Durham Tourism
Industry
Report
Connecting, engaging and informing Durham Tourism's valued stakeholders
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Discover Durham Region’s arts and culture scene through the Ontario Culture Guides portal
As we continue to stay at home and practice physical distancing, we are reminded of the places we’ve been and the places we’d like to go. While we can’t wait to make new memories, the
Ontario Culture Guides portal is a place to virtually discover this province’s thriving arts and culture scene. Filled with regularly updated stories and things to do, the portal also provides travel guides including one for
Durham Region to showcase what we have to offer when the time is right to welcome back visitors.
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National Public Works Week
From
May 17 to 23, Durham Region will be celebrating National Public Works Week by recognizing the essential services of public works and the Region’s Works Department. Now more than ever, public works is essential to ensure residents can stay home, work-from-home and operate business during COVID-19. Residents are encouraged to learn more about the role that public works plays in their day-to-day lives by watching virtual tours of Regional facilities and videos of public works staff in action by visiting
durham.ca/NPWW. Share your appreciation for Durham Works on social media using #DurhamStrong, or complete a special #StayHome public works colouring page at
durham.ca/StayHome. To learn more about the Works Department, visit
durham.ca/Works.
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Destination Canada industry webinar
On
May 12
,
Destination Canada
hosted an industry webinar. The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages provided insight from the Federal Government and answered questions. Ben Cowan-Dewar, Chair of the Board, Destination Canada and Charlotte Bell, President & CEO, Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) joined the minister and provided relevant updates for our sector.
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Home flood protection webinar
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Floods can happen any time throughout the year and cause costly damages. Prepare your home for the next flood by attending the
Region of Durham’s Home Flood Protection webinar on
Tuesday, May 26 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. This is a virtual event.
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Ontario announces additional workplaces
that can reopen
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As Durham Region businesses prepare to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need for personal protective equipment (PPE). This is required by provincial guidelines for various sectors. Visit the
Invest Durham PPE page
for a list of Durham Region manufacturers who sell or have pivoted to produce these supplies.
If you would like to be added to this listing, please contact
investdurham@durham.ca.
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Minister MacLeod convenes COVID-19 Advisory Councils
NEWS
May 12, 2020
TORONTO — The Ontario government is engaging partners in the heritage, sport, tourism and culture sectors in order to gather critical feedback on how best to reopen the economy. This input will inform decisions as the government implements its Framework for Reopening our Province document which was released in April 2020.
Yesterday, Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, was joined by Premier Doug Ford to speak with chairs from sector-specific Ministerial Advisory Councils. These leaders represent a broad range of organizations and are best positioned to identify opportunities for a sector-led response to the economic challenges caused by the outbreak. These Ministerial Advisory Councils will meet on a regular basis starting immediately and provide their written feedback to the ministry later this month.
“The impact of COVID-19 has been devastating for Ontario’s heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries with an economic loss in the billions,” said Minister MacLeod. “Through these Ministerial Advisory Councils, I will work directly with sector leaders to discuss the challenges they face, and ensure their industries are well positioned for a faster re-emergence and successful recovery from the effects of the outbreak.”
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Survey 4.0 results
Thank you to everyone who continues to provide TIAO with real time data on the impact of the COVID-19 response.
The report from Survey 4 includes the top level data insights on the impact across the province. The data collected from Survey 4 indicates that the greatest risks to tourism operations are:
- Uncertainty around when they will be able to reopen
- Temporary closures becoming permanent
- Ineligibility for existing government aid
- Insurmountable debt levels
- Government aid not sufficient to ensure the viability of tourism businesses
TIAO is using the survey data as well as data from consultations, to inform their recommendations to all levels of government in Canada.
They recognize that the tourism industry is facing exponential decline, and therefore requires unprecedented levels of financial aid.
Their recommendations focus on the above survey findings, and the need for government to provide immediate financial stimulus for lost revenues and wages.
This would be part of an economic recovery package that provides financial relief, rather than a deferral of debt.
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Survey 5.0 is now live
Thank you to every one of you who has filled out the TIAO survey, every 3 weeks since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It can feel as though answering the same questions in these surveys is an exercise in futility. But, this data really does matter—what you are experiencing is important.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism businesses is historic and unprecedented. TIAO needs to leverage the power of the collective impact of this, to tell all levels of government what tourism businesses and operators need to survive this crisis.
TIAO uses survey data to:
- Directly report to Minister MacLeod on the loss of revenue, business closures, and lay offs.
- Directly report to provincial and federal levels of government on how to make the financial aid available to all tourism businesses.
- Put the power of numbers behind asks to government.
When TIAO meets with government to advocate on behalf of the tourism industry, the number one question they hear is “Do you have numbers to support this?”
They recognize that in the midst of crisis, it takes valuable time and energy to fill out a survey. Please know that this data tells a powerful story, and it is making a difference.
At TIAO, their job is to make sure no tourism business is left behind, because we are a powerful and united industry. When you take time to provide data, you empower TIAO to represent you to government.
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The Event Safety Alliance presents:
the COVID-19 Reopening Guide
FEO thanks their friends at Event Safety Alliance and all those who contributed to developing the
Event Safety Alliance Reopening Guide
. Along with your local public health requirements, you can use this guide to start planning for your venues and events.
As municipal officials begin to allow small groups of people to gather in public even while the fight against COVID-19 continues
—there
is a tremendous need for guidance
around
how small events and venues can reopen as safely as possible under these incredibly challenging circumstances.
In response, the Event Safety Alliance today released
The Event Safety Alliance Reopening Guide
. At this link, you can download the guide, listen to the podcast and submit questions and feedback for future revision.
The Reopening Guide addresses health and sanitary issues that event and venue professionals need to consider in order to protect both patrons and workers. Since there is still insufficient testing, no contact tracing, and no vaccine against COVID-19, this guidance is particularly detailed.
The first edition is tailored to be especially useful for event professionals reopening the smallest events with the fewest resources available to mitigate their risks, since in every municipal reopening plan these will be allowed to reopen first.
"There is no guarantee of an illness-free event even if you follow everything in this Reopening Guide. It is indisputable, however, that planning, training, and implementing reasonable health and safety measures are the best ways to not only protect the viability of live events and the people who create them, but also to inspire our patrons to return to the places where we make the magic happen."
(Steven A. Adelman, Event Safety Alliance Reopening Guide, May 11, 2020)
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Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)
TIAC is pleased to share information concerning a new funding program that will be delivered through Canada’s six Canada’s Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) who are now accepting applications under the
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF). TIAC has long been advocating for financial support for those small, seasonal, rural and other SMEs who have not been able to access existing government support measures.
On
April 17, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
announced new, targeted measures to protect jobs and provide more support to businesses and communities impacted by COVID-19. During the webinar co-hosted by Destination Canada and TIAC on
May 12, the Honourable Minister Melanie Joly told participants that this program was imminent. As part of these measures, the national $1 billion RRRF provides funding to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are unable to access the government’s existing support measures, including Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), and access to capital for rural businesses and communities.
This new fund, officially launched
May 13, 2020, is being delivered by Regional Development Agencies (RDA) across the country to help organizations continue their operations and position themselves for a successful recovery.
Funding amounts vary by RDA, and fall under two categories.
- $675 million to support regional economies, businesses, organizations and communities in regions all across Canada;
- $287 million to support the national network of Community Futures Development Corporations, which will specifically target small businesses and rural communities across the country.
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On
April 13
, the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA) held a webinar,
Your Corporate Sponsorship Revenue Program – The New Normal Post COVID-19
, delivered by Partnership Group – Sponsorship Specialists®, as part of its COVID-19 webinar series for CSTA members. Sponsorship is an important topic for sport and other event organizers and this webinar provides some valuable insights.
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Connect and engage with Durham Tourism and Sport Durham on our social media pages:
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