BC in Hot Water Over Gay and Gambling Gaff
The British Columbia Tourism Ministry is pulling a controversial marketing brochure that discourages businesses from promoting gay tourism as well as gambling tourism in China.
One particular passage in the brochure, entitled, "How to Market your Business in China," caused the uproar, which stated that businesses may not promote gay tourism or gambling according to the rules of the China National Tourism Association.
"In alignment with the [Canada Tourism Commission] Tourism BC will also require that any partner operator agrees to?. prohibit the promotion of casinos, gambling and gay tourism, per the China National Tourism Administration," read a passage on page 58.
Spencer Chandra Herbert, a new Democratic Party tourism critic referred to the passage as "a big deal for people in the gay, lesbian, bi, trans community."No doubt, gambling fans were offended too.
On Tuesday morning, the BC Tourism Ministry withdrew the brochure and apologised for causing offense. They have stated that they will correct the insulting passage.
"The information provided regarding restrictions around marketing in China published in the guidebook was incorrect," read a statement by the ministry.
"The restrictions on marketing gay tourism and gambling to China are not explicit in the memorandum of agreement between China and Canada. Minister Bell wants to apologies to those that may have been offended. He's asked that staff remove this statement from the guide. He has also asked his deputy to look into this, to ensure such an error does not happen again."
BC Tourism Ministry Not Endorsing Position
Chandra Herbert has said that he welcomes an apology from the Ministry, but is concerned that the brochure was even published.
"Why was this language in the BC government brochure? Who put it in there and for what reason? Gay tourism is a big business for Vancouver and for BC. It brings in tens of millions of dollars every year."
Arguing in defense of the British Columbia Tourism Ministry on Monday, Bell said that the policy is negotiated by the federal government in relation to Canada's Approved Destination status. The details of the agreement were signed in June 2010 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper ad Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Bell commented, "That is a deal that was negotiated between the Federal government and the Chinese central government and it was not something we participated in."
"We're not endorsing the position; we're simply stating it as a matter of fact. It could be that we could have worded it better, but it is important that people know what those rules are if they want to market into China."
