Tourism in the Windsor-Essex region has seen a strong recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to leaders of Tourism Windsor-Essex Pelly Island (TWEPI).
TWEPI reported at its annual meeting on Thursday that tourism levels in the region have recovered to 98% of pre-pandemic levels.
In 2023, the region is expected to welcome 5.6 million tourists, contributing approximately $856 million to the local economy and supporting an estimated 11,000 jobs.
TWEPI CEO Gordon Orr highlighted that visitor numbers from the United States are on the rise again, noting that visitor numbers from the country reached approximately 1.7 million.
“The outlook is bright,” Oh said. “We’ve seen significant growth, double-digit and in some cases triple-digit growth.”
“The return of American tourists following the COVID-19 pandemic and border closures has been a major contributor to our nation’s economic recovery,” he said.
The annual meeting recognised a 30-year milestone for the region’s casino industry.
Kevin Laforet, regional president of Caesars Windsor, emphasized the collaborative effort behind it all.
“There’s a strong focus on the importance of tourism,” Laforet said. “This has been a commendable team effort and I’m pleased to see tangible results.”
