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May 26, 2021
It is Tourism Week in Canada!
To launch the 7-day event, we held a press conference last Friday, with Tourism Industry Associations representatives from every province and territory as well as Destination Canada. A true coast-to-coast-to-coast united front elevating the importance of the tourism industry and asking Canadians to support the sector and travel in Canada, once restrictions are lifted.
Tourism Week in Canada started on Sunday, May 23, and runs through to May 30. Throughout the week, we are working with our counterparts in raising awareness of the value of tourism in every community across Canada including highlighting operators who have adjusted to pandemic conditions. We know you have all made significant changes and adaptations over these past 15 months and your story needs to be heard. I encourage you to participate in the national campaign by glowing green in support of Tourism Week and sharing on social media your contribution to the local economy; tell your story about how many people you employ or what you bring to the community. You are the best-kept secret and it is your time to shine.
We have Tourism Week graphics and resources available to download and use at T ourismCounts.ca.
As we navigate the week's salute to the industry's resilience and perseverance, behind the scene we continue our advocacy work on guaranteeing wage and rent subsidy programs are in place through to recovery, and the new programs outlined in the 2021 Budget are rolled out and done so fairly and equitably. We are committed to ensuring all sectors of our industry have access to programs and services needed for survival and successful recovery.
Beth Potter
President & CEO
Tourism Industry Association of Canada
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Dear Tourism Stakeholders,
The TIAC Team is pleased to provide you with this update on the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, including the steps government is taking to address the situation, as well as highlights of our recent advocacy efforts. We are working hard to make sure the industry’s voice is heard by government, and that you have the information you need to keep your business going in these uncertain times.
Please find the latest updates on official announcements and a recap of TIAC’s advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s Visitor Economy:
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TIAC remains focused on advocacy messaging for a ‘one Canada’ system for border reopening and proof of vaccination vehicles, as well as ensuring that the Canada Emergency Wage and Rent subsidies are continued at current levels, for those businesses hardest hit.
This week, TIAC President and CEO, Beth Potter, met with department officials at ISED, and will meet with officials at Regional Development Agencies across the country to discuss details of the roll out of proposed support programs, like the Tourism Relief Fund.
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Its Tourism Week in Canada! We are calling on Canadians to take the 2021 Tourism Pledge, that is, when restrictions are lifted, to travel In Canada first.
Please take the pledge and share with your networks. If you are a business with a programmable lighting system, please consider lighting up in Tourism Week’s ‘glowing green’ to show your support!
Our kick off event took place on Friday, May 21st via TIAC’s Facebook Live, where we heard from Beth Potter, President and CEO of TIAC, Marsha Walden, President and CEO of Destination Canada, and senior leaders from all of the provincial and territorial tourism industry associations across the country. We have been highlighting different regions of Canada each day – we started with Atlantic Canada on Monday, and yesterday showcased Ontario and Quebec. Today we will be focusing on Alberta, tomorrow on British Columbia, Friday on The Prairies (Manitoba and Saskatchewan), and Saturday finishing off with Canada’s North (Nunavut, Northwest Territories and the Yukon). Learn more at TourismCounts.ca.
Tourism Week in the Media
Here are just some of the many landmarks & cities that lit up Tourism Week 'Glowing Green' in support:
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Tourism Town Halls allow tourism operators to provide first-hand input on issues affecting their business and the tourism industry in this time of COVID and provide feedback on government policy for the recovery and rebuilding of our sector. They also provide a front-line forum exposure for governments, TIAC, Destination Canada and event sponsors to collaborate with small and medium-sized tourism business operators.
- British Columbia – May 27
- Ontario – June 1
- Saskatchewan – TBD in June
- Nova Scotia – TBD in June
- NWT – TBD in June
Our members are our priority. Please reach out with any comments or questions on advocacy initiatives to beth@tiac-aitc.ca.
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Government Announcements
EU legislators reach compromise on vaccine certificates
- Officials said the system should be up and running by July 1 and would mean that EU citizens who have been vaccinated can travel between countries without quarantine.
- News Link: https://bit.ly/3hNmrrI
Canada-US border restrictions extended to June 21st
- The continued closure of the US-Canada border for non-essential travel has been extended until June 21st.
- The Prime Minister has indicated that cases must come under control and Canada would need 75% of people to be vaccinated for border restrictions to begin to be lifted.
- US and Canadian officials continue to be in contact over issues related to the shared border.
- News Link: https://bit.ly/33ViOb6
B.C. Launches $50 million grant program to support province’s major tourist attractions
- The province has launched a $50 million grant program aimed at helping B.C.'s major "anchor" tourist attractions and tour bus companies weather the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Tourism Minister Melanie Mark announced that the grant program has the potential to help 40 rural anchor attractions and an additional 30 in Metro Vancouver.
- The grant program is meant to support attractions like amusement parks, wildlife parks, botanical gardens, heritage institutions, museums, galleries and science centres.
- Major urban attractions that receive 75,000 or more visitors per year can receive up to $1 million.
- Rural anchor attractions that get 15,000-plus visitors per year are eligible for up to $500,000.
- Tour bus companies with an annual ridership of 30,000 or more are also eligible for a maximum of $500,000.
- News Link: https://bit.ly/3u4O2XQ
B.C. announces reopening plan
- On May 25th, the B.C. government announced a plan to gradually lift restrictions on daily life, business and travel.
- The province’s plan has four steps, each step will depend on vaccination and infection rates.
- Step two to begin June 15th at the earliest if 65% of adults are vaccinated and cases/hospitalizations are declining.
- News Link: https://bit.ly/3vo3HDd
- Release Link: https://bit.ly/34kiYJk
Newfoundland & Labrador’s Premier’s Advisory Council on Tourism submits final report
- Premier Andrew Furey released the report from the Premier’s Advisory Council on Tourism titled, The Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Industry and the Pathway to Recovery.
- The Council was created in January 2021 to provide advice to the Provincial Government on short-term measures to assist with the sustainability, reopening, and recovery of the tourism sector in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- The final report outlines 11 recommendations, which focus on: reopening of the province for travel; air access requirements; the importance of tourism marketing and consistent messaging; and proposed funding support through federal and provincial programs.
- There is also a recommendation that focuses on industry owners and operators having designated safe opening plans.
- Release Link: https://bit.ly/3bCbm8U
Ontario announces reopening plan
- On Thursday, May 20th, Premier Ford announced the province’s plan for reopening the economy and reducing restrictions.
- Under the new plan, restrictions will be eased gradually through June, July and August based on vaccination rates and key public health and health-care indicators.
- Although outdoor sports like golf and tennis will be opening on May 22nd, the current stay-at-home order will be in effect until June 2nd.
- There are three phases to the reopening plan, with phase one to begin on June 13th:
- Phase 1: 60% of adults with one dose - focus on resuming outdoor activities with smaller crowds, outdoor dining, and non-essential retail at 15% capacity.
- Phase 2: 70% of adults with one dose, 20% with two doses – Expanding larger outdoor activities (sports leagues, gatherings of up to 25 people) and limited indoor activities with restrictions.
- Phase 3: 70-80% of adults vaccinated with one dose, 25% with two doses – Expanding access to indoor settings with restrictions, including those where masks can’t always be worn (recreation facilities, museums, dining, etc.)
- News Link: https://bit.ly/3ytkjv3
Quebec launches reopening plan
- Quebec is the first province in Canada to release a full-fledged plan with dates tied to loosening of restrictions.
- The first step in the plan will take effect on May 28th and will see curfews be lifted, outdoor gatherings allowed, and patio dining.
- On May 29th, 2,500 fans will be permitted in the Bell Centre for game six of the Leafs-Canadiens playoff series.
- If these stages go well, gyms and indoor dining will reopen on May 31st.
- Further steps will be taken by the middle of June, allowing for two different households to gather indoors together and bars to reopen.
- News Link: https://bit.ly/345PgHG
Nova Scotia extends public health restrictions until June
- On May 19th, Nova Scotia Premier announced that Nova Scotia’s current restrictions will remain in place until at least ‘the second week of June’.
- Provincial campgrounds are closed, and private campgrounds can only accommodate seasonal campers. No short-term camping is permitted.
- Additionally, permanent residents of Nova Scotia will no longer have to wait for approval when applying to enter the province by completing the Nova Scotia Health Check form.
- They will receive conditional automatic approval, but they must show proof of permanent residence to officers at the point of entry.
- News Link: https://bit.ly/3oAXUYn
Saskatchewan reaches Step Two threshold in Re-Opening Road Map
- Saskatchewan has reached its Step Two threshold on the province’s Re-Opening Roadmap with 70% of residents over 30 having received their first vaccine dose.
- This means that Step Two reopening measures will begin on June 20th – three weeks after step one, which begins on May 30th. In Step Two, several public health measures can be eased, including:
- No capacity thresholds on retail and personal care services, must maintain an occupancy that allows for physical distancing.
- Restaurants and bars will have no table capacity thresholds, must maintain two metres of physical distancing or structural barriers between tables, dance floors and buffets remain closed.
- 150 person maximum capacity at event facilities, casinos, bingo halls, theatres, art galleries, libraries and recreational facilities, must maintain an occupancy that allows for physical distancing, restaurant guidelines apply at venues that serve food.
- Limit of 150 people at public indoor gatherings and private and public outdoor gatherings.
- News Link: https://bit.ly/3oMluS7
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