Friday, March 20, 2020
With the corona virus COVID-19 pandemic continuing to cause concern, the United States and Canada have agreed to ban non-essential cross-border traffic temporarily.
The ban also might include exclusions for commerce, education, family care and compassionate reasons.
However, many are worried about the implications and the duration of the ban.
Niagara County also stands to brace for a big impact with the loss of cross-border visitors.
“The immediate impact is significant,” said John Percy, Destination Niagara USA president and CEO.
Visits to Niagara County and Niagara Falls have an economic impact of more than $7.5 million. Tourism also accounts for more than 16,000 jobs in the county. Will those be affected? “They probably will. I am not going to sugar-coat it,” said Percy.
While no one knows how long the epidemic will last, Percy said that he hopes that the Niagara County tourism industry will be able to get better quickly once the virus comes into check. “Thankfully, we are a leisure destination and those tend to bounce back quicker,” concluded Percy.
Tags: Canada, cross border, the United States
