SANTA FE, NM - Tourism Secretary Jen Paul Schroer issued the following statement about the amended public health order: 

"New Mexico's hospitality and tourism industry has made incredible sacrifices throughout this pandemic in order to protect fellow New Mexicans. And because of those sacrifices, New Mexico can now truly look forward to the prospects of a reopened tourism economy. I hope this signals to the Legislature that tourism will and must come back.

While today's news is certainly a positive indicator that New Mexico is on the right track, there's much more we need to do to recover our economy. Without substantial and targeted relief for the tourism industry, we are still looking at a lengthy timeline for full recovery. The $70 million tourism recovery package on the table this Legislative Session could substantially reduce that timeline by driving demand and stabilizing our tourism infrastructure and workforce. We must also continue to adhere to COVID-Safe Practices so we can continue to keep employees and customers safe and keep our businesses open."

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The $45 million special appropriation for tourism workforce and infrastructure recovery included in HB 267 and the $25 million special appropriation for tourism promotion included in the Executive Budget Recommendation are designed to work in tandem by providing necessary asset stabilization to meet growing demand.

The New Mexico tourism industry has suffered severe economic injury due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NMTD estimates the state lost over $3.15 billion in visitor spending in 2020. The estimated loss of visitor spending translates to a loss of $190 million in state and local tax revenue. As of December 2020, an estimated 30,000 leisure and hospitality workers remain unemployed.