ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Tourism season should be ramping up right now, but instead the province has banned all non-essential out-of-province travellers as of May 4 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The only people permitted to enter the province are residents of Newfoundland and Labrador (proof of residency required), asymptomatic workers and people who are permitted entry in extenuating circumstances with approval from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Janice Fitzgerald.
“If you come from away, you best stay away,” Health Minister John Haggie said during last Tuesday’s briefing.
The move has some bed and breakfast owners — typically small, family-run businesses — wondering whether they’ll be able to salvage the season.
Erika Pardy, owner of Rose Manor Inn in Harbour Grace, and Colleen Morrissey, co-owner of Inn by the Bay in Dildo, both said their small businesses don’t qualify for federal aid.
“It doesn’t even help us. It doesn’t affect us at all. We can’t apply for anything,” said Morrissey, explaining her inn has just one employee whose income doesn’t meet the minimum payroll amount to qualify for the Canada Emergency Business Account.
“Right now, it comes out of our pockets to keep the inn up and running, and until we do make some money — which we’re not even sure if that’s going to happen this year.”
Morrissey said she’s not sure if her inn is going to be able to open this year because she’s had so many cancellations.
It’s news that’s hard to fathom for Dildo area tourism operators after last year’s boon that came with the 'Jimmy Kimmel for mayor' frenzy. Morrissey said they had more bookings than usual, but now May is “a total washout,” she has only a couple of bookings remaining for June, and tourists are calling to cancel July and August.
“It’s not looking very good at all.”
She’s hoping the “staycation” market will sustain the inn for this year.
“Hopefully we’ll get enough people from the province that will come out and support. I mean, people need a place to sleep and eat, so we’re counting on that. And it all depends on how people react right now within the next few months to keep the curve flat.”
The province’s reopening plan includes a move to what’s called “alert level 4” on May 11, and if the COVID-19 spread can continue to be contained, it might be a month after that when services such as restaurant dining rooms could potentially reopen. That’s considered an “alert level 3” activity.
It’s unclear exactly where on the alert level scale B&Bs stand, however, campsites will be permitted to offer overnight stays with some restrictions once the province reaches “alert level 2.”
‘Government is not helping us’
Morrissey hopes government will consider grants, or some way to help small businesses like hers which are the backbone of the province’s tourism economy.
“There’s nothing available for us, and I really do think the government needs to have a look at it.”
Pardy said even if she could avail of the Canada Emergency Business Account, the last thing she needs is more loans.
“For me to get through the winter months, I have to use my own personal credit cards, and lines of credits and various different things, and I pay myself back in the summertime.”
Pardy said she and her son “work our butts off” during the summer months to get through the lean months of winter.
“You take away the visitors and the tourism, where does that revenue stream come from for people like myself?” she asked.
If permitted to open, Pardy said she’ll continue all her regular offerings, such as high tea, murder mysteries, and lobster boil-ups on the beach.
“We just hope that there is going to be enough interest, and enough people travelling around the province that are going to help us make it work. And failing that, we hope that there will be more funding coming down from the government to help us.”
If restrictions do ease enough that local tourism will be an option, Pardy urges people to “adventure locally" — get out and rediscover your province.”
Morrissey said that within the B&B community, operators are trying to stay positive.
“And hoping that people within the province will do ‘staycations,’ and we can salvage what’s left. Tourism is feast or famine for four to five months of the year. Right now, it’s going to probably be two months, if that. So, the mood has changed. It’s scary, it’s very scary. And it’s people’s livelihoods.”
Twitter: @juanitamercer_
