For immediate release
May 24th, 2020 – Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador joins with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada to kick off Tourism Week today in Canada. Tourism Week runs from Sunday, May 24th to Sunday, May 31st.
Tourism Week is traditionally an annual celebration of Newfoundland and Labrador’s and Canada’s tourism industry, workers, and captivating attractions that welcome visitors from home and abroad. This year, Tourism Week looks very different than most years and will be, for the first time ever, held and acknowledged fully online.
The tourism sector was one of the first hit and hardest hit by the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic and will be one of the last sectors to recover.
“Tourism is a professional industry and COVID-19 has shaped a new reality for our members,” says Hospitality NL Chair, Steve Denty. “Although Tourism Week is a little less traditional this year, technology allows us to still bring operators together as a community under our “One Industry” theme. It is also a time to enhance our advocacy efforts to demonstrate the contribution of our sector to the Provincial and Canadian economy. Tourism is the fabric that creates the great culture that is Newfoundland and Labrador and Tourism Week provides an opportunity for tourism stakeholders from all across Canada to participate in a national conversation about the value of this industry and its economic and social impact.”
Tourism is a $1.1 billion industry in Newfoundland and Labrador that directly supports over 20,000 jobs. As the tourism industry association, Hospitality NL represents 2,700 businesses in sectors such as accommodations, food and beverage, campgrounds, boat tours, outfitters, receptive tour operators and more under their “One Industry” theme. Canada relies on its tourism and travel industry for: 1 in every 11 jobs, 2% of its GDP, over $102 billion in economic activity and over $22 billion in service exports.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, Hospitality NL is pleased to partner with our DMOs (Destination Management/Marketing Organizations); Adventure Central, Destination St. John’s. Destination Labrador, Go Western Newfoundland, and Legendary Coasts of Eastern Newfoundland.
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Media Contact:
Shanelle Clowe
Manager, Advocacy & Communications
Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador
E: sclowe@hnl.ca
P: 709-722-2000 ext. 231
C: 709-325-1040