C-19 BULLETIN - April 3, 2020
Even though I’m practicing social distancing, not shaking hands or hugging anyone, one thing that hasn’t changed in every conversation or encounter I’ve had with people in recent weeks is the first question we typically ask each other…”How are you?” Given the world we live in today, the difference is that the standard answer is no longer  good .
 
As the old expression says…if I had a nickel for every time someone answers by saying, I feel like I'm drinking from a fire-hose, treading water or barely hanging on …well you get the idea.
 
The fact is, most of our industry is  drinking from a fire-hose  and working feverishly in or on their business trying to salvage what exists today with some hope of survival once this pandemic is behind us. Aside from tourism operators, those on the front lines include the dozens of individual sector associations that are spending their waking hours addressing COVID-19 related concerns and presenting them to various levels of government for attention and action. This despite the challenges the sectors themselves face vis-à-vis lack of resources, reduced revenues and other factors.
 
This week, TIABC has been sharing specific examples of issues and recommendations that our sector partners are advocating for. In doing so, it’s become abundantly clear how unified the industry is and, in spite of individual sector needs, how well the industry is aligning its priorities to be more effective.
 
To that end, sectors have been meeting with multiple ministries (beyond Tourism, Arts and Culture - TAC) including Labour, Attorney General, Finance, Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development (FLNRORD), and Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation, among others, for the express purpose of resolving COVID-19 related issues that have arisen over the past few weeks.
 
For example, Guide Outfitters Association of BC, HeliCat Canada and Backcountry Lodges of BC Association all recently met with FLDRORD Minister Doug Donaldson to inform him how this crisis has impacted their respective sectors and what government can do to help.
 
While measures such as waiving fees for park use, deferring the herd planning process, and guaranteeing long-term tenure security, have all been put forward to the Province through TAC for consideration, they also require direct action by Minister Donaldson to move forward.
 
Using the recommendations that TIABC and some 40 sectors submitted to Minister Beare, Minister James and Premier Horgan as a basis for cross-ministry discussions, sector associations continue to be an integral part of the full court press to salvage BC’s visitor economy.
 
As another volatile week draws to a close, allow me to take the opportunity to acknowledge the exceptional work that dozens of TIABC’s sector partners are doing on behalf of the entire BC tourism and hospitality industry.
 
Individually and collectively, you have never been stronger, your value has never been higher, and you’ve never been more needed by your members and our entire industry than right now.
 
Stay well and keep your stick on the ice.
 
Walt Judas
CEO, TIABC
____________________________________________________________________________
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) Update

More information on how to apply is now available on  Canada.ca/coronavirus-cerb
  • Applications will open on April 6
  • People who have already applied for EI do not have to reapply for CERB
  • Those receiving the wage subsidy cannot qualify for the CERB

CERB application dates are tied to birthdates, as follows:

  • If you were born in the month of January, February or March, apply for CERB on Mondays
Your best day to apply is April 6

  • If you were born in the month of April, May, or June, apply for CERB on Tuesdays
Your best day to apply is April 7

  • If you were born in the month of July, August, or September, apply for CERB on Wednesdays
Your best day to apply is April 8

  • If you were born in the month of October, November, or December, apply for CERB on Thursdays
Your best day to apply is April 9

Any month - Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
____________________________________________________________________________
BC Ferries Service Levels Adjusted Due to COVID-19

Effective Saturday, April 4th, service level adjustments are as follows: 
  • Regular sailings on the Tsawwassen - Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen - Duke Point are reduced to four round trips a day from the present eight on both routes 
  • Four additional “cargo only” round trips will be provided on the Tsawwassen - Duke Point route, to ensure essential goods are transported to and from Vancouver Island 
  • Service on the Langdale – Horseshoe Bay route is reduced to six round trips a day from the present eight 
  • All service on the Horseshoe Bay - Nanaimo route is suspended 
  • All service on the Mill Bay - Brentwood Bay route is suspended 
  • For northern and mid-coast communities, service will continue to operate at the current off-peak (winter) service levels. The summer direct service from Bella Coola to Port Hardy will not be introduced at this time 
  • Changes will be coming to the Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands and Swartz Bay – Southern Gulf Islands service. Details are currently being finalized and will be announced soon. 

____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

COVID-19 Impact on Food Service Sector

A Restaurants Canada Survey has revealed that many jobs lost due to COVID-19 might not return, as nearly one in 10 restaurants have already closed permanently and many more might close within a month.

Restaurants Canada estimates that 800,000 food service jobs have already been lost nationwide due to COVID-19 - about 121,500 just in BC alone - and they might not return if current conditions continue.

Read the news release here .
____________________________________________________________________________
UNWTO Report:
Supporting Jobs and Economies Through Travel & Tourism
A Call for Action to Mitigate the Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 and Accelerate Recovery


The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has prepared a white paper to address the unprecedented global health emergency and the impact on the tourism industry. Travel and tourism requires urgent support and specific mitigation packages to sustain jobs and ensure capacity in marketing in the immediate aftermath of the emergency.

" Tourism's economic impact and social footprint
dwarfs that of any other economic sector ."

The recommendations are divided into three key areas:
1) Managing the crisis and mitigating the impact
2) Providing stimulus and accelerating recovery
3) Preparing for the future

The report contains 23 recommendations.

The white paper was prepared by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the private sector - the UNWTO Affiliate Members, Airports Council International (ACI), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).


The UNWTO website has additional COVID-19 resources including:

Healing Solutions for Tourism Challenges - a global call to reach the most disruptive startups, entrepreneurs and drive solutions to mitigate Covid-19 impacts on tourism through health, economic and destination management solutions.

Impact Assessment of the COVID-19 Outbreak on International Tourism - UNWTO estimates international tourist arrivals could decline by 20% to 30% in 2020. This would translate into a loss of $300 to $450 US billion in international tourism receipts.

UNWTO Global Tourism Crisis Committee - The UN World Tourism Organization hosted a high-level virtual meeting yesterday, bringing together key UN agencies, the chairs of its Executive Council and Regional Commissions, and private sector leaders. Tourism is the economic sector that has been hardest hit by COVID-19 and all participants accepted an invitation from the UNWTO Secretary-General to become part of a Global Tourism Crisis Committee, formed as UNWTO prepares to launch a global guide for recovery.
#StayAtHome #TravelTomorrow

____________________________________________________________________________
WorkSafe BC is actively monitoring and adjusting to the COVID-19 situation to determine how they can best support workers, providers and employers around the province.

As part of these efforts, they've created a  COVID-19 information and resources  section on their website, where you can find the following information to help you stay safe at work and access WorkSafeBC services.

  • Workplace health and safety
  • Industry information
  • How to access WorkSafeBC services
  • How to stay informed

____________________________________________________________________________
COVID-19 Impact on BC Local Governments

The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) has been monitoring and assessing the impact of COVID-19 on BC communities and local government operations and finances. Last week, UBCM reached out to a wide of range of local governments to gather information on the immediate and projected long-term financial pressures facing local governments, their residents, and local businesses. 

Local governments identified a significant number of financial challenges and pressures including:

  • The loss of variable revenue including facility, transit, recreation, development, parking, hotel tax, and gaming revenue;
  • The potential need to re-evaluate capital spending, including shelving discretionary projects or diverting funds from capital projects to operations;
  • The decline in investment income from invested funds and from any internal borrowing required to sustain operations;
  • Additional costs incurred by local governments in supporting vulnerable populations, implementing provincial orders, and operating Emergency Operation Centers;
  • Growing public and business community pressure to re-evaluate proposed or recently passed property tax increases;
  • Increasing pressure to enact tax relief measures for residents and businesses including waiving utility penalties, deferring utility payment deadlines, and/or deferring property tax deadlines;
  • Potential inability to meet looming financial deadlines including financial statements, annual reports, and SOFI reports;
  • Anticipated delay in the completion of capital projects, with the concern that federal and provincial funding will be taken away if deadlines are not met; 
  • Assessing whether they should and/or could use accumulated surplus reserves and other restricted reserve funds to meet operational needs;
  • The potential need to access Municipal Finance Authority borrowing for shortfalls in revenue.
  • As required by legislation, local governments do not have the ability to run deficits.

____________________________________________________________________________



Dream of Later

Destination BC's newest video explains that for now we pause, stay in, and dream of later. The more we do today, the sooner we can all #exploreBC again.

Watch the Dream of Later video
_________________________________________________________________
Our industry is full of innovative, caring and helpful people.
Share your stories with us and we will share them here in our daily bulletin.

Ocean Wise 
Marine Mammal Rescue Centre Shares Two Good News Stories!


It was a happy and emotional send off for Archie, a male California sea lion who was released back to the ocean this week after being rescued and rehabilitated by Marine Mammal Rescue Centre staff over the winter. He was discovered last November suffering from horrific injuries from a crossbow and gunshot wounds.

It’s been a busy few days for the Marine Mammal Rescue team, especially given the realities of COVID-19 on staffing and operations. While preparing for Archie’s release this weekend, skeleton crews from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Marine Mammal Rescue were dispatched to Trail Islands to take advantage of the opportunity to help an entangled sea lion, with extra assistance from the Vancouver Police Dept. Marine Unit.

The Ocean Wise Marine Mammal Rescue Centre is a not-for-profit hospital for sick, injured or orphaned marine mammals.

____________________________________________________________________________
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.