TORONTO-“If there’s one thing we know about Americans, it’s that they love guns!” said Tourism Toronto director, Abe Sinclair. The director plans on turning US gun lust into tourism gold.
“When Toronto recently made headlines for having a higher homicide rate than New York City, I thought we needed to do something about this,” said Sinclair from his office on Yonge Street. “Management started brainstorming a positive spin to generate tourism dollars.”
There have been fifty-four homicides in Toronto this year* and twenty-five of those deaths were due to gun violence. “These crimes have occurred in some major tourism hubs like Yonge-Dundas Square and Kensington Market. We’re thinking we could advertise tourism packages with the help of local businesses.”
Sinclair’s group is also discussing promotions that would capitalize on the current popularity of true crime. “Toronto has really stepped up its game this year,” Sinclair noted. “We have shootings, sure, but we also have stabbings, subway murders and even a serial killer!”
Tourism Toronto is working on a secondary program for thrill-seeking pedestrians and cyclists, challenging them to engage with Toronto’s deadly traffic.
*number likely to increase by press time