“Tourism Matters” was the focus of a peaceful rally in Vermilion Bay on the weekend.
Some 200 people gathered to grab government attention to the troubles facing the industry because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Robin Gagne is the owner/operator of Crystal Lake Campground, just west of Vermilion Bay. He says travel restrictions and trips across provincial borders not recommended impact their ability to operate.
He says he will be hurting next year if he can’t bring in any money this summer.
“If there’s loans and grants for tourism, it should also include campgrounds, because we also have to survive,” says Gagne.
Steve Smith, the owner/operator of Sunset Country Adventures in Vermilion Bay, agrees.
“We’re not going to push for the border to open. It’s not safe to open right now. And that’s the majority of the consensus across the board. But if it isn’t opening, we need some kind of help, we need to survive so that we are here next year. Otherwise, where are the tourists going to come and go next year if our doors are closed?” says Smith.
Smith believes hunting and fishing camps have been forgotten in government bailout packages.
“The American dollar that comes across the border is how we all survive,” notes Smith. “That’s how a lot of these small businesses survive through the winter with just the local economy. They get a big cash injection in the summer from the tourists and right now obviously there are no tourists.”
Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford admits American tourism is all but going to dry up this summer but is glad the federal government continues to close our border.
