The federal government today announced that “fully vaccinated” Canadian travellers will no longer require mandatory COVID-19 hotel quarantine upon arrival in Canada. Come July, the exemption will apply to Canadian citizens and permanent residents flying back home, according to Intergovernmental Minister Dominic LeBlanc.

Fully vaccinated individuals, including permanent residents and essential workers will be able to cross the border without having to stay in a government-approved hotel, LeBlanc explained during a news conference.

Federal Health Minister Patty Hadju said that these new measures are being considered as the first step in a phased approach to easing travel restrictions. She said Canadians will need to have received their second dose 14 days or more prior to their arrival home. The relaxation of rules does not apply to tourists.

Following the announcement, several travel agencies expressed their support while the air industry associations said more changes were needed for a full rebound to take shape. TIABC, TIAC and several of our sector partners had been advocating for changes to travel regulations for months.

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, also said that she was looking at ensuring Canada gets close to 75% of eligible people fully vaccinated before she would consider advising looser border restrictions for tourists and business travellers who aren’t Canadians or permanent residents.

Click here to read more.

Yesterday, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), along with TIABC and its provincial/territorial counterparts, announced the launch of a new campaign to call on the federal government to plan for reopening the Canada-U.S. border, which has been closed for nearly 15 months. The campaign focuses on getting Canadian decision-makers to acknowledge the urgent need and to commit to a date to open the border before the summer tourism season is lost.

Earlier this month, the Expert Advisory Panel to the federal government on COVID-19 Testing and Screening made a powerful case for changing the travel policy, saying that it should be revamped to reflect the significant progress made on the pandemic. This included scrapping the mandatory hotel quarantine system and changing the cross-border travel policy.

Public calls for the reopening have been steadily growing on both sides of the border in recent weeks. TIAC, TIABC and others are asking the government to take urgent action on this issue, so that Canadian tourism operators and businesses have the ability to plan.

TIAC will be hosting a number of Parliamentary and Congressional panels in the coming weeks to discuss border reopening.

Click here for more information on this campaign.

BC’s tourism minister is expressing confidence in the province’s vaccination plan and what it could mean for U.S. tourists coming to Canada.

Hon. Melanie Mark says the decision concerning the borders is up to the federal government and will be based on vaccinations. But that vaccination plan is further ahead than expected.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday the federal plan for the land border crossing will focus on “fully vaccinated” Canadians when the time comes to begin relaxing travel restrictions. Currently, the U.S.-Canada border is closed for non-essential travel until at least June 21st.

British Columbia’s, and specifically Metro Vancouver and Victoria’s tourism sector relies heavily on U.S. travellers.

Click here for full story.

The Tourism Industry Association of BC supports TIAC’s call, saying there needs to be a plan to open the land border and travel overall.

“If we don’t see international borders open soon, it will be devastating for many, many more businesses,” said CEO Walt Judas, adding the land border closure has been especially hard for B.C. businesses.

“We can’t afford to have a second year (of closures),” he told NEWS 1130. “It’s vital that we figure out a way how to open the border and do it sooner than later or we’ll see many more businesses fall by the wayside.”

Judas would like to see what the federal government is going to base its decision on, such as what vaccination rate we’ll need to see or if rapid testing will be a factor.

Click here for the full interview.

Yesterday, TIABC Board Director and Sr. VP for Big White Ski Resort, Michael J. Ballingall spoke with CBC's Gloria Macarenko. He reinforced that summer is crucial for BC's tourism industry - and some tourism businesses want the US-Canada border re-opened as soon as possible.

Michael also reminded viewers that the re-opening of the border can represent business growth. The largest visitor economy to BC is right next door - the US market. There is a pent up demand for both Canadians and Americans to travel again once they have received their 2nd dose, and re-opening the border seems to be the most natural next step in recovery for the BC tourism industry and the overall economy.

Click here for full interview.

As restrictions begin to lift in some parts of the country, restaurants are dusting off their patios or reopening their dining rooms and calling back staff — but not all employees are returning.

In May, there were still 364,000 fewer people working in the accommodation and food services sector compared to February 2020, according to Statistics Canada's labour force survey. Economists expect that many of the lost job positions will return as restrictions lift, but filling them is the new challenge.

Before COVID-19, the restaurant sector was already struggling to fill more than 60,000 vacant positions, according to industry group Restaurants Canada, and it says the pandemic has exacerbated the situation.

Here in BC, indoor dining was most recently shut down March 29. The closure lasted for two months. But there is also some optimism in the industry, that the increased competition for workers could lead to positive changes to employment conditions.

Click here for full story.

Destination BC continues to monitor BC's current views on travel and tourism, as well as tracking travel behaviour intentions in order to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism industry.

Through research conducted by Insights West, the following updates identify results and trends over time:

Click here for the full report.

With a federal ban on cruising until 2022, the Cruise Supply Chain is essentially “in lockdown” until Spring 2022. We need to collaborate to have the entire $4.3 Billion Canadian cruise supply chain of companies survive and thrive when cruise returns in 2022 through “product preservation’” including tour operators, transportation companies and experience providers.

If you are in or connected to the cruise sector, TIAC is asking that you complete a confidential survey by Friday June 11. They will use the survey results to provide information back to you, compiled at a provincial, regional and national level. If you are a cruise tour operator, we encourage you to send this email and the survey link to your major bus suppliers, major tour attractions and tour partners, so that we can have a complete picture of the impact of no cruise in Canada for 2020 and 2021.

Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ST7XCKP

Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC), in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport, has delivered $5 million through the BC Indigenous Tourism Recovery Fund to support 140 Indigenous tourism operators across the province. Funding has helped mitigate the impacts of the global pandemic and bridge businesses towards a recovery plan, as well as maintain or create nearly 1,200 jobs.

While many companies have been impacted by COVID-19, Indigenous businesses have faced additional economic barriers resulting from difficulty accessing funding and operating in remote locations. Following a recommendation by the Tourism Task Force to introduce a dedicated program that meets the needs of these operators, ITBC and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport launched the BC Indigenous Tourism Fund, which offered non-repayable grant contributions of up to $45,000 for Indigenous businesses across BC.

Click here to read more.

The impacts of COVID-19 continues to have devastating affects on business. Through a recent news release, BCA Tours stated, "this is not the exit plan that was originally drawn up when starting and building up BCA Tours to the company it was at its height in 2018-2019. We are choosing not to view the last 1.5 years as negative, but rather an opportunity to reflect on the huge success that BCA Tours was, the incredible people we were lucky enough to meet, and the amazing adventures we were able to partake in.

Their website states they are currently not taking any more bookings for Summer 2021 until there is further clarity on their ability to operate safely and responsibly in the upcoming hiking season. This news emphasizes the ongoing challenges and issues businesses and industry sectors continue to face.

Click here for information on BCA Tours.

While a trip to the interior is not in the cards these days, non-essential travel within our region is allowed under current provincial guidelines.

Staff with the Tourism Bowen Island Visitor Services have been telling people since November (as per provincial guidelines) to please put off coming to Bowen during high COVID-19 case counts. Now, with regional leisure travel restored, it’s slipping into its destination management role.

While the organization is working on reassuring local residents, they recognize a nervousness at the prospect of visitor arrivals. They invite anyone with concerns or questions to come down to the visitors’ centre to chat. Their objectives are to responsibly manage visitors, find washrooms, find the public trails, public beaches, connect people from a community economic development perspective, and connect people with restaurants and shops and activities.

Click here for the complete story.

Join Indigenous Tourism BC for an inspiring and interactive food & beverage workshop in celebration of National Indigenous History Month.

In partnership with Destination BC and sponsored by Daily Hive, you will be guided through an exploration of the rich history and cultures of Indigenous cuisine and wine in BC. Meet Paul Natrall, a second-generation chef and owner of Vancouver’s successful Indigenous food truck, Mr. Bannock, and Ryan Widdup, manager and sommelier of the Okanagan’s picturesque Indigenous World Winery. Viewers will learn how to make authentic bannock from the comfort of their homes and learn about the history and practices behind Indigenous wine.

Click here for more information and to register.

The CITAP 2021 AGM will be held electronically via Zoom Webinar on Wednesday, June 23rd. Online registration through Zoom is now open. There is no cost to attend the meeting.

Date: Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Time: 10:00 - 10:30 am (PT) Registration / 10:30 - 11:30 am (PT) AGM

As per last year’s virtual AGM, we will also host the 2021 CITAP Directorship Candidate Campaign by Zoom Webinar. All candidates have an opportunity to make their campaign speech – why they would like to be a board member; what and how they would like to contribute to membership. There will also be a Q&A period at the end of all candidates’ speech.

When: Tuesday, June 15th 10:00 AM Pacific Time (1 hour)

Where: Zoom Webinar

Click here for more information and how to register.

TIABC recognizes that many of our members have been supporting our organization's advocacy efforts for a very long time. In this new feature, we will be showcasing those businesses, associations, organizations and DMOs that been TIABC members for more than 10 years.

With the support of the mining community and the federal and provincial governments, the Britannia Beach Historical Society (now known as the Britannia Mine Museum Society) opened the Britannia Mine Museum in 1975. The Museum was established to preserve the material and social history of mining in British Columbia and to educate the public about mining.

The Museum promotes mining awareness through entertaining, experiential education programs, historic collection preservation and insightful public engagement. The museum also provides visitors with a blend of experience, serving as a tourist destination, an adventure attraction and education venue that allows guests to leave with a better understanding of mining in BC; past, present and future.

Click here to learn more about the Britannia Mine Museum.

As an industry that continues to face enormous challenges during COVID-19, every once in awhile it's important to share a laugh, a good story, a beautiful image or an interesting anecdote to provide moments of levity during this most difficult time. Feel free to share your photos, etc. with TIABC to share in our C-19 Bulletin.

Join Tourism Vancouver, Thursday, June 10 | 9:00am - 10:30am | Online via Zoom

As we work to rebuild the tourism sector, social procurement is a tool that can help to meet labour needs and create positive impact in your community. Explore how you can look to your supply chain for opportunities to include social enterprises: purpose-driven business with diverse and inclusive hiring practices. By working with a social enterprise, you help create impact and you will be able to access new avenues for employees.

Participants learn how to consider social procurement as a way to create impact in their communities and find partners to solve challenges for their businesses.

Check here for more information and to register.

Join ABLE BC for a free webinar on Wednesday, June 16 at 10:00 am PST for this up to date information on BC's liquor liability.

BC’s new no-fault auto regime creates a “disincentive” for a patron to sue you. Does that mean insurance should be cheaper and easier to get? Join Lorne Folick (Dolden Wallace Folick LLP) to discuss the impact of of the no-fault auto regime on your liquor business.

If you cannot attend live, a recording will be sent out to everyone registered.

To learn more about the application of BC’s no-fault auto regime to commercial liquor licensees, download this article by Lorne Folick and Ouran Li.

Check here for more information and to register.

Tuesday, June 15, 2021 from 1:00PM - 2:15PM PDT

Vaccine rollout has continued to accelerate across Canada, and with it comes growing optimism about a return to a semblance of normalcy. Nowhere is the excitement greater than in the tourism and hospitality industry. However, employers are asking how this new weapon in the fight against COVID-19 might impact their workplaces, including whether employers can mandate their employees to take the vaccine.

The BC Hotel Association (BCHA) in partnership with Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSAA) and go2HR have engaged Ryan Anderson, Partner at Mathews Dinsdale & Clark LL P to help address these questions. Ryan will provide an overview of the requirements and key OH&S, privacy, human rights, labour and employment considerations for the potential implementation of a COVID-19 vaccination policy, mandatory or otherwise, where one is warranted.

Check here for more information and to register.

Presented by Destination Canada’s Business Events team, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Thursday, June 17th, 2021 at 10:00 am PDT

While we wait for a time when we can welcome back international business event visitors, we are working with CBSA and IRCC to ensure that we are ready, prepared and knowledgeable on CBSA's International Events and Convention Services Program that is available to our clients.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), in collaboration with other government departments and agencies, has developed the International Events and Convention Services Program (IECSP). . These benefits may apply to international events hosted in our destinations.

Through this webinar, you will learn about relevant Canadian border-related requirements for international events, facilitating the future arrival of attendees and their accompanying goods, thus supporting your sales efforts with international clients. You will also connect with key coordinators of the program and benefit from their free and expert advice.

Check here for more information and to register.

Learn more at:

Self-Guided Webinars 

Developing Winter / Shoulder Season Tourism Toolkit

Made up of six learning modules, this webinar will give you actionable advice on how to define your strategy, develop products and experiences, build collaborative partnerships and more to boost seasonal tourism in your business or region.

Winter / Shoulder Season Consumer Demand Research Report

Get access to free tools and strategies to grow your business and tourism in your region at the ECE content hub: https://ecehub.tiac-aitc.ca/en/