It’s been a busy week here at TIAO. We just returned from Deerhurst where we held our annual Ontario Tourism Summit. While at Summit, we managed to make great progress on some of our key files.
On the eve of Summit, the provincial government announced a crucial regulatory change pertaining to hot tubs at visitor accommodations. Effective October 28, 2022, R. R. O. 1990, Reg. 565: Public Pools will be amended to provide an exemption for public spas that are operated in conjunction with an individual dwelling unit or suite of a visitor accommodation for the exclusive use of its occupants. Provided that the required caution signage is posted, owners/operators of these pubic spas will no longer be required to meet the structural and equipment regulations outlined in the Regulation.
TIAO has worked closely with affected operators, stakeholders, and government partners to resolve this issue and is pleased that a regulatory solution has been reached.
For more information about this change, see here for the official summary of the amendment and see here for the Q&A document.
And while our industry continues to move forward and make economic progress, we are still a long way from full recovery. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a severe and enduring impact on Ontario’s tourism sectors. Border closures, capacity restrictions, and lockdowns exacerbated structural issues, which impact the capacity for our industry to take advantage of opportunities for economic growth. In need of a path forward, TIAO and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) worked closely with the sector over the last year to inform and develop: The State of the Ontario Tourism Industry Report.
The report examines challenges and opportunities facing Ontario’s tourism industry, focusing on themes of economy, labour, infrastructure, and the future of tourism in the province. It offers a blueprint for recovery, growth, and sustainability through practical recommendations to confront immediate and long-term challenges and to fully leverage the opportunities for economic prosperity.
While at Summit, we offered a sneak peek at the report. Key highlights and recommendations from the report are now available to read here. The full report will be released in late 2022 – stay tuned.
As always, thank you for your continued support. And of course, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to send me an email at jng@tiaontario.ca.
Jessica Ng
Director, Policy & Government Affairs