Boston tourism leaders working toward protecting industry

BOSTON — The pandemic is changing the tourism industry in Boston for the foreseeable future.

“We are not going to have a summer we’ve had in the past; I have no question about that,” said Martha Sheridan, the president and CEO of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Tourism is all but halted right now and will be like that going into the summer.

“Most large-scale meetings and conferences have been moved, postponed or canceled for the summer and we don’t know what can take place until we know the maximum number of people that can gather in Boston and beyond, so that’s going to be a key factor for us,” Sheridan said.

However, she said the organization is still working on a plan to get tourists back to Boston.

“We know people will want to travel and encourage people to come to Boston when the time is right,” she said. “Things like outdoor activities, walks and hikes and the like.”

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They are taking an inventory of what people can do while working to help attractions that may remain closed for longer stay afloat.

“Most of them are not for profit, so they don’t have a lot of cash to work with when times are tough, so they are lobbying government officials just as other officials are, so they can continue to operate,” Sheridan said.

Boston isn’t alone in the struggle. Each community across Massachusetts is doing the same, taking it day by day and month by month. Businesses telling Boston 25 News that they are waiting on what state health officials say and on Governor Charlie Baker and each individual community leader’s guidance.

“We have been devastated, there’s no question about it,” Sheridan said. “Never seen anything like this before.”

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