Restoring parts of the Atlantic Bubble next month, as long as COVID-19 cases remain low in the region, is good news for tourism companies, industry officials say.

David Hovell of Wolfville-based winery tour Magic Winery Bus said it was good news to have visitors from other east coast provinces after several months of increased cases elsewhere that caused the bladder to close last year.

“(Thursday) was certainly welcome news for the Atlantic Canada tourism industry in general, and for us specifically,” said Hovell. “Guests who have access to us from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland are most welcome.”

He said Nova Scotians filled the tours at reduced capacity last year after restrictions were eased over the summer.

The other Atlantic provinces are a big part of the company’s business, he said.

“If we didn’t have access to them, we wouldn’t be as optimistic as we are around 2021.”

At that time last year, the company was concerned about how it would have a sustainable season. When the bubble formed last July, it helped, Hovell said.

A bubble, possibly opening in mid-April, “allows (us) to open our season earlier in 2021 … that means we’ll be on the streets earlier.”

Darlene Grant Fiander, president of the Tourism Association of Nova Scotia, said the announcement of the possible return of the bladder and the launch of a vaccination program had given the province’s tourism operators a lot of optimism.

“For many of them, their revenues have been decimated over the past year,” she said. “They are all positive signs that the tourism industry is recovering.”

Fiander said there have certainly been concerns in recent months as the bubble burst and Newfoundland and New Brunswick saw leaps in the number of cases.

“I think it’s a constant. Who would have thought we would be going into the second year when this happened last March? “, She said. “It is a constant reminder that we must be vigilant and diligent. It’s precarious. Although vaccinations are being introduced, we are seeing spikes in other parts of Canada. “

The tourism industry lost $ 1.6 billion in revenue last year.

“Access to this market, which is an integral part of our usual business, is pretty great.”

Gordon Stewart, the executive director of the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia, agreed that the return of the bubble is cause for optimism, but said he did not expect the surge to rise immediately.

“We expect it will help a little in Halifax (initially) as people are looking for weekends for a change, but probably not so much for urban and suburban areas,” he said. “It will have a positive but minor impact.”

By mid-June, he said, that will change and the restaurant business outside of Halifax will pick up as more people vacation and tour the province rather than weekend getaways.

“It’s a positive sign. It’s a really good start for the industry. I think it would be all the more encouraging if we could move this bubble to other provinces when they have their vaccinations and case numbers in order. “

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