NORFOLK, VA. The tourism and hospitality industries raised about $ 27 billion, according to estimates by the Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Association, but lost about $ 10 billion last year during the pandemic.

“This is a huge impact on an industry that is slow to recover,” said Eric Terry, group president.

Now the group has written a letter to lawmakers to ensure the industry is getting funding from the recently passed America Rescue Plan. The law calls on states to ensure that the industries concerned receive some of the relief.

A spokesman for Del. Luke Torian, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said the state is still waiting for guidelines from the federal government before it can respond to the letter.

Industry experts believe the tourism industry will do well next summer, but hotels and other businesses that rely on meetings and conventions continue to face major problems. “It’s the recreational customer that is coming back, but if the core of your business group is still group meetings and corporate meetings, it’s going to be very slow,” said Terry.

The group also estimates that about a fifth of restaurants have closed in Virginia since the pandemic began. “Those who are still open still don’t have bar seating, still have certain things they can’t do, so they continue to struggle economically just to make a profit,” Terry said.

The VRLTA remains optimistic about the upcoming tourism season and hopes that additional funding will help.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR