We all know that the travel industry has been particularly hit hard over the last 12 months.
If you can believe it, this week actually marks a year since Canada and the rest of the world shut down in the wake of a global pandemic that has crippled many industries, one being travel.
Border closures, coupled with loads of restrictions and lack of available flights, have meant fewer tourists, and less foreign money on home soil.
Simpson, who is now partnering with Vancouver-based Loop Insights, points to new research and analysis just released from Destination Canada. Their findings show that if Canadians reallocate 66 percent of the money they plan on spending on international travel towards domestic tourism, it will make up the estimated $19 billion shortfall the economy is presently facing. Additionally, it would also help sustain over 150,000 jobs, as well as reduce the time it would take the economy to recover by a full year.
So, how do we get more Canadians moving from province to province, or have more people explore off-the-beaten-path places in their own backyards?
“The vaccination roll-out will play a huge part in getting our country and world moving again, and technology is also going to play a massive role too in rebooting our domestic tourism industry,” explains Simpson. “Technology has already proven beneficial in combating COVID-19, but it’s also going to help us move to a ‘new normal,’ quicker rather than later.”
Simpson has been busy consulting with travel agents, travel businesses, local politicians and the general public on the new Wallet Pass technology launched by Loop Insights.
The tech is impressive and has two huge selling points: First, it provides a direct communication channel between brands and consumers, allowing users to receive real-time communications – information and promotions – from businesses and organizations; Second, the technology offers travel and venue bubble solutions in live environments, helping businesses, organizations, and governments alike to identify, assess, and manage people who have been exposed to COVID-19. Loop’s contact tracing platform is totally safe and offers a fully managed solution for travellers and larger entities. Wallet Pass also features an integrated and verified COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Certification.
Loop has been on the move in a big way since unveiling its technology on the market. The company just formed a collaboration with Empower Clinics in Vancouver to get the local tourism industry moving again with Wallet Pass Technology. They have also been partnering with scores of businesses and organizations who are now benefiting from their innovative-game-changing technology, including the NCAA; The University of Houston; Vend; Your CBD Locations – USA; Shopify; Paiute Las Vegas Championship, a Korn Ferry Tour Event; SimpliFlying; and they are now active and growing in the Casino, Gaming, Events/Stadium, Hospitality, Retail, Film and Entertainment, and Education Industries.
Loop’s technology will go one step further in driving up the demand for our domestic tourism industry and it will play an important role for travel consumers on the booking and planning fronts.
“I am not advocating that anyone right now should be travelling but I am advising people to stay home and follow all the government guidelines because this is what we need for everything in the future to open back up properly,” says Simpson. “What we do need however is more people staying local and spending their money at home since international travel is going to be off the radar for quite some time. The only way we can move forward and help our domestic travel economy is with the right vaccination roll-out, while utilizing new technology, like Loop’s Wallet Pass, for venue and travel bubbles, and contact tracing.”
Simpson’s call for Canadians supporting local is being heard loud and clear.
“We understand that everyone is eager for some much-needed vacation time and we are calling on Canadians to plan their future travel within Canada,” explains Marsha Walden, president and CEO of Destination Canada in a news release.
“We are all fortunate to live in this incredibly beautiful and diverse country with breathtaking experiences from coast to coast—now is the time to plan on exploring our backyards when safe to do so. This is how each and every Canadian can enjoy our country while meaningfully helping the hundreds of thousands of people whose livelihoods enhance our quality of life in Canada,” she adds.
Simpson says, “This technology will help give everyone the confidence we need as we move from shutdowns to a ‘new normal.’ Travel and tourism have taken a huge hit, and Loop’s Wallet Pass technology works. It is an innovative solution for contact tracing, travel bubbles, and vaccination data, and what I really like too with all this is that it opens up an effective communication system that helps keep travelers, consumers, businesses and organizations safer.”
