Published in el Pais, 2 October 2021.
Several years ago, a Canadian show had an episode where the main character was going on vacation. Everyone wished him a good trip only to see him sitting on the field in a lawn chair with a drink the next day. When asked what he was doing he said he was on a “staycation”, that is a vacation where you stay in the city you live in. The term took off and is used beyond the Canadian borders with little being aware of its origins and now the Toronto municipal government is trying to get its residence to do just that, go on a staycation.
Travel restrictions are slowly being removed but for many it still is not worth the hassle or risk. You often must take a covid test at your destination and on your return which can set you back $300 per person and a lot of tourist destinations are not fully open meaning you likely will not get the full experience. It is easily understandable if one were to be reluctant to go abroad.
This of course is of little help to one of the hardest hit industries of the pandemic, as resorts and tourist hot spots remain empty not due to covid but to a lack of foreign visitors. While foreigners may be missing there are plenty of locals who could enjoy these exact hotspots, so Toronto is asking why do not we see what the city we live in has to offer, why not experience what people around the world come to see?
The question is fair. Ask yourself to make a list of all the major tourist attractions near where you live that you have not been too, and you will likely fine the list quite lengthy. A perfect example is that I saw the world famous Niagra Falls for the first time at age 20 despite being only a 90-minute drive.
So why not visit your local tourist attraction provided it is safe to do so? You might enjoy yourself while helping local businesses stay afloat.
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