Travel Alberta says $1.5M boost from Ottawa will help rebuild industry hit hard by COVID-19

Alberta is getting a helping hand from the federal government to salvage its tourism industry, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Western Economic Diversification Canada is providing $3.45 million to help bolster the tourism sector in Alberta and the other western provinces in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, which brought international and domestic travel to a halt and shut down restaurants, bars, businesses and parks among others.

Travel Alberta will get $1.5 million of that money, which — as the province eases COVID-19 restrictions — is meant to help with hiring staff back, support small businesses and fulfil debts. 

"Tourism is a source of pride for communities across the country. It's a significant economic driver and source of local jobs. It's also among one of the hardest hit sectors as a result of this pandemic," said Mélanie Joly, minister of Economic Development and Official Languages in a release. 

"We're working with the sector to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, and we're working with you as our economy reopens so we can come back stronger than before."

Shelley Grollmuss, a vice-president with Travel Alberta, says the industry has been hit very hard.

"And anytime there's an announcement like this it could come out or some additional support as the one we've received from Western Economic Diversification, we're very excited about that," she said.

The federal government expects over 500 Alberta tourism businesses will benefit from the money. 

Grollmuss says this will just be the beginning of the recovery work.

"This is not a one-time solve. This is the rebuilding of our industry," she said.