By Sheldon Spackman

Staying Resilient

Tourism Red Deer encouraging local operators to stay connected during pandemic

Mar 25, 2020 | 3:21 PM

Tourism Red Deer is encouraging tourism operators to stay in contact during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The organization recently announced they’re working hard to filter industry-specific content to their website, in hopes of keeping central Alberta tourism operators informed with updates and links offering relevant information.

Vicky Loughlin, Marketing and Communications Manager with Tourism Red Deer, says the current situation is devastating for the industry.

“I think the industry, as well as many other industries have hit ground zero,” she says. “At this point we’ve been getting a lot of direction from Travel Alberta, the City of Red Deer, just trying to wrap our heads around the situation and really focus our efforts going forward. We’re trying to filter the information from higher government down to our industry and continually updating our industry site.”

Tourism Red Deer is also staying in contact with through online meetings and conference calls with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Destination Canada, Red Deer County, provincial government and federal government.

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Loughlin admits potential job losses are a concern for the industry.

“You look at restaurants and hotels, attractions and rec facilities, tourism really is a broader service than some think,” she explains. “It’s not just for visitors, it really does impact our everyday lives and the things that we enjoy. I think we’re just taking the standpoint, people first right now and do what we can to flatten that curve.”

According to 2017 numbers from Alberta Economic Development, Trade and Tourism, the Alberta Central Tourism Region receives nine million total person-visits per year, including three million overnight stays. Meanwhile, both same day and overnight domestic tourism expenditures total $929,376 per year.

Loughlin notes however, she’s hopeful the industry will rebound once the pandemic is over.

“Right now, the industry is suffering but they are trying to be innovative,” says Loughlin. “Out of the rubble, things will rise and people are coming together and they’re trying to support each other and collaborate. So it’s nice to see that the industry is just naturally doing that.”

Loughlin points to Troubled Monk as an example, which has created its own craft hand sanitizer to help ease local demands.

“As well as restaurants still staying open to offer take-out and delivery options,” adds Loughlin. “We are seeing some good things happening and people trying to be innovative. So we encourage that to continue happening, and if there are industry members that are doing things, please connect with Tourism Red Deer and let us know what’s happening and we will do our best to share that with our community and the rest of our industry.”

Effective Mar. 16, Tourism Red Deer has closed its offices to members of the public, which includes the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.

The organization’s annual general meeting has also been postponed from Apr. 15, to a later date still to be determined.