BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Coronavirus has cost the local tourism economy millions in lost revenues from events, hotels, restaurants, and more.
Fifteen events, ranging from sports tournaments to convention shows, in the Buffalo Niagara region have all been canceled or postponed in the wake of the virus that continues to spread throughout the world. Tourism officials in Buffalo anticipate the impact to cost the local economy $7.8 million.
"It means a great deal," Kaler said. "Especially during the month of March. Typically December, January, and February are our lower months. We see an up-tick into our high summer seasons starting in April. Depending on how long this plays out, this will have a big impact on our overall tourism economy. It's not just filling the hotels and beds. It's our employment base. We have over 32,000 people who are employed in the tourism industry."
Destination Niagara USA President and CEO John Percy said the impact has been less noticable in Niagara Falls because they're not much of a business-centric destination as Buffalo, but they have seen an impact on tourism.
"Being in a slower season is good for us because we're not in the high season," Percy said. "We're hoping this subsides before it makes a big impact on our spring and summer and fall seasons."
Percy said the coronavirus pandemic is comparable to the spread of SARS or bird flu but noted it's different because of the number of unknown related to the virus. He pointed at history more than ten years ago to reference one thing he expects to see: lower rates related to tourism.
"There is a 24 to 37 month return for those rates to the same rates 12 months ago," Percy said. "It's going to have a negative impact down the road on our airline industry, our hotel industry, on restaurants. The trickle down is significant, unfortunately, in our industry."
Health and government officials have encouraged organizations to postpone or cancel events in the wake of coronavirus for public safety reasons. Because of this, Kaler's hands are tied but he said their focus is about the health and safety of those visiting the area.
Kaler said he expects more cancellations, which will only have a further impact on the local economy.