C-19 BULLETIN - May 29, 2020
Tourism Week Key Message to Locals

A note taped to an Alberta car in Revelstoke read:

"In spite of news reports, the majority of citizens here understand that our economy depends on the influx of visitors year round and our businesses depend on people like you. All the best in your travels. We hope to see you back when this is all over."
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Raise a Glass This Weekend for Tourism & Hospitality!



Thank you to Tourism Abbotsford for sharing this idea wth TIABC.


This has been an especially difficult year to try and celebrate Tourism Week, but it is important to stop and share a toast to our industry, our partners, our friends and all the tourism businesses that host visitors and residents.


Here's to you BC Tourism & Hospitality Industry!
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TIABC Talks About the Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism with CBC Radio

Walt Judas joined Gloria Marcarenko today on CBC's Radio One to discuss the cruise ship ban and what's needed for the tourism industry to recover.


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Cruise Ship Industry Stalled Until October 31st

Today, the Minister of Transport, Honourable Marc Garneau, announced updated measures pertaining to cruise ships and passenger vessels in Canadian waters.

  • Cruise ships with overnight accommodations allowed to carry more than 100 persons are prohibited from operating in Canadian waters until October 31st.

  • As of July 1st, all other passenger vessels must follow provincial, territorial, local and regional health authority requirements for timelines and processes to resume operations.



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Industry Leaders Call on Federal Government to Streamline Rules and Encourage Canadian Travel; Launch Canadian Tourism Roundtable

Leaders of the Canadian tourism and travel sectors today announced the formation of the Canadian Tourism Roundtable ("Roundtable"), a coalition of industry representatives committed to restoring the Canadian tourism and travel sector in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Roundtable is calling on all levels of government to work together to streamline and clarify rules around travel in order to ensure safe, accessible and timely travel for Canadians this summer.

This sector, which supports 1.8 million workers across the country, has been devastated by the pandemic and urgent action must be taken to prevent long-lasting economic and job impacts. Through the Roundtable, leaders of Canada's tourism and travel sector – airports, airlines, hotels, chambers of commerce, and others – have come together to restart the sector smoothly and safely and are committed to working together with all levels of government to restore the Canadian tourism industry to its potential.

For many Canadian businesses in the sector, re-opening the summer travel season is critical for their survival. Roundtable members recently wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau requesting a meeting to discuss appropriate, more targeted and urgent measures to get the sector back to work and to encourage Canadians to safely explore our country this summer, so the season is not entirely lost for travelers or the industry.

Working with all levels of government, the Canadian Tourism Roundtable is confident it can develop and coordinate a comprehensive plan that is highly focused on public safety, to streamline the rules with the end-to-end traveler experience in mind, and to enable Canadians to connect with family and friends across the country once again, while simultaneously restoring some of Canada's all-important summer tourism season.

Download the media release here or visit:
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Sea to Sky Gondola Re-opens (again)

After reopening exclusively to passholders last Friday, May 22nd, the Sea to Sky Gondola is now offering online ticket sales to non-passholders.

Sea to Sky Gondola will be opening to the public with new COVID-19 safety protocols and reduced capacity. Prior to visiting and entering the parking lot, guests must purchase a ticket online. The online transaction supports British Columbia’s new COVID-19 protocols limiting unnecessary physical contact on-site.

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Operation Guidelines for Sport Fishing Businesses

The Sport Fishing Institute (SFI) developed and submitted operating and safety guidelines for sport fishing businesses to resume operation for phase 2 and 3 of  BC's Restart Plan .

WorksafeBC has now reviewed the draft  BC Tidal Waters Charter, Guide, and Lodge Operations – Covid19 Guidelines . The  May 2020 version  provides guidelines and recommendations that may be modified due to changing conditions or additional review from the Provincial Health Office but is suitable for business operation locally now and in preparation for Phase 3 activities.

And, provided proper safety and behaviour guidelines are followed, consider getting out on the water locally now and plan for fishing activities in BC this summer. 

Guidelines for fishing outings are posted on the Province of BC:  Fishing and Hunting Covid-19 Updates.

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Destination BC Messaging Guide
May 28 - June 3

To support industry, Destination BC provides weekly messaging guidance and other materials to industry so we can collectively work together to "plank the curve" of the virus infection rate.

In addition to messaging for Destination BC, guidance is provided for RDMOs, CDMOs, sector associations and businesses.

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Message from Anthony Everett,
Tourism Vancouver Island

As we mark a subdued Tourism Week during this challenging time, our Board of Directors and service team at Tourism Vancouver Island would like to applaud and thank you, our stakeholders, as you continue to both give back and strive forward in the face of adversity. We cannot afford to lose Vancouver Island’s tourism industry and I hope through collaboration with both you and our industry partners, we can forge the road to recovery together.

We know the struggle continues for many, many tourism businesses in our region and that the heartbreaking reality is some will not re-open. We want to hear from as many of you as possible. There is an ongoing opportunity to enter the  Vancouver Island Coastal Tourism Resiliency Program  at any time and at whatever point in your journey to recovery you find you need a little (or a lot) of help.

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Resident Sentiment Survey

Destination Canada regularly seeks to understand the level of ‘welcome’ that residents of each province/region are feeling towards visitors.

Approximately~1,800 responses for the resident sentiment questions are collected from Canadians on a weekly basis through an online methodology.

D ownload the report here
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Walt Judas is pleased to be joining the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce on June 2nd:

Find the call details here:
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Tourism Businesses Keeping Visitors and Staff Safe

Tourism Businesses throughout our province take safety very seriously, and are adapting quickly to the new requirements for social distancing and other safety protocols. Sector associations are working to develop guidelines with WorkSafeBC (see our TIABC website for a list of Tourism & Hospitality Best Practice Protocols). See below for a couple of examples:
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Staff at the Pemberton Valley Lodge disinfect the luggage carts.
Tinhouse Brewing (Port Coquitlam) prepares for social distancing.
Osoyoos Visitor Centre to Reopen  June 1   

The Destination Osoyoos Visitor Centre will reopen to the public Monday, June 1st.
The Visitor Centre closed March 18th in response to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. 
In order to best ensure the health and safety of its guests and staff, the Osoyoos Visitor Centre has established the following measures in accordance with WorkSafeBC guidelines, which will remain in effect until further notice:

• Plexiglass shields have been installed at the staff counter 
• A maximum of 10 guests will be admitted into the centre at all times
• A minimum distance of 2 metres (approx. 6 feet) must be maintained between guests and staff at all times
• The centre’s brochure rack has been relocated and rearranged to facilitate safe distancing requirements
• Signage has been posted outside and throughout the interior to remind guests of distancing requirements
• Hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed at the entrance and inside the Centre
• Washroom capacity is limited to 2 guests at all times.

As well, a rigorous sanitization program will be carried out daily. All staff have been trained to adhere to, and to inform guests about, Visitor Centre health-and-safety guidelines. 

For more information, please visit:  www.destinationosoyoos.com/osoyoos-visitors-centre
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$300,000 in funding released to businesses in every tourism region of BC

With COVID-19 drastically altering the travel landscape, tourism businesses across Canada have experienced unprecedented contraction and loss of revenues. Indigenous Tourism BC’s Emergency Relief Fund redirects $300,000 earmarked for development and marketing towards assisting Indigenous businesses stay afloat and pivot towards a long-term recovery plan.

To date, ITBC received applications from every tourism region in the province and is granting 71 businesses with emergency relief dollars.

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Destination BC Webinars

Destination BC is hosting a series of webinars to support BC’s tourism industry on the road to recovery. This series supports response, recovery, and resilience from COVID-19. The Road to Recovery webinar series has reached over 1,700 participants since launching on May 12.

Virtual experiences bring the sights and sounds of your experience, attraction, or destination to your visitors so that they can enjoy what you have to offer from the comforts of their home.
Thursday June 4 @ 2:00 pm PT (90 minutes)

Watch recordings of previous webinars:
  • May 12: Business After Re-opening: A Look at the Post-closure Traveller | View recording here
  • May 14: Essential Strategies to Innovate your Visitor Experience and Offerings | View recording here
  • May 19: Planning for Doors Open | View recording here
  • May 21: Managing Expectations and Reputation through Effective Communication | View recording here
  • May 26: Using Social Media to Support Re-opening | View recording here

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Small Business BC Webinars

Small Business BC are hosting a series of specialized free webinars to tackle the challenges faced by COVID-19. The webinars are geared at equipping businesses in our province with the skills and knowledge they need to survive the new realities of our COVID economy.

June 1 @ 1:00pm PT

Friday June 5 @ 10:30 am PT

To view previous webinars, visit:
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Feel free to send us your ideas on what information would be valuable for TIABC to share through our COVID-19 Bulletin going forward. Drop us a line at info@tiabc.ca.