The tourism industry is pushing to reopen internal borders by Canada Day as wage subsidies, CERB and EI claims will soon be exhausted. (Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism / YouTube)

The tourism industry in Newfoundland and Labrador is pushing for the provincial government to follow the recommendations of the Prime Minister’s Tourism Advisory Board and open the province’s borders to the rest of Canada by July 1.

Last week, Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, Destination St. John’s, and a group representing the province’s airports each called for domestic tourism to resume by Canada Day.

Destination St. John’s chairwoman Heather McKinnon says many in the industry are struggling to stay afloat.

She says reopening to Canadian tourists by July 1 at the latest would have a devastating impact on the industry, which grossed around $ 1.4 billion annually to the provincial economy before the pandemic.

“I have to be honest, everyone is barely attached to it. And it would be very difficult to survive another summer like last year, since the wage subsidy will be reduced in July, and that has been a lifeline for so many operators.” She said on the phone on Sunday, adding that the CERB and EI claims will also run out soon.

The province’s tourism report recommends giving Canadian tourists the option to travel to Newfoundland and Labrador once 75 percent of the province has received one dose of vaccine and 10 percent received the second vaccination. They also want tourists to get a negative COVID test two to three days before they arrive.

Heather McKinnon, chairwoman of Destination St. John’s, says the tourism industry can help the province recover from the economic crisis that the pandemic inflicted on the province by employing approximately 20,000 people. (Sherry Vivian / CBC)

“We’re not just in a public health crisis right now. We’re in an economic crisis,” McKinnon said. “And our industry can certainly help because we employ 20,000 people and are a $ 1.5 billion industry.”

July 1st is also significant for the Chairwoman of Hospitality NL, Brenda O’Reilly, as this is the unofficial start of the tourism season.

“We support opening things up as soon as possible,” wrote O’Reilly in a press release released on Friday.

“We asked and we hope you will listen.”

O’Reilly said a firm reopening date would give companies a solid target to plan for as they prepare to reopen.

McKinnon agrees, saying it is unsustainable for operators to rely solely on travelers from Atlantic Canada as they only make up about 11 percent of the province’s market.

“We really need access to the other Canadian provinces and mostly Ontario,” she said.

Tammy Priddle is the CEO of the Deer Lake Airport Authority. (Colleen Connors / CBC)

Meanwhile, Tammy Priddle, CEO of Deer Lake International Airport and a member of the Tourism Council, said it would be better for all parties to come up with a plan sooner rather than later as other provinces begin reopening.

“Now may not be the time to travel, but now is the time to plan our safe reopening,” Priddle said in a press release Thursday.

“The tourism industry, our airports and our airline partners need to know our province’s plan for a safe reopening once our people have completed the first and second stages of the province’s vaccination plan, which is only a few weeks away.”

McKinnon is also advocating improved air access to the province and a return of direct flights to Toronto to act as a gateway to Europe and bring other travelers from other destinations.

“We don’t say openly today. We’ll say openly when 75 percent of the population has their first vaccine and 10 percent their second vaccine and the people who come in get vaccinated,” she said.

She said the industry is not recommending repealing public health guidelines such as distancing and masks or increasing the restaurant’s capacity.

Prime Minister Andrew Furey said during Wednesday’s COVID-19 briefing the province was ready to announce its reopening plan next week.

Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador

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