N.L. tourism industry pushing for July 1 reopening
Industry warns financial supports running out, as peak travel months lay ahead
Newfoundland and Labrador's tourism industry is pushing for the provincial government to follow through on the recommendations of the premier's advisory council on tourism and open the province's borders to the rest of Canada by July 1.
Last week, Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, Destination St. John's and a group representing the province's airports each called for domestic tourism to resume by Canada Day.
Heather McKinnon, chair of Destination St. John's, says many in the industry are struggling to stay afloat.
She says reopening to Canadian tourists any later than July 1 would have a devastating impact on the industry, which injected about $1.4 billion into the province's economy annually before the pandemic.
"Everybody is barely hanging on. And it would be very tough to go through another summer like last year because the wage subsidy is being scaled back in July, and that has been a lifeline for so many operators," she said by phone Sunday, adding that the Canada emergency response and employment insurance benefits will also soon run out.
The province's tourism report recommends allowing Canadian tourists to travel to Newfoundland and Labrador once 75 per cent of the province has had one vaccine dose and 10 per cent have had a second shot. They also want tourists to receive a negative COVID test within three days of their arrival.
"We're not just in a public health crisis right now. We're in an economic crisis," said McKinnon. "And our industry is certainly one that can assist in that because we employ 20,000 workers and we're a $1.5-billion industry."
July 1 also holds significance to Hospitality NL chair Brenda O'Reilly, because it's the unofficial start of the tourism season.
"We support getting things open as soon as possible," said O'Reilly in a media release issued Friday.
"We have been asking, and our hope is that they are listening."
O'Reilly said a firm reopening date would give businesses a solid target for planning as they get ready to reopen.
McKinnon agrees and said it's not sustainable for operators to rely solely on travellers from Atlantic Canada, since they make up only about 11 per cent of the province's market.
"We actually need access to the other Canadian provinces and principally Ontario," she said.
Tammy Priddle, CEO of Deer Lake International Airport and member of the tourism council, said having a plan in place soon would be better for everyone as other provinces begin their reopening process.
"Now might not be the time to travel, but now is the time to plan for our safe reopening," Priddle said in a media release Thursday.
"The tourism industry, our airports and our airline partners need to know our province's plan for a safe reopening once our population completes Phase 1 and 2 of the provincial vaccination plan, which is only weeks away."
McKinnon is also advocating for increased air access to the province and a return of more direct flights to Toronto, to act as a gateway to Europe and other bring travellers from other destinations.
"We're not saying open up today. We're saying open up when 75 per cent of the population has their first vaccine and 10 per cent has the second, and that people that are coming in will be vaccinated," she said.
Premier Andrew Furey said during Wednesday's COVID-19 briefing the province would be ready to reveal its reopening plan next week.
With files from Heather Gillis