With so much of Moose Jaw's economy relying on tourism, it's no surprise that 2020 was a tough year for many local businesses.

At Tourism Moose Jaw, the number of visitors entering their doors was down by 63 per cent, according to executive director Jacki L'Heuruex-Mason. Overall, the statistics are a bit of a mixed bag.

"Whether it's due to [the size of our city] or our community spirit," explains L'Heuruex-Mason, "we seem to have been a little less scathed than some other parts of the world. We've had a lot of cool initiatives encouraging people to shop locally and I think that that's been really effective. Having said that, there's definitely a segment of the industry, especially hotels and restaurants, that weren't built for takeout that has taken a major hit."

Still, L'Heuruex-Mason says that previous years have been very good for the local hotels and that they have been able to save some money. 

"They've been smart with their money, but we can't take it for granted. If there's any way that we can support these local businesses, I think we need to take it seriously."

One of the initiatives that Tourism Moose Jaw is undertaking to boost local businesses is the introduction of their family and couple staycation packages. Offering an all in one discount to local hotels, restaurants, and shops, these packages are currently available for residents and visitors alike.

"You don't even have to think about it, they're all packaged up for you. Maybe you're sick and tired of looking at the four walls that you've been stuck in and you just want to get the kids out and give yourself something to look forward to. There's also one's focused just on couples who are needing a bit of a break. You can have a really great, safe, and fun trip even if it's just 15 minutes away."

You can find more information about the staycation packages by clicking here. 

Even with vaccines on the horizon, we're not out of the woods yet, and the next few months could be some of the toughest for the local economy. However, L'Heuruex-Mason is hoping for what she calls a "slingshot" economy where once the pandemic is over, the local economy will come out of the gate with a boom.

"People are going to be stir-crazy. They're going to want to explore once they feel safe to do so. We've been working on as part of a recovery team with the City and a number of other community organizations and we are definitely ready for that. That would be the best-case scenario. With Moose Jaw being a very affordable and accessible location, I do see us having a lot of success."

At the end of the day, L'Heuruex-Mason says that some businesses have slipped through the amour, no matter how determined the effort was to keep them open. The good news, however, is that most local businesses have been able to keep their doors open, thanks in large part to the people of Moose Jaw.

"I'm really proud of the attitude that Moose Javians have taken when it comes to supporting local. A lot of people have been exploring local stores that they've never been to before. I want people to understand the value of where those dollars go. These are the people and places that are the first to give back to sports teams and health causes. They support us so its good for us to support them"