TORONTO — ACTA has launched a ‘Save Travel’ campaign with an urgent call for the extension of the federal government’s Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program rent and wage subsidies.

The THRP subsidies are set to decline in half on March 13, 2022 and end entirely May 7, 2022, says ACTA President, Wendy Paradis.

“The fifth wave of Omicron has devastated Canada’s travel and tourism small businesses, nearly eliminating the winter holiday season. While recovery is on the horizon, border restrictions remain and travel agencies and independent travel agents cannot recover until the summer season,” she says.

Paradis adds: “It is imperative that the rent and wage subsidies continue at 100% levels until at least July, 2022.”

With ACTA’s new Save Travel campaign, in effect starting today and running until Friday, March 11, travel agency owners are invited to visit www.savetravel.ca and upload a 1-2 minute video that ACTA will promote on social media and directly with government leaders and politicians.

“These videos can be a powerful and emotional advocacy tool,” notes Paradis. She says the videos should explain the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, how the rent and wage subsidies allow for survival until recovery, and a plea that the scheduled decline on March 13 be eliminated and that benefits continue in full until July, 2022.

Following this campaign, Paradis says ACTA will establish a video campaign for independent travel agent financial support.