TORONTO — The Ontario government has formed a new Tourism Economic-Recovery Ministerial Task Force chaired by former MPP and Cabinet minister Tim Hudak.
The Tourism Economic-Recovery Ministerial Task Force will give expert advice and recommendations on how to help the province’s $36-billion tourism industry recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The impact of COVID-19 has been absolutely devastating for Ontario’s tourism industry,” says Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. “The Tourism Economic-Recovery Task Force will play a vital role in helping our government re-build and re-shape the future of tourism in our province. It is critical to help industry organizations, operators and communities find new ways to engage Ontarians and, when it is safe to do so, re-connect tourists from at home and abroad with everything our province has to offer.”
The mandate of the voluntary task force includes providing strategies and advice that will help position Ontario and its local communities as destinations of choice for travel, as well as identifying products and experiences that enhance destination development. It will also offer a forum for sector partners and leaders to share ideas, collaborate and provide advice and information to the minister on approaches to support the economic recovery of Ontario’s tourism industry.
“I am tremendously honoured that Minister MacLeod has asked me to lead this task force to support the desire of countless Ontarians to get out of their homes and support our local businesses, operators and attractions as they have been struggling through this very difficult period,” says Hudak.
The task force will deliver a report with its recommendations to the minister in spring 2021.
