Covid-19’s influence on the Valley’s tourism sector detailed in research

While it was very clear that the Covid-19 pandemic had negatively impacted the valley’s hospitality and tourism industries, a new white paper The study published by the Maricopa Association of Governments shows how bad things actually got.

The paper, released this month, also looks at how tourism from Mexico and Canada, which is usually a major economic engine, has been hampered and damaged the overall economy.

“In Arizona, the sudden cancellation of the spring training season for Major League Baseball and other sporting events, business meetings, and conventions, and the closure of restaurants, bars and casinos resulted in hundreds of million dollars in lost revenue,” the report said.

Speaking of what governments have lost, MAG’s report states that local travel-related taxes totaled $ 32.6 billion in 2020, down 26% from 2019.

The entertainment, accommodation and food and beverage industries, three sectors heavily reliant on travelers, saw gross sales declines by 51%, 32% and 16% respectively in 2020 compared to 2019.

When looking at tourism from Canada and Mexico, Arizona and its local governments have missed millions of dollars due to the pandemic.

Overnight trips from Mexico to Arizona in 2020 decreased 61% compared to 2019. Spending fell from $ 1.37 billion to $ 613 million, according to the MAG White Paper.

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