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

Executive Director Gerry Cariou says lifting the COVID-19 travel restrictions on October 1 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 for the remainder of this year.