Local tourist outfitters need help and they need it now!
That strong message is being delivered by Meagan Clark at Clarks Resorts and Outposts in Vermilion Bay.
She is hoping a Save Sunset Country Tourism Before It’s Too Late video and petition campaign catches the eye of elected officials.
Meagan 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.”
Meagan 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 expect maybe a few place in Kenora because of the Manitoba traffic. Marketing to domestic tourism in Ontario. It might work for some of the southern parts of the province where they have more a population to draw from but it will never work around here. We still sit here empty.”
She notes 99.9% of their business comes from the United States and they don’t know when or if the border will reopen.
Meagan Clark says “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 adds “Our government fees like land use permits and licensing fees. I mean those should be forgiven at the very least for this year. And our fixed costs don’t go away. These camps have mortgages and these cabins and equipment. They don’t come for free.”
Click here to see the petition.
To hear the full interview and to view the emotional video on the importance of tourism to Sunset Country, visit the links below.
