Updates on the COVID-19 Situation

Ongoing support for the Visitor Economy

We know these are difficult times in the tourism sector with a lot of uncertainty. This page offers an update on Destination Canada’s response as well as industry and government updates and support resources.

Quick Reference Guide - Government of Canada Programs:

• Business Resilience Service
  • Small business owners with pressing financial needs can call 1-866-989-1080 (toll-free) seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET). This service will help entrepreneurs and small business owners in need of financial planning advice, particularly those who may not have access to an accountant.
• Apply for Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) with CRA 
• Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS):
  • How to apply.
• $962 million additional support fund now available to businesses and communities affected by the pandemic Canada's Regional Development Agencies: Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)
• Canada Emergency Business Account

Navigating to the New Normal

We are in uncharted territory as we navigate through the first global pandemic to occur in the age of the smartphone and heightened connectivity. As the destination marketing and research organization for Canada, we have a responsibility to mitigate the impact to our visitor economy through our response and proactive recovery planning.

We are taking a phased approach of Response, Recovery and Resilience. Our COVID-19 Research will inform each of these phases.

We do not know how COVID-19 will unfold. We do not know how long or how deep its impacts will be. But we do know we live in a beautiful country with cultures we cherish and communities we must protect. We have an incredible brand and a resilient industry that can overcome just about anything when we pull together. We must remain positive, pragmatic, and empathetic to the very real, very human things people are going through right now. We can do this. And we will come out the other side braver, smarter, and stronger. Let’s show what we mean by Canada. For Glowing Hearts.

On April 28, 2020, Ben Cowan-Dewar, Chair of the Board, took part in Destination Canada’s webinar and addressed the industry about the challenges that they are facing.

"It’s been 28 days since my last DC Webinar update and a lot has changed. Not much of the change has been good. Lockdown orders continue in most places and it looks like physical distancing rules will persist even when the Canadian economy begins to open up.

Throughout all of this, the Canadian tourism sector has been disproportionately impacted: we were hit first, we were hit the hardest and we will be the last to recover. Yet, the tourism sector in Canada clearly hasn’t given up.

I know the team at Destination Canada is inspired by the sector’s resolve and is working very hard to support you now and through to recovery. What is Destination Canada doing?

First and most importantly we’re listening to industry. Commercial partners of all sizes and destination marketing organizations are telling us in real time how the sector is being impacted. And the biggest message we’re hearing is liquidity is needed – now. If the small businesses that make up the backbone of our industry go bankrupt, there simply won’t be anything to market."

To read the full speaking remarks, download PDF.