Global pandemic shatters multi-billion dollar cruise business in Canada

摘要

For ports and tourism interests from British Columbia to the Great Lakes/ St. Lawrence and Atlantic regions, the latest drastic measures applied to cruise operations by the federal government to stifle the spread of COVID-19 have been devastating news. Gone are the lucrative summer and fall foliage seasons and possibly all but a small portion of the widely-popular Alaska voyages. Gone, too, are valuable regular revenues for hundreds, if not thousands, of small entrepreneurs. "Disaster is not too harsh a word for what has happened," remarked the representative of a cruise industry association. Last year, some 140 cruise ships brought more than two million passengers and crew to Canadian ports. And a banner season had been anticipated in 2020.