GROSSE-ILE, Que. - The federal government says it will invest $30 million over three years in the country's tourism sector in order to attract more Americans north of the border.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the announcement today in Grosse-Ile, an island on the St. Lawrence River about 80 kilometres east of Quebec City.
Harper says the money will go toward helping the Canadian Tourism Commission partner with provincial bureaus to market Canadian destinations with the goal of attracting an additional 680,000 Americans over the three-year period.
Tourism officials hope the funding will help create or maintain 2,900 jobs.
In 2014 Canada received 11.5 million overnight U.S. tourists, or about 70 per cent of the total number of tourists who stayed overnight in the country.
Harper also announced an additional $5.13 million for Grosse-Ile and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site, located on the island.
