ONTARIO'S 'STAYCATION' TAX CREDIT BOOSTS LOCAL TOURISM

LOCAL TOURISM OPERATORS HAPPY TO WELCOME VISITORS BACK TO SOUTH GEORGIAN BAY

One of the industries that took a major hit during the pandemic was the local tourism sector.

COVID-19 restrictions forced many businesses to close and kept potential visitors at home.

However, those days appear to be in the past, as local tourism operators say people are once again flocking to Collingwood and The Blue Mountains.

"It's great that it's back with a vengeance," said Guy Laporte, co-owner of Craigleith Manor — a popular Bed and Breakfast in Collingwood. "We've been sold out seven days a week from the beginning of 2022. We're just slammed this summer."

Laporte said people are more confident in travelling because of vaccines and there is also a lot of pent-up demand.

"I think everybody has cabin fever, they want to be anywhere but their own living room," he said.

The Ontario government introduced the staycation tax credit for 2022, which allows residents to claim 20 per cent of their accommodation expenses, up to $1,000 for an individual and $2,000 for a family. Laporte believes this is having a positive impact.

"A lot of people are acknowledging there is a few dollars in their pockets

from the Ontario government for staying in Ontario," Laporte said.

Mylisa Henderson, coowner of Scandinave Spa, a facility that attracts visitors from across the province, is also seeing a return to PRE-COVID numbers.

"We're definitely seeing people feeling more comfortable with visiting and

doing the things they used to do," she said. "That's why people like to come (visit the spa) because it's an experience they don't have at home."

They opened sauna and steam rooms last year and are now fully operational. She said they are also benefiting from the tax credit.

"What we've done is make sure to partner with local accommodations," she said. "To make sure if they are staying there and using that tax credit, they understand there are activities and attractions in the area they can also visit. We do find that's a big driver for us."

Henderson said because they are back up to full capacity, they've also been able to offer promotions targeting locals as well, such as "Wind Down Wednesdays," dual massages, and a spring pass.

"There still is a demand for our services," she said.

Laporte said many of his customers are from the GTA. They are taking a hard look at where they travel, given the high gas prices.

"I do hear from a lot of people, they've taken international travel off of their bucket list for a while," he said.

He said April and November, which are typically slower months, have been busy. "April, when we're waiting for the snow to leave, and November, when we're waiting for it to come back. Those kind of big changes in the seasons have always been a bit slower," he said.

"For me, that's gone. We sold out the entire month of April last year and the entire month of November last year and this year, the same thing. Everything we knew about tourism in the region has kind of been put on its head."

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With summer around the corner, Collingwood and The Blue Mountains are traditionally a popular tourism destination. Simcoe.com felt it was important to talk to local tourism operators about whether the sector has bounced back.