Biden, vaccine give tourism hope; Cirque du Soleil in crisis

With as many as three Covid-19 vaccines on the way (Pfizer‘s seems to be the favorite horse in the race) and a new presidency two months away, things are looking up, according to people in the tourism industry. “I honestly feel like this may open up a better dialogue between countries,” University of New Haven hospitality expert Jan Jones told the Boston Globe. “That’s something that is so important to tourism … we had a president who was not seen as welcoming to visitors. I think that’s going to change under the Biden administration.” In the first year of Donald Trump‘s administration, tourism fell 4%, leading to the notorious “Trump Slump.” Major feeder markets slacked off and only Canada provided a bright spot. Between 2017-18, gains made during the Obama administration were reversed and a stagnation in U.S. tourism was certainly reflected in Las Vegas visitation and spending. Given all the rabid xenophobia emanating daily from the White House, who could blame tourists for trepidation? One of our leading sources of visitation, Mexico, was particularly demonized by The Donald.