‘We noticed lots of people right here even when the gasoline costs have been skyrocketing,’ says Tourism Barrie government director
Whereas a recent report says Ontario’s tourism trade is just not anticipated to totally get better from the pandemic till 2025, Tourism Barrie officers say they’re doing simply positive, thanks.
The joint report not too long ago launched by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and the Tourism Trade Affiliation of Ontario (TIAO) says tourism companies within the province are producing 64 per cent of the income they noticed in 2019. It additionally acknowledged that seven in 10 tourism-sector companies reported that they had taken on debt to remain afloat.
Tourism Barrie government director Kathleen Trainor says whereas massive markets could be having a hard time, she known as Barrie and the encompassing area a “drive-to metropolis.”
“We’re a three-season metropolis as we have now issues to do year-round, whether or not it be boating, fishing and seashores or hitting close-by ski slopes,” Trainor advised BarrieToday, including the spring tends to be the one slower time on the calendar.
“The opposite factor we have now going for us is being economical for individuals, in that if they’ll’t fly to Whistler, they’ll often afford to come back to Barrie, get a resort room and head to any slopes or water points of interest,” she added.
Snow Valley Ski Resort normal supervisor John Ball advised BarrieToday that being open solely 100 days a 12 months, it isn’t as dangerous for them.
“Our season concludes on the finish of March and we don’t grow to be a vacationer vacation spot once more till sometimes the primary week of December. We’re truly opening this Friday,” Ball mentioned.
“We don’t have the summer time crowds, however I can say that as of final winter within the ultimate 5 to 6 weeks of our season, the COVID restrictions have been starting to loosen up and we have been fortunate to be working as an out of doors enterprise,” he added.
Regardless of beginning every week later than he hoped on account of climate, Ball mentioned they’re planning for a busy season at Snow Valley, which is situated simply outdoors Barrie on Vespra Valley Highway.
“We’ll keep open as lengthy as there may be snow on the hill and persons are having fun with it,” mentioned Ball.
In the meantime, Trainor mentioned Barrie resorts are busy practically each weekend, even whether or not which means individuals doing issues within the surrounding municipalities.
“Not simply enjoyable points of interest, however even with enterprise occasions in different cities and cities, we’ll have individuals seize a resort right here to allow them to head the place they need to go for a convention, come again and make the most of the numerous issues we have now on the go,” she mentioned.
Excessive gasoline costs additionally helped Barrie, in keeping with Trainor, as individuals needed to get away from the Larger Toronto Area (GTA), however not too far north, both.
“We noticed lots of people right here even when the gasoline costs have been skyrocketing. Individuals nonetheless needed to be capable of get away, however going from Toronto to Algonquin Park was costing an arm and leg,” Trainor mentioned.
The latest report additionally talked about methods to assist enhance Ontario’s tourism trade with strategies such as tax incentives and reasonably priced housing to assist workers recruitment. It additionally talked about hashish tourism, very similar to the Niagara area does with wine.
“Hashish tourism can positively develop, however I don’t know if it is there but,” Trainor mentioned. “The query turns into: Does Barrie need to be identified for that? It then turns into a municipal and branding factor. It would range from vacation spot to vacation spot.”
The report mentioned the province might encourage hashish tourism to assist get better, by way of regulatory adjustments round special-event permits and consumption lounges.
Trainor did say that some areas of the general tourism trade are doing higher than others.
“Not all sectors within the tourism trade are nonetheless in restoration. What’s sluggish to come back again is the assembly and convention sectors,” she mentioned. “Motels and trip resorts are again to regular if not up from 2019. Airbnb has grown 200 per cent over 2019.”
