Mass. tourism sector appeals to state for extra assist | Statehouse Information

The state’s tourism and hospitality industries, one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, will require further government action to accelerate its recovery, business leaders told lawmakers on Friday.

Restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues and the cultural sector continue to grapple with the impact of public health precautions such as capacity constraints and changes in consumer behavior. Bay State saw the fourth largest drop in travel spending among states, after Hawaii, Washington, DC, and New York. That comes from figures presented by Ann Marie Casey, executive director of the North of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, on Friday.

The number of passengers at Logan International Airport is still below the national average. According to the Massachusetts Lodging Association, layoffs and vacations have shed more than half of its pre-pandemic base of 40,000+ hotel jobs in Massachusetts, with thousands supported by the industry. Excluding the local tax impact, the association estimates a loss of state tax revenue of nearly $ 307 million.

Bob Luz, CEO of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, said nearly a quarter of restaurants in Bay State never opened again after initial closings. Industry leaders urged the Joint Committee on Tourism, the Arts and Cultural Development to boost government spending on restoration grants, promotional programs to promote Massachusetts travel and support for regional tourism councils.

“We will not be able to wish, pray, and hope for a way out of this pandemic,” said Martha Sheridan, president of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s just not going to happen. The only way we can get out of it is if we stay competitive and invest strategically in promoting tourism.”

Another major change that many would like to see is a clearer schedule of business restrictions. Knowing when the gathering limits will increase would encourage many workers in the industry to get back into the workforce, the speakers said, and give venues enough lead time to get operations up and running.