Outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) since early March have
cost Canada's tourism industry almost 216 million US dollars in lost business
sofar, a new study said Thursday.
According to the study conducted by the Hotel Association of Canada, hotel
and motel sector in the city of Toronto appeared to take the biggest blow in the
eight-week period beginning April 6, with revenues falling 68 million Canadian
dollars (about 50 million US dollars).
Industry officials have previously said hotel occupancy rate in Toronto have
fallen to around 30 percent, down from the traditional 80 percent at this time
of year.
During the period from March 2 to May 31, the study found tourism revenues in
Toronto fell 29 percent or about 186 million Canadian dollars (about 130 million
US dollars). Outside Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal were the hardest hit cities
during the sameperiod with tourism revenues down 10 percent or 57 million
Canadian dollars (about 42 million US dollars) in Vancouver and 33million
Canadian dollars (about 25 million US dollars) in
Montreal.
