C-19 BULLETIN - September 25, 2020
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CEO Message
Do you ever wonder why television series like Breaking Bad or Ozark are so compelling? My theory is that aside from solid acting, interesting characters and a fantasy view into a macabre world most of us will never know…the action, intrigue, suspense and unexpected curveballs the writers and cast deliver each week entice the viewer to watch every episode to try to figure out how the storyline unfolds.
If you’re a news junkie or political pundit (along with a Netflix aficionado), watching these shows might be akin to viewing Dr. Henry’s daily briefings or the activities of politicians in the legislature. Every day there seems to be a new twist or turn that leaves us guessing what the next day will bring.
At the same time, I’m convinced that no one predicted two months ago that British Columbians would be going to the polls on October 24th, in the middle of a pandemic no less. The 2020 storyline just took another unexpected detour.
Next month voters will decide who deserves the right to govern our province for another few years. And like every election, there is an incredible amount at stake particularly for the suffering visitor economy. In many conversations this week, colleagues have been asking, “Which party will best help tourism and hospitality businesses and workers recover from this crisis”?
The short answer is no one can say with 100 percent certainty. Moreover, all we can go on is what each of the parties has demonstrated over the past couple of terms or importantly, what they promise to deliver if they form the next government. To that end, it behooves all of us to ask the right questions and actively engage our local candidates to discuss the issues.
By way of example…”How will a (party) government support the tourism and hospitality sector, particularly to keep employees in the workforce and businesses solvent? Or, “How will a (party) government prepare and work with its federal counterparts to strategically and safely re-open international borders in a timely fashion?”
I know there are dozens of additional questions we can ask candidates of each party. In fact, next week TIABC will be introducing its latest election toolkit to equip you with information and some sample questions to ask the individuals on the ballot in your community.
While it was important in previous years, never has there been a more critical time for the tourism and hospitality sector to be among the top platform priorities for each political party. Let’s make sure our individual and collective voices are heard during the four short weeks of the 2020 election campaign.
In the meantime, I’ll gladly forego season 3 of Ozark in favour of the unfolding drama on CPAC...at least until the election is over.
Walt Judas
CEO, TIABC
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Without Federal Government Support,
Outlook for Air Transport in British Columbia is Bleak
The travel lockdown we are experiencing due to COVID-19 has been devastating. British Columbia’s air service was down more than 93% in April and May 2020, and by 75 to 85% since then. The sector could take years to recover.
To assist airports, maintain the integrity of the system and support the well-being of our communities, the government of Canada must take the following actions:
- Extend airport rent relief until revenues return to pre-COVID levels.
- Provide interest-free long-term loans, particularly to smaller airports that do not pay rent.
- Allow municipally owed airports to access CEWS and other federal relief programs.
Read the full article at:
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TIABC in the News
BC's Struggling Tourism Industry Will Press Recovery Agenda During Election
“We’re a $20.5-billion part of the economy, and represent one of the largest sectors in the province,” said Judas, adding the industry contributes $1.7 billion to B.C.’s tax coffers.
“So what we asked for was certainly not out of line.”
Read the full article at:
Tourism Industry Could Only Try to Make the Best of Things this Summer
With fewer visitors this year, tourism industry asking for continued support.
Recovery Plan Welcome Tourism Boost, but More Support Needed
"While it’s still well below the $680 million originally proposed for the industry by the Tourism Industry Association of BC, Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSAA) president Christopher Nicolson said that many tourism-related businesses can still capitalize on other components of the recovery plan, namely the $300 million in small-business recovery grants."
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Leger Weekly Summary
COVID-19 and Mask Wearing
- Over 8 in 10 Canadians (83%) say governments should make it mandatory to wear masks when in indoor public spaces such as public transit, restaurants or grocery stores. This is a significant increase from when we last asked this question in mid-July where it registered at 67%.
- Regionally, support for mandatory mask wearing is highest in ON, QC, and MB/SK at mid to high 80s and lowest in Atlantic and AB (low to mid 70s).
- In the US, 68% support making mask wearing in indoor spaces mandatory.
- 87% of Canadians agree that wearing a mask protects others and is a civic responsibility compared to 21% who feel it is an infringement on their personal freedom. In the US, 43% feel it is an infringement on their personal freedoms.
- A similar proportion (88%) of Canadians are opposed to anti-mask demonstrations that have occurred periodically around the country. In the US, 31% support the anti-mask protests.
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With support for mandatory mask usage noted above, when we re-asked the incidence of relaxing protective health measures, we found that even more Canadians say they are not practicing at least one of the six core measures tested (63% this week vs. 57% last week).
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Social distancing, always wearing a mask in indoor public places, and frequent handwashing are the three most commonly identified measures not being practiced as often compared to a month ago.
COVID Tracking
- 69% of Canadians feel we are likely to go into a lockdown similar to March-April (up 4 points from last week).
- 83% of Canadians expect a second wave of the virus to hit Canada and almost half of the population (48%) feel it’s already started. This is up 15 points from last week.
- Interestingly, in the US, only 22% feel they are already in the second wave of the pandemic.
- The self-assessed mental health of Canadians is unchanged at 40% saying they are in Excellent or Very Good mental health.
- Fear of contracting the virus is down slightly this week from the significant jump last week, but still sits at over six in ten (61%).
- Fear of contracting the virus is highest in BC (72%) and lowest in Quebec (50%).
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There has been a decline in the number of Canadians who feel the worst is behind us (20% from 26% last week) and an increase in the proportion who feel the worst is still to come (50%, up from 45% last week).
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The sentiment the worst is still to come is highest in Manitoba/Saskatchewan (60%) and BC (58%).
- Satisfaction with government—all levels—has been tracking downward, albeit very gradually over the past few weeks. The provinces sit at 73% overall (down from 83% mid-June), the federal government is at 70% (from 79% mid-June), and municipal govt.’s are at 69% (down from 79% mid-June).
- Regionally, Quebec leads at 80%, followed by BC and Ontario at 74% and 73% respectively. Manitoba and Saskatchewan are both at 62% and Alberta is at 57% total satisfied.
Read the full report here
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Extension Granted for Pop-Up Patios this Fall & Winter in Vancouver
Vancouver City Council approved a motion – Extending Pop-Up Patios this Fall & Winter and Making Pop-Up Patios a Part of Every Summer in Vancouver, unanimously.
TIABC and the Metro Vancouver Tourism and Hospitality Industry Response and Recovery Task Force wrote to Vancouver's City Council, on September 15th, in support of this motion.
You can view all of TIABC's COVID-19 correspondence on our website at:
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Tourism Congress 2020
It’s time for the 2020 TIAC Tourism Congress.
Traditionally, TIAC’s Tourism Congress is an in-person event that brings together tourism operators from coast-to-coast-to-coast. But this year, it is going virtual. Join in on November 17 & 18.
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TIAC President & CEO Discusses Federal Advocacy in Interview With CSAE Magazine
The Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) interviewed TIAC's Charlotte Bell in a recent edition of their Association magazine.
Charlotte Bell, the president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, shares how she manages the pressing challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has created for her association.
"Now, with more than three months and countless calls, emails, letters, meetings, presentations, industry surveys, webinars and media interviews behind us, we’ve managed to influence a number of government support programs to help our industry get through the first part of the crisis. We’ve collaborated with other tourism-related organizations and formed coalitions to amplify our message, which has been key in moving things forward."
Read the full article at:
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A Note of Encouragement
Today, while perusing social media feeds, we discovered a welcome tweet from Backcountry Lodges of BC, which was very much appreciated.
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Manage your Online Presence: Tripadvisor and HelloBC.com
September 30th and January 13th
Walk through the process step-by-step to claim, create, and optimize your business listings on Tripadvisor and HelloBC.com.
Get Your Local Business on Google Search and Maps
October 7th and January 20th
Explore Google My Business and connect with customers through Google Search and Maps. Get hands-on help creating or updating your business profile in this Grow with Google Webinar.
Get the Most Out of Your Website
October 14the and January 27th
Whether you’ve had a website for 10 years or you’re just getting started, discover how to create a search-friendly website that drives user action and supports your goals.
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October 2nd
October 7th
October 26th-27th
September 21st-25th
November 17th-18th
TIABC AGM
November 25
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TIABC's C-19 Bulletin is published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
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.
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