‘An Economic Tsunami’: Cape Cod Businesses Weigh Reopening Ahead Of Uncertain Summer Season

Tourists walk down Commercial Street in Provincetown. The Trump administration announced last month that it was extending a ban on green cards and adding many temporary visas to the freeze, including J-1 cultural exchange visas and H-2B visas, impacting foreign workers there. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Summer won’t be the same this year on Cape Cod. Many businesses in the region rely on tourism during the warmer months. Gov. Charlie Baker is expected to announce the re-opening plan for Massachusetts on Monday, but with so much uncertainty and so many questions about how the state will reopen, some Cape Cod businesses are scaling back — or may not open at all.

In Mashpee, business owner Mike Morrison prefers to be kayaking on Popponesset Bay and planning tours for his bike, kayak and paddle board business, RideAway Adventures.

But now, with the coronavirus pandemic threatening to eat heavily into summer tourism — which his company completely depends on — Morrison is focusing on something else.

“We just redid our website to have a retail section,” Morrison said. “That was a big adjustment.”

The business is shifting gears to sell more outdoor equipment online, and at his Sandwich and Mashpee stores.

Morrison has been busy reorganizing the retail displays. He expanded the Mashpee shop to create more space so customers can keep a safe distance — that is, when he’s allowed to reopen. Morrison is in full prep mode, tuning up bikes and cleaning.

He’s also scaling back some parts of his business. He’ll hire less than half of the 34 employees he normally brings on for the summer. His tours will be smaller. And he’s cutting some of the more specialized activities, like paddle board yoga.

Read the rest of this story at WBUR’s website.