N.L. will reopen its borders Thursday. Here's why hospitality players are staying realistic

Newfoundland and Labrador is only a dayaway from opening its doors to the rest of Canada for leisure travelling the first time since May 2020, when the province enacted a strict travel order only allowing in residents and essential workers.

Butsome in the hammered hospitality industry are remainingrealistic with their expectations this summer.

John Steele, president of Steele Hotels, told CBC News on Tuesday reopening has been a long time coming, adding he and other operators have understood the need forregulations to keep the public safe during the pandemic.

Steele said movement is beginning to happen in his sector buthe isn't expecting a large influx of visitors to his hotels until late in the season.

"I don't think movement is going to really start happening until the vast majority of the public has been double vaccinated," he said.

"There will be some pickup, but I think once you get into August, September, I think that's when you'll really start seeing it."

Steele said he thinks people still won't travel until they are comfortable, and that will come whena higher percentage of the population has two doses.

Steele Hotels operatestwo hotels in St. John's, four in Gander and one in Corner Brook. Steele said his businesses'phones have been ringing, but things aren't overly busy.

"We've been blessed that we've been able to ride this out. I'm very grateful for that, and I feel, overall, the future will be good," he said.

"But I do know a lot of people that are in the industry are having a very tough time with it. Sothe sooner that we can get open in a safe manner the better."

Support from government will continue: minister

Tourism Minister Steve Crocker told CBC News thetourism season will have challenges, evident, he said, from a report tabled by industry leaders that indicates there will likely be only about $250 million in drummed-up revenue this season rather than the $1.2 billion seen in a normal year.

Because the industry continues to struggle, Crocker said,the province has continued its support programand is looking at ways to market itself differently, including with a "staycation"campaign.He said the province's national tourism marketing campaign has been running throughout the winter and early springin its usual hot spots in Ontario and Alberta, which he says makeup a large portion of the province's tourists.

"We want to open up as many markets as we can, knowing it's going to be challenging, but we plan on keeping supports for the industry in place," Crocker said.

"We know we have to get people back into our market to help provide the success we need."

Mark McCarthy, president of McCarthy's Party Tours and Convention Services, said he can't wait for visitors to begin taking in the sights of Newfoundland and Labrador once again.

His business started in 1982 as a tour guide service, offering seven- to 12-day guided excursionsaround the island and south coast of Labrador. Its last guided tour was in October2019.

McCarthy said interest in his services has been booming since the announcement of the province reopening, and is optimistic his companywill continue on the road to recovery over the next 24 months.

"We're really excited to get back at it and get back to what we love doing, which is hosting," he said.

"By the amount of people who have rebooked for this year, the amount of people who are booking now for 2022 in particular I think we're going to come out of this thing pretty well in the next two years."

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