Issue link: https://travelmanitoba.uberflip.com/i/1474903
LEADING TOURISM RECOVERY 4 Looking back on 2021/22, what we may remember most is the impact of the ever-changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the restrictions that guided our lives to keep us all as safe as possible. In May, significant restrictions were announced, including widespread closures of businesses and restrictions on gatherings. By June, the province moved forward with the first step of reopening; gathering sizes increased and restaurants were allowed to reopen. In August, Manitoba took another step toward fully reopening as the province announced that more businesses would be allowed to reopen and the mandatory indoor mask mandate would be lifted. By fall, proof of COVID-19 vaccination status became a requirement to enter many Manitoba businesses and attend some events. By November, amid a rise in case numbers across the province, further restrictions came into effect. Just in time for the holidays, new restrictions took effect as the province struggled to deal with a surge of the Omicron variant. In February, as the COVID-19 situation began to stabilize, the province announced cautious steps to reducing health orders, with the goal of being restriction-free by the spring, and in March, the use of COVID-19 vaccine cards and all other public health restrictions in the province came to an end. For tourism businesses large and small, such a rollercoaster ride of uncertainty left an indelible mark on a once thriving and robust industry. However, there have also been clear signs of progress towards recovery, and Travel Manitoba has been working diligently to lead that effort. In December 2021, the Premier reaffirmed during her State of the Province address the provincial government's commitment to the implementation of the Manitoba Tourism Strategy as a key economic initiative to support recovery from the pandemic. Travel Manitoba is focused on rebuilding the industry from the ravages of the pandemic, and the Manitoba Tourism Strategy is the roadmap for that journey. Message from the Board Chair and President & CEO ↑ Northern lights, Churchill