Canada's Tourism Industry Needs a Specific Reopening Target Date, TIAC Says

Canada’s Tourism Industry Needs a Specific Reopening Target Date, TIAC Says

May 19, 2021 Jim Byers

The Canadian tourism industry needs a specific target date for reopening the Canadian economy for travel, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada says.

In a letter to TIAC members on Wednesday, association president and CEO Beth Potter said many in the industry had hoped that the May long weekend might see a start to travel in Canada.

“We understand your frustration and are working behind the scenes to support a reopening plan that sets a specific date on the calendar,” she said.

“The federal government has suggested a reopening based on the percentage of Canadians vaccinated, and while we applaud this concept, we are upping the ante and urge them to use the available data to identify a specific target date. Canada’s Tourism Industry needs a date to plan, prepare and be ready to welcome guests,” Potter wrote.

“We are also encouraging both federal and provincial governments to accelerate their immunization rollout to achieve an earlier reopening date. By working harder and smarter, we can get to the finish line early and kick start the industry’s road to recovery.

“While we push for a reopening date, we are leveraging next week’s Tourism Week as an opportunity to encourage Canadians to Travel in Canada, when restrictions are lifted. We are calling on residents to get vaccinated and start planning and preparing for their 2021 Canadian vacation. We invite you to support the national campaign and use the shareable at the Tourism Counts site.”

Canadian Travel News spoke with dozens of tourism boards and travel workers across Canada over the past two days, and almost all of them made the same point.

“We need a couple weeks to hire staff, make plans, order supplies” and do other tasks, one destination marketing person explained. “You can’t just flick a switch and open a travel business.”

The travel and tourism industry accounts for one in ten jobs in Canada. Many of those jobs are held by women, new immigrants and students.