Executives from Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando have joined Florida’s new taskforce designed to help the state’s economy.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Universal Orlando Resort CEO John Sprouls and Walt Disney World President Josh D’Amaro have both joined his Re-Open Task Force according to Local10.
Bringing together businesses and political leaders
This task force brings together county mayors, legislative leaders and business executives. Furthermore, 22 business, eduation, tourism and state leaders make up task force’s executive committee, including D’Amaro and Sprouls.
Many places in Florida, such as Orlando, rely heavily on tourism. With businesses closed because of COVID-19, many are struggling. The task force was told that 40% of tourism, recreation, retail, real estate, construction and transportation jobs are at risk because of the shutdown, according to Click Orlando.
DeSantis hopes that this task force will create a plan to reopen Florida to help its economy recover. He has said that this committee will have phone meetings each day this week. He hopes the task force will be able to make a report on Friday.
Florida currently shutdown
Both Universal and Disney theme parks have been closed because of COVID-19 since mid-March, and will not open before the end of May.
Universal and Disney have already been considering how to reopen their theme parks as safely as possible. Universal Orlando recently sent a survey to annual passholders, asking them their opinions on possible precautions that could be taken when the parks reopen.
Bob Iger said that Disney is considering how to reopen safely and was looking closely at what Chinese attractions do when they reopen.
Former Disney CEO Bob Iger was recently appointed to California’s task force, also designed to develop economic recovery strategies.
