Niagara tourism leader named co-chair of recovery panel
Appointment of Annunziata proof of region’s importance to tourism in province, country
Ontario has tapped one of Niagara’s tourism leaders to head up the sector’s recovery plan in the province.
Queen’s Park has created various sector panels to assess the impact of COVID-19 and develop recovery plans.
Lisa MacLeod, minister of heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries, asked Anthony Annunziata, president of Tourism Partnership of Niagara, and Scott Beck, president of Tourism Toronto, to co-chair the Tourism Leaders Panel for Ontario economic recovery.
“What I’m hoping to achieve is provide recommendations to the minister that can bring in ideas and suggestions from the private sector and public sector that will be innovative, that will look at regulations, that will look at red tape, will look at items that are focused on recovery and not necessarily, ‘We need more money,’ ” said Annunziata.
“I think everyone is aware of where that is and what the requirements are, but the province is looking beyond writing cheques.
“They’re looking for solutions that are going to be forwarded by people who are in the industry, on the ground, who can advance policies and perspectives to the province so they can try to implement some of them, so we can advance the recovery.”
He said MacLeod put the panel together a few weeks ago.
Annunziata said the province selecting someone from Niagara to co-chair such a panel is further proof of how important the region is to tourism in Ontario and Canada.
“Everyone I’ve talked to … is in alignment that Niagara will be a key part of the recovery,” he said.
“Niagara has been a focus of attention, both provincially and federally, to help lead the recovery effort and by putting me on the panel is clearly indicative of the premier’s and minister’s advocacy and attention to how important Niagara is to the solution.”
Annunziata said when the recovery occurs, it’s not going to be “the same as pre-COVID.”
“Things are going to be different and we need to look at things different, and we need to look at it through a different lens,” he said.
“The minister and the premier are keenly aware of that, and they want us to look at these solutions through that lens and apply, whether it’s technology fixes, or solutions, or comfort, community readiness.”
Annunziata said restarting tourism will not be easy.
“It’s not a question of just saying, ‘OK, we’re open now.’
“The consumers need to feel safe, which is of paramount concern and Niagara has made a tremendous sacrifice on that front to make sure that safety is first to make sure that we come out of this as one of the safer jurisdictions in North America, and the other thing is that communities are ready to start receiving people.”
He said the recovery won’t be successful unless communities and their leadership and residents are “on board with receiving and wanting people to visit.”
“When the time is right and the safety measures are in place, I think those things come together to provide the robust solution that everybody is looking for.”
Annunziata said he and Beck are expected to provide a report to the province “in the next week or so.” “They’re moving very quickly — they’re trying to make sure that we’re ready from an economic perspective and a public-safety perspective, and that balance is important,” he said.
“They’re intent on making sure that Ontario leads the recovery for the country.”