Local tourist outfitters say they need help now.
Meagan Clark at Clark’s Resorts and Outposts in Vermilion Bay is hoping a new video and petition campaign catches the eye of elected officials.
The campaign is called Save Sunset Country Tourism Before It’s Too Late.
The resort owner says despite numerous attempts to get attention, both levels of government have ignored their plea for help.
She stresses the province and feds don’t realize how important fishing and hunting camps are to our economy.
“We generate billions in tax revenue. We contribute something like $450 million to Ontario’s GDP. 90% of the economic benefits, all this new money that we bring in, stays within the region,” Clark argues.
Clark says there’s a huge government misconception that local outfitters can run their business on Canadian traffic only.
“We have marketed to Canadians for years and they still only make up less than 5% of our clientele, except maybe a few place in Kenora because of the Manitoba traffic,” she says. “Marketing to domestic tourism in Ontario might work for some of the southern parts of the province where they have more of a population to draw from, but it will never work around here. We still sit here empty.”
She claims almost all of their business comes from the United States, and they don’t know when or if the border will reopen.
“We need larger loans. We need them to be forgivable. We need breaks on insurance. We’re paying full insurance for empty cabins and airplanes that are sitting on land not working,” Clark urges.
She also wants the government to forgive fees like land use permits and licensing fees for this year. “Our fixed costs don’t go away. These camps have mortgages and these cabins and equipment. They don’t come for free,” she adds.
