COVID-19 Updates > Tourism Advocacy Update – June 23-24, 2020
Publié le 24 juin 2020
June 23-24, 2020
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. 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’s Advocacy Update
- Today, the TIAC-led industry policy committee met to share how businesses in our sector are adapting to regional re-openings, and the work done so far to promote the industry recovery plan
- Statistics Canada’s international visitation numbers for April have been released showing a steep decline in international arrivals by 98.3% year over year. Year-to-date numbers show a decline of 44% in international arrivals.
- TIAC and other stakeholders continue to work with the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable to open up much-needed dialogue with government to discuss border restrictions that are severely impacting the visitor economy. The time to act is now! Please support our industry at #timetotravel #voyageons.
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Government Announcements
- Today, Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil confirmed that the Council of Atlantic Premiers had reached a deal to create the “Atlantic bubble”, which will begin on July 3rd. This means that anyone residing in the four Atlantic provinces can visit any of the other 3 sister provinces without the need to self isolate before or after traveling.
- This is most welcome news to our members in Atlantic Canada, where regional visitors may now help bring some much-needed business where it is safe to do so.
- When asked last week about allowing visitors from the rest of the country, Premiere McNeil said he hoped to welcome the rest of Canada around the midway point of July but gave no firm timeline or commitments.
- Yesterday, Minister Joly made an announcement regarding the distribution of COVID-19 funding to Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. Please see the press releases below for further details
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In Case You Missed It …
- On Thursday, June 18th, the Prime Minister announced that the funding portal for cultural industries struggling due to COVID-19 would be launched. This portal can be accessed here.
- TIAC has launched a new letter writing campaign, and we need your help reaching politicians across Canada to send the message that #TourismCounts and we need support now.
- Visit TourismCounts.ca and click “Send Your Letter” to ask your MP to support the tourism industry through COVID-19 recovery efforts.
- We ask business leaders to also encourage their staff and suppliers to send a letter as well – we need everyone to lend a voice to our message!
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Looking Ahead – COVID-19 Recovery
Several provinces have begun announcing plans for reopening economies. Timelines and actions vary, but can provide businesses and workers with information on what to expect in the upcoming weeks and months. TIAC is following up on measures announced by British Columbia to limit gatherings of more than 50 people and seeking a coordinated approach between provinces in the recovery phase. We have reached out to our provincial counterparts to work together in an effort to create an orderly recovery strategy that will address health concerns and support tourism businesses. TIAC will continue to add links to provincial recovery plans as they become available:
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