Canada’s Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada spends a lot of time on the road, unsurprising for anyone tasked with boosting the tourism and hospitality sectors across the country. Since her appointment last summer, Martinez Ferrada’s travels have taken her to the Far North, the West Coast, Atlantic Canada and all points in between.
Last week, it was Toronto’s turn. Between visits to the CN Tower, St. Lawrence Market and The Well, Martinez Ferrada spent two days visiting Toronto’s various tourism industry representatives, not to mention Ontario Tourism Minister Neil Lumsden, her counterpart at Queen’s Park. After all, she says, Toronto’s tourism sector is still recovering from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before March 2020, Toronto’s homegrown tourism economy generated about $10 billion every year. Now, according to Destination Toronto, it’s closer to $6.5 billion. Many of the restaurants, travel agencies and other small businesses that comprise…
