[티티엘뉴스] 캐나다관광청은 한국사무소 운영을 내년 1월31일까지 진행할 것을 밝혔다. 

모린 라일리 캐나다관광청 해외마켓 담당 부사장(Maureen Riley,Vice-President, International / Vice-présidente, Affaires internationales Destination Canada)은 7일  공식 발표에서 "최근 캐나다관광청의 이사회에서 해외 마켓에 대한 검토 결과 인도와 한국 사무소를 2021년 1월 31일까지만 운영하기로 결정했다"며 "해당 날짜까지는 사전에 계획되었던 모든 마케팅/홍보 활동이 정상적으로 진행될 것"이라고 전했다.

1월 31일 이후 부터는 기존 한국사무소를 맡았던  에이엘 마케팅앤커뮤니케이션즈 (대표 이영숙)가 연락사무소로서 한국과 캐나다관광청을 연결해주는 역할을 맡을 예정이다.

라일리 부사장은 GSA 업체의 역량과 운영 실적과는 무관한 힘든 결정이었음을 토로하며 "이 기회를 빌어 캐나다 시장 발전에 큰 기여를 한 이영숙 대표와 임직원의 헌신과 노고에 큰 감사의 뜻을 전한다"고 밝혔다. 

다음은 캐나다관광청의 공식 서한 전문이다. 

To Industry Partners,    

As you are well aware, the global tourism industry has been devastated by the health and travel restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The situation is dire and deteriorating.

Supporting the tourism industry’s recovery in Canada, while preparing the foundations for a re-imagined future, urgently requires a new strategy.

At our recent board meeting, India and South Korea were taken into careful consideration and it was decided that they would no longer be target markets for us as of January 31, 2021. Until this date, all planned marketing activities in India and South Korea will continue business as usual. We will continue to maintain close contact with Anna until the end of 2021 to ensure all potential business opportunities can be seen to fruition and provide a more timely transition.

This was a very difficult decision to make and not one taken lightly. It is in no way a reflection on the hard work and dedication of Anna and her team at AL Marketing & Communication. They have contributed so much, in collaboration with your team, to Destination Canada and Team Canada—and this work and they work that you have all done in partnership with us, has been invaluable to our visitor economy.

We are hopeful that we will once again get to work in this important market again in the future and look forward to continuing our relationship.

If you have any questions, please let me know.  

Sincerely,    

Maureen Riley

Vice President, International Markets

Destination Canada  

캐나다관광청의 소중한 파트너 여러분, 안녕하세요.

코로나 사태로 그 어느 때보다 어려운 시기지만 모두들 건강하게 지내고 계시길 빕니다.

전 세계 관광산업은 코로나 사태로 인해 전례 없는 크나큰 어려움을 겪고 있습니다. 캐나다관광청은 캐나다 관광산업의 빠른 회복을 지원하는 한편, 재창조될 미래를 위한 토대를 마련하기 위해 그 어느 때보다 새로운 전략이 절실하다고 생각합니다.

최근 캐나다관광청의 이사회에서 해외 마켓에 대한 신중한 검토가 있었고, 그 결과 인도와 한국 사무소를 2021년 1월 31일까지만 운영하기로 결정하였습니다. 이 날짜까지는 사전에 계획되었던 모든 마케팅/홍보 활동이 정상적으로 진행될 것입니다. 1월 31일 이후부터 2021년 한 해 동안 현재 캐나다관광청의 한국사무소를 맡고 있는 에이엘 마케팅앤커뮤니케이션즈 (대표 이영숙)가 캐나다관광청의 연락사무소로서, 파트너 여러분이 제안하시는 잠재적인 비즈니스 기회에 대해 여러분과 캐나다관광청을 연결해주는 역할을 맡을 예정입니다.

이는 매우 힘든 결정이었으며 GSA 업체의 역량과 운영 실적과는 무관한 결정이라는 점을 말씀드립니다. 이 기회를 빌어 캐나다 시장 발전에 큰 기여를 한 이영숙 대표와 임직원의 헌신과 노고에 큰 감사의 뜻을 전합니다.

아무쪼록 여러분의 건강을 빌며, 저희가 중요하게 생각하는 한국시장에서 향후 다시 협업할 수 있게 되기를 고대합니다.

관련하여 문의사항 있으시면 제게 연락 주시기 바랍니다.

감사합니다.

모린 라일리 캐나다관광청 해외마켓 담당 부사장

정연비 기자 jyb@ttlnews.com