This report contains a review of and outlook for tourism activity in Manitoba, assessing the impact of COVID-19 and the public health restrictions on tourism. It examines domestic, U.S., and overseas activity as well as considering the situation in Winnipeg.
Document Highlights
- Manitoba’s tourism industry has a rocky road ahead to recovery. Total overnight visits to Manitoba are projected to have fallen significantly in 2020, and total visits are not expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels until 2024.
- We anticipate that total overnight visits will gather steam in 2021 following widespread vaccine distribution and the loosening of public health restrictions.
- Most overnight visits to Manitoba are made by domestic travellers, especially the case in 2020. However, domestic travel suffered in 2020, and visits by both Manitobans and residents of other provinces are on track to fall considerably.
- Travel restrictions cut off most American and overseas travellers from the Manitoba travel market in 2020. However, these traveller segments are relatively smaller in Manitoba than in other provinces, so the impact has not been as substantial. Yet it will take time to regain historical visitor numbers.
- Tourism in Winnipeg, one of the cultural hubs of Manitoba, was hobbled by the pandemic and associated restrictions. The city is home to a variety of museums, galleries, theatres, and stadiums, many of which are now closed or with reduced capacity.
- Since the implementation of the Northern Manitoba Tourism Strategy, tourism expenditures have been on the rise in recent years. However, following a large drop this year, tourism expenditures in the province will take until 2023 to recover.
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