Ontario is funnelling $100 million into its Tourism Recovery Program to revive the floundering industry, which has seen plenty of job losses over the past 18 months. Across Canada, tourism‐related industries experienced a loss of 94,000 jobs between August 2019 and August 2021, according to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey.

Businesses that help drive employment and visitors to their regions are eligible to apply for the program. Eligible applicants include inns and lodges, boat tours, ski centres, live performance venues, cinemas, drive-in theatres, and amusement and water parks.

The Ontario Tourism Recovery Program will support tourism businesses that have experienced a loss of at least 50 per cent of eligible revenue in 2020-21 compared to 2019. Program funding will help applicants prepare to reopen safely, develop innovative tourism products, retain and create jobs, and support tourism recovery in their region and throughout the province.

Successful recipients will have the flexibility to apply funds to any eligible expenses and do what makes the most sense for their businesses. Expenses could include reopening and operating costs such as staff salaries and maintenance, health and safety measures for visitors and workers, tourism product and experience development, or marketing.

Applications for this program will open on October 13, 2021.

Photo by anna-m. w.