastcarsfreedom
Member
Username: Fastcarsfreedom
Post Number: 273
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 11:16 am: | |
They are running nonstop--although I've noticed they are only running one of the series that were produced. They filmed a half-dozen or so using different entertainers from Ontario (who they don't identify unfortunately)--the one running in the Detroit market features jazz/pop singer/songwriter Molly Johnson. |
401don
Member
Username: 401don
Post Number: 333
Registered: 11-2007
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 2:13 pm: | |
U.S. tourist visits to Ontario, specifically Toronto, are way down. The dollar and confusion about passport requirements are the biggest reasons. My car broke down in Buffalo on the weekend. Everyone in the garage, staff and customers, thought you needed a passport now to visit Canada. These people are 5 minutes from the border. Imagine what people in non-border states are thinking. |
Alan55
Member
Username: Alan55
Post Number: 1383
Registered: 09-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 2:41 pm: | |
It doesn't help Canadian tourism that Rick Mercer (as well as every other Canadian comic) on the Canadian TV shows we see in the U.S. begin their routines with an obligatory 10-minute insult riff about how stupid, uneducated, naive, etc., etc., etc. Americans are. This is especially offensive when it comes from a Canuck visiting home who is currently living, and making their income, in the U.S. I have seen this from the likes of Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, and Dave Thomas, amongst others.
I suspect that many Americans are saying that "If Canadians dislike Americans so much I won't offend them with my presence at their tourist areas." |
401don
Member
Username: 401don
Post Number: 334
Registered: 11-2007
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 3:19 pm: | |
Lighten up Alan. Friends are supposed to poke fun at each other. The Canadian comics mostly poke fun at Americans to remind Canadians that they haven't forgotten where they came from. It's almost out of guilt. Like "Don't worry. I'm making zillions down there but I still like hockey eh!" What really bothers Canadians is that Americans, rather than poke fun, ignore us altogether. Hello! We're your largest trading partner! We're alongside you in Afghanistan, not the Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Germans, French, etc. etc. Anyway, I just got back from Canada South (Florida) and had a great time at the pool with folks from Michigan, Wisconsin and even Ohio. |
Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok
Post Number: 6560
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 3:52 pm: | |
Really Alan, that bothers you? Mercer also shows clips of George Bush gaffes... does that bother you?
I don't get upset about them making fun of us, since there are a lot of dumb ass Americans out there... all they have to do is visit red states! And there's no shortage of dumbass Canadians either.
Even Canadians (and Americans) make fun of Canadians. Just look at SCTV (Great White North)... or the movie Canadian Bacon (where we nearly go to war with Canada).
I doubt that many Americans are upset about Mercer... |
Shark
Member
Username: Shark
Post Number: 342
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 4:26 pm: | |
I suspect that only .0001% of people in the USA even know who Rick Mercer is. |
Downriviera
Member
Username: Downriviera
Post Number: 161
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 4:54 pm: | |
We should bring Les Stroud, the Canadian guy who does the Survivor Man show on the Discovery Channel, to Detroit to see if he can survive for 7 days. |