The biggest challenge for the tourism industry right now is the “unknown,” according to the Mayor of Bonavista, who says a line needs to be drawn in the sand.
Mayor John Norman says the issue right now is that businesses and organizations cannot plan or buy supplies, because there are no official dates set.
Norman states that the “solution” being discussed across the province will not suffice, and that the idea of “Staycations” will only work for some businesses.
(Trinity. File photo by Jeff Smyth.)
Norman spoke with operators in his area, who indicated that the resident tourism market will not cut it.
He says that it would almost be more beneficial to “put the nail in the coffin” for the 2020 tourism season. While financially difficult, he suggests that the missed-year would be a good opportunity for tourism operators, non-profits, theatres, and music festivals to get extra funding to do more planning in 2020 to launch an even bigger 2021.
Clear Message Needed
(Still image from provincial tourism campaign by Target Marketing.)
Mayor Norman says the province needs to put out a clear message for all to hear that as of now, the tourism sector in Newfoundland and Labrador is closed.
Norman says visitors from outside the province have still been seen and met during walks—iceberg hunting and vacationing.
(Stock photo.)
He’s concerned that this could lead to future anger and resentment from residents in Bonavista as well as local tourists.
Norman explains his concern that visitors to Bonavista indicated that they did not talk to anyone about declaration forms, and had not signed anything. He doesn’t understand how people could be that way during the COVID-19 pandemic, but says the visitors appeared to be blissfully ignorant, or at least pretended.
On April 23, the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Fitzgerald issued two new public health directives, stating that all travelers entering the province must fill out a declaration form and submit a 14-day self-isolation plan.
