COVID-19 has had a major impact on the tourism industry in Ontario.
After multiple requests, the Ontario government did not respond to our request for an interview. However, in a press release on Dec. 3, the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries announced that it would be investing nearly $4.4 million to help the tourism industry in the province.
“This pandemic continues to disproportionately impact tourism and culture – two major industries which were hit first, the hardest and will take the longest to recover,” the statement read quoting Minister Lisa MacLeod.
“It is critical that we support organizations as they adapt and find new ways to engage and reconnect Ontarians with their local communities while creating local jobs.”
Air travel in turmoil: Pearson and COVID-19
Toronto’s Pearson airport has been hit hard by the pandemic.
According to the airport’s website, the first thing travellers will notice when entering the terminal is the large signage indicating that face coverings are required at all times. Also, the signage says that “only travellers flying on the same day or employees on duty can enter the terminals to help limit crowding and reduce the potential spread of COVID-19.”
Trevor Foote, a first-year student at the University of Toronto flew to Toronto from Richmond, B.C. in September.
He said that the experience walking from the gate to the exit “was the same as it would normally be, except much less crowded.” The only noticeable difference was that “everyone was wearing a mask,” Foote added.
*Statistical information from Toronto Pearson’s webpage.
On the government of Canada’s website, there were 41 flights with confirmed COVID-19 cases that landed in Toronto in the last two weeks. According to the website, 11 domestic flights with confirmed exposure to the virus originated from Alberta.
International flights with confirmed exposure to COVID-19 originated from transborder flights such as New York, Chicago and Boston, according to the list provided by the Canadian government.
Even though all international travellers coming into Canada are required to quarantine for 14 days, there are no similar requirements for domestic travellers flying into Ontario.
Toronto’s Pearson airport has a dedicated webpage that shows all of the confirmed cases in different sectors at the airport. You can find them here.
All clear and outta here in 2021?
In an email statement to GH360, a spokesperson for Canada’s Wonderland said that they cannot “publicly share about the impact on the park this year, besides confirming that they were unable to open.”
Spokesperson and Director of Communications Grace Peacock included a link to the park’s reopening protocols including learning how to schedule a visit, using the mobile app while in the park and frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing stations for guests.
“We did have a very stringent COVID-19 safety plan in place and we were continually working with public health officials to try to open,” the statement read. “We are keeping optimistic and moving forward with plans to open safely in 2021.”
The headliner: CN Tower
Representatives from the CN Tower did not respond to GH360’s request for an interview on time. However, at this time the attraction is still closed to the public in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.
According to its Instagram page, the CN Tower was open from July 15, 2020 to Oct. 3, 2020, with safety measures in place like reduced capacity, socially distanced floor markers and a reconfigured queue to allow for social distancing.
“The health and safety of our staff and guests is our top priority,” the statement on Instagram read. “We look forward to welcoming guests back to the tower as soon as public health authorities and Canada Lands Company determine that it is safe to do so.”