Photo by Branimir Balogović on Unsplash
Tourism is one of the hard-hit businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since we are studying tourism and potentially would be taking jobs in the tourism sector in the future, it was important for us to understand how the DMOs and regional tourism organizations are responding during this uncertain time to support local businesses.
John had assigned a quiz during the course which was based on the webinar by the president and CEO of TOTA Glenn Mandziuk and by watching this webinar I found answers to a few questions that I had regarding the recovery program offered by TOTA to the small tourism businesses.
As soon as the Covid-19 hit Canada the TOTA launched an emergency planning program to combat the effect of the pandemic on the tourism businesses which included government and industry effective communication programs through various social channels. It was important during this tough time that the problems that small businesses are facing are communicated to the higher authorities in the province so they can work on a strategy to combat them.
Some of TOTAs advocacy on behalf of small businesses to the government includes relief grant, reduction or elemination of government taxes or fees, and aid to reduce fixed cost.