Summary
Ontario’s heritage, sport, tourism, and culture industries were hit first, the hardest, and are expected to take the longest to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact on individuals, families, and operators has been absolutely devastating, notably in Ontario’s tourism sector, which has lost more than 200,000 jobs and more than $18 billion in revenue.
That’s why, Premier Ford was joined earlier today by Minister MacLeod and Minister Bethlenfalvy in Niagara Falls to announce our government’s investment of $200 million through the new Ontario Tourism Recovery Program and Tourism & Hospitality Small Business Support Grant to help stabilize the tourism industry as it recovers from the impacts of COVID-19 in the short, medium and long term.
Key Messages
- Ontario’s tourism sector, like so many of the province’s heritage, sport and culture industries, was among the first and hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and will take the longest to recover.
- Tourism plays a critical role in the Ontario economy. Prior to the pandemic, tourism generated more than $36 billion in economic activity and supported approximately 400,000 jobs in Ontario.
- As a direct result of the pandemic, the tourism sector has lost more than $18 billion in revenue alone and more than 200,000 jobs.
- That’s why our government is providing $200 million through the new Ontario Tourism Recovery Program and Tourism & Hospitality Small Business Support Grant to help stabilize the tourism industry as it recovers from the impacts of COVID-19, while protecting jobs in communities across the province that rely on tourism investment.