What Will The Recovery Look Like?

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada says this country’s just-completed Tourism Week was an opportunity to remind Canadians of the critical importance the coronavirus-devastated tourism industry plays in the national economy and warn people as the normally hugely busy summer season gets underway that the travel trade has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, writes Ian Stalker in this week’s edition of Canadian Travel Press.

Tourism Week ran from May 24-31 and arrived against a backdrop of TIAC and others warning that revenues have dried up for many tourism companies, which may lead to a large number of permanent closures.

“Canada cannot afford to lose the tourism industry,” TIAC president Charlotte Bell told CTP, adding tourism employed 1.8 million Canadians before coronavirus’ arrival.

Bell said organizers decided to go ahead with is year’s Tourism Week, despite the current gloom and massive travel industry layoffs.

“Tourism Week is normally a time when the industry comes together to celebrate the year’s achievements and ring in the high season,” Bell said. “Prior to the pandemic, tourism in Canada was growing year-after-year, and May typically marked the start of the high season. This year things are looking very different, but we felt it was important to come together as an industry during Tourism Week and look at where we are and what recovery will look like for our sector.

Bell added that: “This was also a great opportunity to connect with our stakeholders through a series of town halls to discuss the challenges they’re facing and how we can continue to help.”

For the full story, check out this week’s issue of CANADIAN TRAVEL PRESS.