Muskoka sees boost in tourism amid provincial timeline report
Tourism operators across Simcoe Muskoka are still trying to dig out of the pandemic.
According to a report set to be released on Tuesday, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Association of Ontario found that the tourism industry is not expected to recover fully until 2025.
Chris Bloore, president and CEO of Tourism Association of Ontario, said businesses in the province are generating under 70 per cent of pre-pandemic revenues.
"Now that has a difference depending on the geographical location that you're in. So we're seeing northern Ontario businesses still only being at half their revenues pre-pandemic form," said Bloore.
Bloore added that seven in 10 operators in three provinces have taken on debt to stay afloat during the pandemic.
The Muskoka region could be an outlier. Although many businesses continue to feel the effects of the pandemic, Tourism Muskoka says as a whole it is getting back to 2019 form.
"We're already starting to see that. This past September, we were 10 per cent points above 2019, so our occupancy rate during that period actually exceeded 2019 levels," said Val Hamilton, the executive director of Muskoka Tourism.
She explained that group business has made a resurgence leading to higher profits for hotels and conference centres, on top of strong leisure tourism.
"We actually surpassed 2019 levels. So the provide is slowly getting there, but Muskoka, for the most part, has already reached that," said Hamilton.
Live theatres are one business seeing a resurgence as audiences flock to take in the sights on the stage once again.
Shawna Patterson, the interim director of recreation and culture for Gravenhurst, said the Opera House has had nearly every show sell out since opening in the spring.
The boost in ticket sales comes after over two years of the stage collecting dust as restrictions barred anyone from performing and large groups from attending.
"Our patrons are happy we're back open," said Patterson.
Neighbouring Kings Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene shares that feeling. Staff hope to make back lost revenue after operations were forced to close several venues.
"I have programmed a season that is reminiscent of president pandemic levels because we're very confident that people want to be back in the theatre," said Alex Mustakas, the Artistic director of Drayton Entertainment.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.