Destination Canada and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada have decided to cancel the upcoming Rendez-vous Canada 2020 due to the global outbreak of COVID-19. The event was scheduled to take place in Quebec City from May 5-8, 2020.
“With increased Canadian (local, provincial and federal) and foreign government restrictions, and an increasing number of large-scale events around the world cancelling in efforts to fight and contain the spread of COVID-19, the situation has evolved consistently and rapidly. Destination Canada and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, have been in regular and frequent contact about Rendez-vous Canada 2020, scheduled to take place in Quebec City from May 5-8, 2020. It is with heavy hearts that we have made the decision to cancel Rendez-vous Canada 2020,” Destination Canada, the tourism promotion agency of Canada, said in a statement.
“I commend Destination Canada and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada for taking difficult, but necessary measures to protect the health and safety of travellers and Canadians. While Canada’s tourism sector remains strong and resilient in the face of COVID-19, we are there to support you. In the past Canada has overcome difficult challenges and I am confident that this time again we will come together and prove our resiliency,” Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, Govt of Canada said in a statement.
Rendez-vous Canada is very much a lifeline for the Canadian tourism sector – generating leads and sales with key markets around the world, but the health, welfare and safety of our delegates is paramount.
“Our decision on this was made clearer last Friday (March 13, 2020) when the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau and several of his Ministers announced tightened restrictions and enhanced guidelines on international travel, border control measures, mass gatherings, among other tourism-related areas. Although we have made the decision to cancel Rendez-vous Canada 2020, we will now look to the future,” the statement reads.
Rendez-vous Canada is currently working through the process of refunds for those registered and will follow up with them the next steps and details next week. “As sellers and buyers are in the process of making meeting requests on MyRVC, we will look as to how we can help facilitate communication between buyers and sellers, and offer virtual appointments,” it said in a statement.
According to the release, GoMedia Canada 2020, Destination Canada’s annual international consumer media trade show is scheduled to take place in Victoria, British Columbia from September 9 to 13, 2020. Destination Canada and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada will work to see if GoMedia Canada can be enhanced to include a modest travel trade component.
