Vaccine passports get applause from local hospitality industry

Quebec's tentative plan to roll out vaccine passports in September is receiving high praise from those working in the Ottawa-Gatineau area'shospitality industry.

Last week,Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubannounced the province was considering bringing in a passport-type document that would prove a person had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

If the province were to enter a fourth wave, instead of lockdowns, people without a passport would be denied access to gyms, theatres and other places deemed to pose a greater threat of spreading the virus, Dub explained.

"If we can stay open, that would really help for sure," said Lelia Bacle, marketing director ofOld Chelsea Square, which represents several establishments in Chelsea, Que.

"All the touristindustry was really affected by this pandemic. So of course, if we can stay open and we can still serve customers, that would be great."

Hotels want more

The local hotel industry is applauding the idea too, but said it needs to see the full opening of internationalborders in order for the industryto trulybegin to recover.

"Any action that the government does andwhether it's a passport or a certificate or just some mechanism to be able to prove that you've been responsible and been vaccinated is a positive thing for our industry," said Steve Ball, president of the Ottawa-Gatineau Hotel Association.

While the industry is beginning to see some visitors return, Ball said research has shown hotels won't see a return to pre-pandemic numbers until 2023.

To reach those numbers, hotels need to host large meetings and conventions, which accounts for 40 to 50 per cent of the income of larger downtown properties, he said.

"Our industry has been waiting desperately for the borders to open[and for]people to be able to travel."

Dub said vaccine passports would only start being used once the entire eligible population has had the opportunity to get their vaccines possibly as of Sept. 1and stressed they'donly be used in regions that experienced outbreaks.

They wouldnot be requiredto access essential services or goods.