Staycationers are key to the survival of the tourism industry

Peggy’s Cove has not changed much physically during the pandemic.

Neither has Gros Morne, the Confederation Trail, or the Bras d’or Lake.

What has changed significantly is the number of tourists visiting these and other Atlantic Canadian gems, as travel restrictions and lockdowns keep people home.

The lack of people staycationing or vacationing hit tourism operators hard last year. Statistics Canada reports that tourism spending was 48.1 per cent lower in 2020 than the previous year. There were also 28.7 per cent fewer tourism jobs.

The planned April 19 opening of the Atlantic bubble had those who operate accommodations and destinations anticipating a better year in 2021.

Then the bubble was delayed until May.

And last week, with the pandemic’s third wave cresting, the four Atlantic premiers deferred talks of reinflating the bubble to when the “threat of further outbreaks has been reduced.”

The anticipation amongst tourism operators has turned into anxiety.

They are wondering if 2021 will be another dud. Some were hesitant about re-opening before the bubble was delayed. The latest move by premiers — completely necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 — has some planning to sit this year out.

Federal wage subsidies and other government programs have helped and will be key to help tourism operators get through.

But the key support for the tourism industry is you.

If you can afford to do so, once it is safe to travel and the bubble is back, vacation in Atlantic Canada.

Wander around picturesque Lunenburg.

Sip a craft beer on George Street.

Play in the sand at Basin Head Provincial Park.

Go back in time at the Fortress of Louisbourg.

Drive the Fundy Trail Parkway.

There are thousands of places to visit and see in the region; dozens of them are destinations for international travellers that many locals have not experienced.

Our tourism operators enrich visits or travel to each of these sites.

They make it possible to sit by the sea, put on a bib and crack lobster; to zipline hundreds of feet over a rushing falls; to rest your head after a busy day hiking and sightseeing.

Those in the tourism industry play a key role in fostering visitor experiences and contributing to our economy, employing thousands of people, and generating billions of dollars in a normal year.

This year and last have been anything but typical.

We can help the tourism industry and the economy recover from the pandemic by planning a staycation within the Bubble this year.

This will also help in your own re-emergence from the pandemic, because you need and deserve to introduce or reintroduce yourself to our beautiful coastlines and to breath the salt air.

International travel is many months away from being a safe option for most. But travelling within the Atlantic provinces will be available much sooner. Start looking into that trip today.

It will do you — and an industry — good.