Chair's Message

The 256 Canadians trapped in Japan on board the Diamond Princess amidst a ship-wide coronavirus quarantine are nearly on their way home.

 

As these passengers prepare for the trip back to Canada after their vacations took an unexpected turn, it’s hard not to think about the intersection between tourism and the ongoing global coronavirus epidemic.

 

As the coronavirus outbreak now enters its third week as an international public health emergency, I’m sure some of your businesses have already been feeling the effects of the travel restrictions, and of consumer hesitation about international travel, more generally. 

 

Given BC’s strong ties to the Asia-Pacific region, we welcome a disproportionate number of Chinese travellers ever year when compared to our provincial counterparts. As air travel out of China becomes increasingly limited, local travellers are being forced to cancel planned trips.

 

According to Bryan Yu, Deputy Chief Economist for Central 1 Credit Union, BC tourism  will  take a hit from the coronavirus and related travel bans – we just don’t know what kind of hit yet.

 

It’s difficult to compare the present situation to anything, even SARS, as travel from China to Canada has increased so drastically since the pre-SARS period – almost seven times, in fact. It also, of course, depends on the international response to the outbreak and how rapidly it can be contained. This is why it’s tricky to estimate the potential impacts.

 

That said, Deputy Chief Economist Yu expects that, as with SARS, the tourism economy will rebound quickly, especially with the help of the busy summer travel season, provided the outbreak is contained by then. I remain similarly confident in our industry’s ability to continue to respond nimbly.

 

And finally, in other BC news, the provincial government tabled their 2020 budget earlier this week.  Budget 2020  is being described as a largely stay-the-course budget with few surprises or new initiatives.

 

We’re happy to see a few tourism-related measures such as a freezing of BC Ferries rates, investments in critical infrastructure needed for inter-provincial travel, and funding for communities affected by wildfires and flooding. For more, you can find TIABC’s full response to  Budget 2020 –  including our concerns about reduced funding for Destination BC –  here .

 

Should you have any further questions about  Budget 2020 , or TIABC’s analysis, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Alroy Chan

Chair, TIABC

BC Tourism Industry Conference

Join us March 4 to 6, 2020 in Victoria!

Early Bird fees will end on January 31st.

bctourismconference.ca/registration

BCTIC 2020

Session Spotlight

Meeting the Challenge of Achieving Sustainable Destinations - Megan Epler Wood

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM Lunch & Closing Keynote - Friday March 6, 2020

Megan Epler Wood’s speech is based on a career of over 30 years providing innovative systems for business, NGOs and governments to build competitive resource efficient tourism economies that benefit all members of society.

Epler Wood is the author of the 2017 book,  Sustainable Tourism on a Finite Planet   and  Destinations at Risk; The Invisible Burden of Tourism  which address the cascading consequences of rapid tourism growth in the next 30 years.

Her work as a research director and lecturer at Harvard and Cornell Universities since 2010 has uncovered the need for new policies, financing, management, and educational systems to meet the growing challenges to achieve sustainable tourism in the next generation.

bctourismconference.ca/speakers/megan-epler-wood

Read more about BCTIC at: bctourismconference.ca/conference-schedule

BC Tourism Awards

Finalists Announced

Employees First Award

Sponsored by go2HR

Finalists

Customer Service Award

Sponsored by Go RVing Canada

Finalists

Innovation Award

Finalists

Remarkable Experience Award

Sponsored by Destination Think!

Finalists

Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) Professional Excellence Award

Sponsored by TIAC and Resonance Consultancy

Finalists

Indigenous Tourism Award

Sponsored by Indigenous Tourism Canada and Indigenous Tourism BC

Finalists

Accessible Tourism Award

Sponsored by the Province of BC

Finalists

The BC Tourism Awards Gala will be held on Thursday February 5th as part of the BC Tourism Industry Conference. Read more about BCTIC at: bctourismconference.ca/awards

TIABC Welcomes Barrett Fisher

to its Board of Directors

Barrett Fisher is the President & CEO of Tourism Whistler. She brings to her position more than 20 years of tourism experience, and is responsible for marketing, communicating and selling Whistler to the world.

In addition to heading up Tourism Whistler and its various departments such as Research, Marketing, Communications, Media Relations, Travel Trade Relations, Conference Sales, Events and Partnerships, Fisher oversees the operations of the Whistler Conference Centre, the Whistler Golf Club, the Whistler Visitor Centre, and Whistler.com Central Reservations.

Before becoming President & CEO, Barrett held a number of key positions with Tourism Whistler, including President, Vice President of Marketing & Sales, Vice President of Marketing, Director of Marketing, and Director of Advertising & Promotion.

Barrett served on the board of the Vancouver Organizing Committee of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games for 10 years from 2003 to 2013, and she is a past board member of the Whistler Chamber of Commerce and the Pemberton Airport Authority.

Note: As per section 8.14 of TIABC's bylaws, Barrett was appointed by TIABC's Board of Directors for a one-year term to replace Tourism Prince George CEO Erica Hummel who is now with Tourism Edmonton.

www.tiabc.ca/about-tiabc/board-of-directors

TIABC Welcomes New Members

The Southern Gulf Islands Tourism Partnership Society (SGITPS), is responsible for implementing more seasonally balanced economic activity and diversity while ensuring greater conservation of its precious natural resources, and more satisfying destination experiences for both visitors and residents alike.

sgitourismpartnership.ca

This agency thrives on the power of smart, open-minded people to deliver reliable and innovative marketing solutions, website design & development, and secure hosting solutions for clients across several industries, including hospitality & tourism, real estate development, skills training education, retail and manufacturing.

www.navigator.ca

Chilliwack's Comfort Inn is a pet-friendly hotel conveniently located on Highway 1, giving guests easy access to many nearby attractions.

www.chilliwackcomfortinn.com

Sea to Sky Gondola Re-opens!

Visitors, industry colleagues and local residents celebrated as the community of Squamish welcomed back the Sea to Sky Gondola. The Valentine's Day opening ceremony included a heartfelt welcome from their team, suppliers, musicians and vendors. Hear Kirby's story on the gondola's recovery at the upcoming BC Tourism Industry Conference.

www.seatoskygondola.com

Catalyst Funding for Tourism

Rural communities affected by mill closures throughout British Columbia will benefit from $1 million in funding to develop tourism opportunities, creating new jobs for people.

Tourism contributes significantly to the economies of many communities in BC. This funding from the Province will be provided through Destination BC to the five regional destination marketing organizations (RDMOs). Each RDMO will receive $200,000 in catalyst funding to support strategic planning and destination development in rural communities impacted by mill closures.

news.gov.bc.ca/releases

Canadian Signature Incentive Experiences  

Canada has always been a beacon to the world. A place not just to explore, but to connect and celebrate, a place to reward extraordinary results with extraordinary recognition events. With this in mind, Destination Canada Business Events team is releasing a curated collection of signature incentive experiences designed to inspire and increase demand for Canada in the high-end incentive market. The collection, which will be presented in a deluxe hard-cover coffee table book and available online, showcases the unique opportunities for top performing incentive winners to engage with the people, places and cultures across Canada.

Encompassing all seasons and the top Canadian incentive destinations, the Canadian Signature Incentive Experience Collection represents the most in-demand experiences as determined through Destination Canada’s work in the incentive marketplace. The newly published book also includes a range of aspirational, pan-Canada events and activities that represent the shifting demographic of today’s incentive winners who are seeking authentic, transformational experiences to connect with the people and cultures of the places they travel.

Incentive planners attending the January 2020 Society of Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) Global Summit in Vancouver were treated to a soft-sided sneak preview of the book which will be released in March 2020. Used in promoting Canadian group experiences in international markets, the collection can be accessed via the Destination Canada  Business Events website , where a digital e-book version is also available.

www.businesseventscanada.ca/explore/canadian-signature-incentive-experiences

Wildlife Advisory Council Seeks Members

One of the key steps in implementing the Together for Wildlife strategy is the creation of a Minister’s Wildlife Advisory Council.

The role of Council will be to advise the Minister on implementation of the proposed strategy. As such it is not a decision-making body and will not replace the day-to-day business and consultations by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.

The Minister wishes membership to be drawn from a wide spectrum of First Nations, British Columbians, communities, interests and perspectives but to be non-representational and non-partisan. He has therefore invited interested persons who feel they are qualified and who wish to express their interest in being considered to submit applications by March 6 2020. Expressions of Interest need to demonstrate knowledge, commitment and engagement with provincial wildlife issues, an ability to work effectively in a team with a range of interests, familiarity with provincial governance processes and appreciation for the diverse values, issues and communities of interest associated with wildlife and habitat in British Columbia.

Further information about the Strategy and the role of the Advisory Council can be found at:  engage.gov.bc.ca/wildlifeandhabitat

Application Process & Timing

Interested individuals must provide:

Information must be e-mailed to  [email protected]  by March 6, 2020.

All applications will be treated in complete confidence.

Coastal Ferry Vision - Have Your Say!

The BC Ministry of Transportation is asking the public to provide their thoughts and ideas for the future of the coastal ferry system. What should the coastal ferry service look like in 20, 30 or 40 years and how should services be delivered to better support a desirable future? This insight will inform the vision that will shape the future of coastal ferry services in BC.

During this time, you can share your feedback by   completing the online questionnaire .

The opportunity to provide feedback will be open from February 2 – March 20, 2020.

engage.gov.bc.ca/coastalferries

Impact on Tourism Survey

In recent years, the Canadian travel and tourism industry has proven to be a strong and consistent engine of economic growth and job creation. However, while Canada’s numbers continue to grow, our market share globally is not keeping pace with other countries.

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) wants to hear from you and what challenges and policy-related issues your businesses are facing to help them advocate on your behalf at the national level. 

 

But TIAC needs your help. Decision-makers constantly ask them to provide specific examples of barriers or hurdles encountered by industry in carrying out their businesses. To help TIAC compile this information, they are asking you to complete their Impact on Tourism survey .

survey.constantcontact.com

Sasquatch Mountain Resort Praised for Response to Landslide

A landslide on January 31st blocked the road to Sasquatch Mountain Resort stranding hundreds of people.

Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General wrote a letter to Sasquatch Mountain Resort praising their response.

Minister Farnworth pointed out that at trying times, it is critical that public safety remains the top priority, and Sasquatch Mountain Resort set an excellent example for the tourism industry and British Columbians in general.

Read the Minister's letter here

bc.ctvnews.ca/people-trapped-on-sasquatch-mountain-by-landslide-return-home-safe-1.4795242

Coronavirus Update  

TIABC encourages all stakeholders to rely on official sources of information for updates on the coronavirus.

For Canada’s response to this issue, visit The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)’s online resources at:

www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection

Travellers are encouraged to read the PHAC travel advisory  here  and sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service  here  to stay connected with the Government of Canada in case of an emergency abroad or an emergency at home.

BC’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, advises that for the general public no special precautions are recommended beyond the usual measures to prevent infection from other common respiratory viruses during the winter period. You can find preventative information  here  on the PHAC’s website.

Source: www.destinationbc.ca/news/coronavirus-update

TIABC, Destination BC, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, and TIAC are all actively monitoring the coronavirus situation and will respond accordingly with further direction to tourism stakeholders.

What in the World in Travel Podcast

What In The World in Travel is a podcast created by the PATA Student Chapter at Capilano University. This unique communication platform has been an ambassador for important conversations about sustainable travel around the world, and has opened the student’s global exposure to industry leaders. The excitement continued this month with two new podcast episode releases which featured Robin Weber Pollack, the President of Journeys International, and Andrew Jones, the Founder of Sanctuary Resorts. 

Launched in September 2018, PATA Canada Vancouver Capilano University Student Chapter’s podcast features 30-minute interviews with travel professionals from around the world. The podcast is made possible through the ongoing support of Capilano University School of Tourism Management and the technical support of fellow classmates at the campus’ Capilano Radio Club. The podcast is available on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, and the Student Chapter’s website. 

Learn more about the PATA Capilano University Student Chapter on Instagram, Facebook, or at patacapu.com . 

Kelowna Set to Welcome 2020 Jr. All Native Basketball Tournament

Nearly 1,400 Indigenous youth athletes from across British Columbia will travel to Kelowna next month for the 2020 Jr. All Native Basketball Tournament (JANT). Recently held in Kitimat (2019) and Vancouver (2018), Tourism Kelowna is proud to support Syilx Basketball in bringing the tournament to Kelowna. JANT is BC’s largest youth basketball tournament and promotes wellness, sportsmanship, leadership, and Nation Pride amongst First Nations youth.

www.tourismkelowna.com/industry/industry-news-centre/post/kelowna-gets-set-to-welcome-the-2020-jr-all-native-basketball-tournament

BCFROA Rebrand

The BC Fishing Resorts and Outfitters Association (BCFROA) is excited to announce it has officially rebranded to the BC Fishing Tourism Association (BCFTA). The organization is hoping to expand their membership to include other stakeholders groups with an interest in fishing tourism, advocacy, and rural economic development. The full transition to the new name should be complete over the coming weeks.

Big White Listed in 10 Best Ski-In/Ski-Out Resorts Worldwide

Earlier this month, The Telegraph named Big White in its list of “hassle-free ski holidays: the 10 best ski-in/ski-out resorts where convenience is key,” as the “Best for getting to grips with powder.” In the article, Big White is lauded as “a good choice for powder hounds,” and praised for its “abundant snowfall”.

www.bigwhite.com/explore-big-white/blog/media/telegraph-names-big-white-list-10-best-ski-inski-out-resorts-worldwide

Tourism Vancouver Island and INFilm Sign MOU

At a recent screening of a new movie filmed on Vancouver Island, TVI and INFilm signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize their partnership and commitment to promote and develop film tourism across Vancouver Island. #FilmedonVancouverIsland

TVI Industry Update

Pour More BC Supports Local BC Wine

The BC Wine Institute's Pour More BC program was developed and incorporated into current marketing programming to align and support this goal. The program supports restaurants with current BC wine listings, encouraging growth through new listings, features and 100% BC menus. The program is proving to be highly successful with a continuous flow of new restaurants signing up and building out their BC wine portfolios. 

winebc.com/industry/pour-more-bc

WestJet to Add Dawson Creek-Calgary Route

WestJet recently announced that it will add new non-stop daily service between Dawson Creek and Calgary on WestJet Link beginning April 26. Increased air capacity to the North is great news for the region!

www.dawsoncreekmirror.ca/dawson-creek-news/westjet-to-offer-dc-daily-non-stop-flights-to-calgary

Air Canada Express Ads YLW-YYZ Service

Air Canada Express has a 767 planned for the Toronto-Kelowna route starting in July 2020. This will be the largest scheduled aircraft ever for YLW with over 280 seats.