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Very happy to have written this about Covid’s impact on Tourism in Toronto for @thelocalhealth’s latest pandemic issue. Many will be surprised TO is a major tourist draw - more tourists than Barcelona - 1/ https://thelocal.to/a-summer-without-tourists/">https://thelocal.to/a-summer-...
& that many people/biz& #39;s that don& #39;t identify as being part of the tourism industry actually are part of it. It& #39;s a strange octopus that connects with & touches so much of the city. Talked to a ton of folk, couldn& #39;t fit them all into this (will add to this thread w them later)
Thanks to @nickhunebrown for being interested in an at-first vague idea - this piece will feed a bigger project that I& #39;ve been trying to get started, so I& #39;m very happy it& #39;s out! Momentum, even if it& #39;s sadly about something stagnating.
Check out the rest of the issue here https://thelocal.to"> https://thelocal.to
Related but couldn’t fit it in - the 519’s Pride beer garden, where you hear accents from Michigan, western NY, & beyond, is their massive fundraiser for the year. Consider donating to keep their programs running. https://twitter.com/the519/status/1275792688198176769?s=21">https://twitter.com/the519/st... https://twitter.com/The519/status/1275792688198176769">https://twitter.com/The519/st...
Promised to catch up to this thread. One of the most interesting things is how many biz& #39;s in Toronto (and elsewhere) don& #39;t consider themselves part of the industry. Talked to @AttractionsOnt - seen figures as high 20% of resto& #39;s biz is from tourism, so it won& #39;t register.
Via @AttractionsOnt: Tourism is the 5th largest industry in Canada, employing 10% of workforce & is largest employer of youth. In Ontario, tourism is bigger than forestry, mining & agricultural industries combined, and has an average wage higher than manufacturing.
Invisibility has consequences - Troy Young, CEO of @AttractionsOnt: “Because they are mainly small businesses, they do not get the same level of support and interest from politicians than, say, manufacturing or agriculture gets,” says Young.
