North Country tourist attractions seek looser restrictions for spring, summer Officials say industry lost millions last summer amid pandemic Share Updated: 6:54 PM EST Feb 26, 2021 Officials say industry lost millions last summer amid pandemic Share Updated: 6:54 PM EST Feb 26, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript LIKE WE’RE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER, BUT THE NORTH COUNTRY TOURIST ATTRACTIONS ARE ALREAD LOOKING FOR A BOUNCE-BACK SUMMER. A REPRESENTATIVE FOR 17 WHITE MOUNTAIN ATTRACTIONS TOLD THE ECONOMIC REOPENING TASK FORCE FRIDAY THAT LAST SEASON WAS THE WORST THEY’VE HAD SINCE WORLD WAR II BECAUSE OF COVI RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON THOSE BUSINESSES CHARYL: OUR EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS DROPPED TO THEIR LOWEST IN YEARS -- DOWN 30% TO 50% -- AND OUR ATTRACTIONS SUFFERED LOSSES ON AVERAGE BETWEEN 50% TO 70%, EQUATING TO A DEFICIT IN THE MILLIONS ANDY: INDUSTRY OFFICIALS SAY THEIR 2020 SEASON WA SIGNIFICANTLY SHORTER BECAUSE OF COVID-19, AND WHEN THEY DID OPEN BETWEEN JUNE AND JULY, IT WAS AT 25% CAPACITY. THEY ARE ASKING THIS YEAR START THE SEASON AT 50% CAPACITY, WITH THE HOPE OF RAISING THAT NUMBER BY THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER CHARYL: THE ATTRACTIONS AND THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, AS A WHOLE CONTINUE TO FEEL UNCERTAIN AND NERVOUS, EVEN WITH THE VACCINE, ABOUT THE PANDEMIC IMPACT ON T FUTURE OF TRAVEL AND VACATIONS D.J. BETTENCOURT: I THINK I SPEAK FOR THE TASK FORCE IN SAYING WE HOPE AND INDEED EXPECT THAT AMUSEMENT PARKS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ARE GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE THIS SUMMER TH THEY WERE LAST SUMMER. ANDY: BUT PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ALSO TOLD THE TASK FORCE THAT WHILE MANY OF THE STATE’S COVID NUMBERS ARE ENCOURAGING, IT IS STILL A REAL AND PRESENT THREAT. PATRICIA TILLY: ALL OF US