The head of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) says it’s “positive” that some of its members will be able to re-open with limited capacity later this month. But he says that doesn’t equal recovery.
With the Omicron variant seemingly easing in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford on Thursday announced a “phased approach” to reopening. Restrictions will ease starting Jan. 31 and run into March, Ford said.
“It is positive news that many of our TIAO members will now be able re-open, albeit at reduced capacity from Jan 31,” TIAO President and CEO Christopher Bloore said in an email to jimbyerstravel.com. “However this limited reopening certainly doesn’t mean recovery.
“Many (tourism businesses) will still fail to break even, and that’s why It’s imperative that as we now look to March for a full reopening, that we redouble our efforts to encourage Ontarians to travel within the province and ensure the fast flow of promised government support to the frontline ASAP,” Bloore said.
The Ontario government will follow a phased approach to gradually easing COVID-19 restrictions, with 21 days between each step, starting January 31, 2022, Ford said.
Effective January 31, 2022 at 12:01am
- Increasing social gathering limits to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors;
- Increasing or maintaining capacity limits at 50% in indoor public settings, including but not limited to:
- Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities;
- Retailers (including grocery stores and pharmacies);
- Shopping malls;
- Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms;
- Cinemas;
- Meeting and event spaces;
- Recreational amenities and amusement parks, including water parks;
- Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos and similar attractions;
- Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments; and
- Religious services, rites, or ceremonies.
- Allowing spectator areas of facilities such as sporting events, concert venues and theatres to operate at 50% seated capacity or 500 people, whichever is less.
- Enhanced proof of vaccination, and other requirements would continue to apply in existing settings.
Effective February 21, 2022 (Family Day):
- Social gathering limits will increase to 25 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
- Removing capacity limits in indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to:
- Restaurants;
- Indoor sports and recreational facilities;
- Cinemas; and
- Other settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
- Permitting spectator capacity at sporting events, concert venues, and theatres at 50% capacity.
- Indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is not required capacity will be limited to the number of people that can maintain 2m of physical distance.
- Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies limited to the number that can maintain 2m of physical distance, with no limit if proof of vaccination is required.
- Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25% in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including:
- Nightclubs;
- Wedding receptions in meeting or event spaces where there is dancing; and
- Bathhouses and sex clubs.
- Enhanced proof of vaccination, and other requirements would continue to apply in existing settings.
Effective March 14, 2022:
- Lifting of 100% capacity limits in all indoor public settings. Proof of vaccination will be maintained in existing settings in addition to other regular measures.
- Lifting remaining capacity limits on religious services, rites, or ceremonies.
Increase social gathering limits to 50 people indoors with no limits for outdoor gatherings.
