The Sunset Country Tourist Association says it may take years to rebound from COVID-19.

Gerry Cariou is executive director and says lifting the COVID-19 travel restrictions on October 1st is a good first step, but the damage has already been done.

“It’s a real significant long term hangover we’ll have I think we might have, in trying to catch up…trying to regain lost revenues,” says Cariou.

He adds that rebuilding the tourism industry in this region will be a long term task.

“Too little, too late, a little bit.  You know there’s been quite a bit of damage done to the industry here.  People should try to remember that.  Think of trying to run a business with no revenues for a year and a half and partial revenues for the other year.’

Cariou says the fall is a good time for hunting and some fishing, so they are focusing on those aspects the remainder of this year.