It’s a make-or-break few months ahead for Massachusetts as officials and the tourism industry gear up for visitors to pour into the state for a slew of events.
Gov. Maura Healey spoke to industry members on Tuesday in Danvers, calling on them to “meet this moment” and saying that it is arriving at a time of “significant challenges.”
“I know families, people are feeling it every day,” Healey remarked at the Governor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism, after listing off her efforts to decrease housing, utility and health care costs. “But you are incredibly important to who we are as a state, because you help us get beyond that, and see what’s positive and see what’s possible and be hopeful. And that’s what we need now in this country.”
Among the Massachusetts 250th anniversary events happening in the coming months, the state will welcome Sail Boston and FIFA World Cup matches this summer.
The magnitude of events have garnered concerns, like those presented by state officials in a January report to the Legislature about World Cup funding complexities and event locations. There’s work underway related to public safety, transportation and traffic mitigation, as well as public health planning. The embattled MBTA will be put to the test and has committed to transporting 200,000 passengers per game.
Sen. Patrick O’Connor, R-Weymouth, warned in November, “The way we respond to this moment will have generational ripple effects.”
“As you heard today, travel is strong. It’s strong. The demand is there because people want to explore,” Healey said Tuesday. “They want to connect, and they want to learn and experience places with friends and family in a meaningful way, and you guys all make that happen. So I think how we respond really matters.”