In addition to tourism, severe effects were also experienced in the Caribbean AGRICULTURE and FINANCIAL/BUSINESS SERVICES sectors. The Canadian MANUFACTURING sector, and in particular the AUTOMOTIVE industry, has suffered the greatest impact following the country's economic downturn. In LATIN AMERICA whilst basic commodity prices have fallen sharply the impact on tourism has been less dramatic.
Opportunities for collection agencies in CANADA will come mainly from the Banking / Credit Card / Distress Lending (Payday Loans) industries as unemployment produces more delinquent customers; credit granters react quickly to potential risk factors; re-financing options for consumers will be further limited because of tighter credit adjudication policies; and more consumers will have to resort to payday lenders for money in order to survive job losses and or income reductions.