Dundas Street, London / Flickr
Ontario has announced the new Tourism Economic Recovery Task Force to help recover the province’s $36-billion tourism industry from the pandemic.
Strict travel restrictions have been in place for almost a year. Cheryl Finn, general manager of Tourism London says the constant changing of restrictions throughout the past year has been very challenging to navigate.
“Tourism was hit first. It was hit the hardest, and will probably be one of the last industries to recover” Finn says.
It is not yet known what decisions the Task Force will make to help recover the industry. Finn says rebuilding the industry will take time and will likely happen in stages.
“Seeing it in stages, understanding the restrictions, understanding the release of restrictions. And really encouraging Canadians to invest their leisure dollar, their travel dollar in their own province and their own region, and more importantly in our own country.”
- Stage 1: Hyperlocal – moving around outside during the spring and summer while social distancing, visiting patios, etc.
- Stage 2: Partnering Regionally – Tourism London hopes to partner regionally to encourage stays within a one day drive or a couple hours drive away.
- Stage 3: National Travel – Tourism London will eventually like to see national travel be permitted as international travel may not recover as quickly.
Finn encourages Londoners to continue supporting local businesses. While staying respectful of the restrictions currently in place to avoid moving back into a tighter restriction zone.
“We’re doing such a great job, Londoners. We are keeping the numbers relatively low. In the meantime, keep supporting, keep visiting, keep frequenting. Keep investing in your local corner store, your local mom and pop shop. These businesses that have made it to this point, we want to get them beyond recovery and really into that state of norm,” Finn says.
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