C-19 BULLETIN - April 21, 2021

CEO Message

Since Premier Horgan’s announcement on Monday, my inbox has been steadily growing by the minute. Not only have I received multiple media requests for interviews and information, but members have reached out with stories on the impact of the impending travel order, as well as with endless questions that we’re seeking answers to.
 
Rest assured, we hear your concerns and are working round-the-clock on your behalf to ensure you’re well informed and better equipped to deal with the additional challenges our sector faces in the days ahead.
 
The TIABC team, together with our industry partners at Destination BC, Indigenous Tourism BC, BC Regional Tourism Secretariat, BC Hotel Association, and BC Destination Marketing Organization Association have been diligently sifting through the questions and working with the Province to find answers and provide information that will be critical to tourism operators vis-à-vis the impending order and subsequent actions businesses, residents, visitors and government need to take as of Friday.
 
Here is a sample of some of the most frequently asked questions in advance of the order:

  1. What is the definition (i.e. boundary) of a health authority?
  2. How is 'essential' versus 'non-essential' travel defined?
  3. Can I visit my vacation home or cottage?
  4. As a campground, hotel, resort, golf course...do I cancel reservations/bookings for people beyond my health authority?
  5. How will the order be enforced?
  6. What is an individual business’ responsibility to enforce or comply with the order?
  7. What recreational activities are acceptable and where (e.g. beach volleyball)?
  8. What is the official date the order will be lifted?
  9. How will the order apply/be enforced for vacation rentals (Airbnb, VRBO)?
  10. Who can people contact or where can they find contact details (e.g. phone #) and more information for organizations such as BC Parks and BC Ferries?
  11. Will there be compensation for lost business?

To be fair, there any many more questions that we may not have the answers to within the next 48 hours but we’ll get the answers as quickly as possible. Know too that the partners I referenced above are working on a toolkit that provides instructions, a Q&A, and other resources for industry to access to communicate with customers and other stakeholders starting at week's end.
 
In our discussions with government, we’re learning more about the proposed ‘travel ban’ and are working on clear messaging and joint communications to convey to multiple audiences. As alluded to earlier, the Minister of Public Safety, Hon. Mike Farnworth will be implementing an official order under the Emergency Program Act on Friday to last until after the Victoria Day long weekend on May (25th).
 
Critical to the next five weeks ahead, we all need to work together to encourage our families, friends, neighbours, colleagues, customers and others to follow the orders and help us safeguard our summer so we’ll again be able to travel throughout our magnificent province in the not-too-distance future.
 
Please know that TIABC remains at your service to support our industry through these extremely difficult and unpredictable days. As always, do not hesitate to reach out should you have any questions or comments.

Walt Judas
TIABC CEO
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Tourism in the News

BC tourism industry supports ban on non-essential travel if it means having a summer
According to the Tourism Industry Association of B.C., the province's tourism sector has lost billions of dollars since the pandemic began. “What’s lost is lost, our worry is in the absence of fiscal support measures, we may not be left with a whole lot more, even when this pandemic is over,” said Vivek Sharma, chair of the association.

BC Budget 2021: Supporting tourism recovery
TIABC CEO Walt Judas joined Global TV to discusses the plan to help the pandemic-devastated tourism industry recover, even as BC takes a firmer stance on travel.

BC tourism operators wait, and worry, for details on travel ban
Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry of B.C., said he supports the restrictions “as long as it’s only until the May long weekend” and the summer season is salvaged.
But he noted not all of his members are on board. “We’ve had a lot of emails. But mostly it has been questions” because of the uncertainty of who can book where.

Tourism industry says money needed now as BC’s proposed budget unveiled
Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of B.C., says while the $100 million in new funding is welcome, particularly for large operators that haven’t received any assistance yet, the industry is looking for access to that recovery contingency fund as restrictions remain in place and as the Canada-U.S. border continues to be closed.
“We’ve been hit very hard, and we’ll be hit even harder with the impending travel restrictions,” Judas said of the measures announced on Tuesday the budget was unveiled.

BC’s struggling tourism sector gets $120 million in new funding
Walt Judas, chief executive at the Tourism Industry Association of BC, welcomed the $120 million in new funding. “Particularly the assistance for major anchor attractions, because many of them have not received any funding, either at the federal or provincial level.
“We don’t yet know the details of how much that is going to be or how that will be distributed and we’ll work with governments in the coming weeks to find that out.”

Budget funds not enough?
Tourism sector groups say they appreciate provincial government support but funds from 2021 budget may not be enough
In a statement, Walt Judas, Tourism Industry Association of BC’s CEO, said the new money is appreciated, but they recognize some tourism businesses might not survive without more support.
“We will continue to advocate for further relief to access the unanticipated recovery measures that the Province committed to for situations such as the impending travel ban and ongoing border closures that have left our industry in a desperate state,” Judas said.

‘Can’t afford to lose another summer’: BC tourism group supports COVID travel rules
Walt Judas, TIABC CEO said the group has been working with the province on trying to get a handle on the pandemic, which in B.C. has reached record-breaking heights in recent weeks.
Judas said that while the association would not want to see a travel ban, they are hoping the more stringent measures – details of which are expected Friday – will help operators turn away out-of-region travellers.
He said that prior pleas and recommendations to stay local were “open to interpretation” in a way he hopes the new order will not be.
BC Budget 2021:
Supporting tourism recovery

TIABC Walt Judas joined Global TV to discuss the plan to help the pandemic-devastated tourism industry recover, even as BC takes a firmer stance on travel.

New COVID travel restrictions

TIABC Chair Vivek Sharma joined Michelle Eliot for CBC's BC Today to discuss new COVID-19 travel restrictions announced by the provincial government. 


BC budget earmarks $120M to help tourism sector recover

TIABC CEO Walt Judas said he was anxious to see how that money would be spent, but was pleased to see anchor attractions recognized.
“Anchor tourism businesses are those major operators that drive lots of visitation, and by extension generate business for a lot of non tourism businesses,” he said.
“They haven’t seen the kind of support at the federal or provincial level that is needed.”
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Sport Fishing Institute
Responds to Federal Budget 2021

The 2021 Federal Budget was announced yesterday and included some important and positive details regarding funding and actions for the Pacific region and for salmon.

The following is an excerpt from the federal budget presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland;

Preserving Wild Pacific Salmon
Since the early 1990s, Pacific salmon stocks have declined by up to 93%. Wild Pacific salmon are facing threats from climate change, contaminants, and changes in land and water use. The protection and recovery of wild Pacific salmon stocks is a priority for the federal government. Action is needed to protect and recover this iconic species—for thousands of workers in rural and coastal communities, and hundreds of First Nations communities in British Columbia and Yukon that fish salmon for food, social, and ceremonial reasons. Building on previous investments of $246.3 million to enable salmon passage in the Fraser River following the Big Bar landslide:

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $647.1 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, with $98.9 million in remaining amortization to Fisheries and Oceans Canada to:

  • Stabilize and conserve wild Pacific salmon populations, including through investment in research, new hatchery facilities, and habitat restoration
  • Create a Pacific Salmon Secretariat and Restoration Centre of Expertise
  • Improve management of commercial and recreational fisheries
  • Double the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund with an additional $100 million
  • Further engage with First Nations and fish harvesters

Read more here
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The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
Confused, Troubled and Disappointed with
Federal Budget Announcement

Indigenous Tourism left scrambling to access funds needed to keep the industry from collapsing.

COAST SALISH TERRITORY (Vancouver, BC) – Yesterday, April 19, 2021, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, released Budget 2021: A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience, the Government of Canada’s plan to finish the fight against COVID-19 and ensure a robust economic recovery for all Canadians. Although the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is glad to see investments being made to Indigenous tourism, Indigenous people and their communities, and tourism in general, ITAC is extremely disappointed and confused with the amount dedicated directly to the Indigenous tourism sector given the harsh realities Indigenous tourism businesses are facing at this time.

Read more here
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Tell Us Your Story

I understand that the word “event” has become a dirty one in recent times and any time we seem to use it these days we get shut down faster than we can speak of it. Unfortunately, all “events” have been clustered into one lump industry and for some reason event organizers have somehow been deemed not capable of safely operating using the same health guidelines as retail stores, restaurants, and schools through managing of their capacity and adapting policies and procedures.  

I am not sure why this is, but I find it particularly hard to take for outdoor activities, which are actively being encouraged by yourself and all experts around the World. Only last week I read a quote from “Canada’s top doctor” Theresa Tam as she encouraged people to get outside and avoid enclosed spaces, stating “We got to really give people some of these kinds of activities to look forward to.” While at the same time we sent a Covid Safe Plan to Interior Health in hopes that we can run some small, local adventure racing events that would see no more than 10 people at a time starting a course, spread out over the trail or lake before another 10 people would start some time later. The response was of disapproval due to event organizers not being trusted to control people gathering before and after they start/finish the course.  

I found this response extremely confusing as we are in fact mitigating this concern by allocating times for people to arrive and depart to ensure there is no gathering at any time, while keeping everyone outdoors, spread over many kilometers of trails during the event. To this logic, how are big box retail stores controlling how many people pull up in their parking lots at one time? Or how many people stand in a long line at the checkout at one time?  

I am sure you can see how this would be confusing and frustrating. Outdoor events not only give people something to look forward to, but they boost our local economy. They provide options to keep people active for both their mental and physical well-being. They create purpose for people through participation, community volunteering and employment. If there is anyone that can be trusted to follow a plan, adapt when needed and always keep safety of top priority, it is event organizers. So, I ask you as we very quickly approach our outdoor event season, to please have equal confidence in professional event coordinators and consider the urgency in our industry within your reopening plan. We want to help you get people outside safely and hope that you can help us to ensure that our businesses also survive this pandemic.  

Lyndie Hill 
CEO and Owner
Hoodoo Adventure Company Ltd.

Read other submissions on our website: www.tiabc.ca/tell-us-your-story
We encourage you to write your story using the format outlined on our website. Be as candid as you feel comfortable. By telling your story, you give us permission to share the information with government. We may also call on you to tell your story through social and/or traditional media channels, as well as via industry communiques.

Please send your (maximum 2-page) summary to info@tiabc.ca.
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2 Steps Forward BC
2 Steps Forward BC is a space for the Tourism & Hospitality community to come together, share stories and take meaningful action. Led by Fraser Murray of Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort, they aim to create a united voice for our industry that connects the government to the operators, employees and communities whose livelihoods rely on tourism and hospitality. 
 
On April 15th, Fraser intended to begin his walk of 500kms from Victoria to Port McNeill collecting stories and sharing our industry's experiences of weathering the Covid-19 storm. After the announcement on April 12th strongly discouraging intra-provincial travel, Fraser is now walking within his health region until it is safe to continue his long journey up island. 
 
“As a small business owner with a young family, the lack of a long-term recovery plan for tourism has taken a huge emotional and financial toll. It has taken every resource and bit of energy to keep going. I’m walking because I want to help share [their] stories and advocate for a more inclusive recovery plan.” - Fraser Murray. Murray adds Nimmo Bay is celebrating 40 years of operation, but due to the pandemic, his business, like thousands of tourism operators in British Columbia, faces an uncertain future. 
 
Here’s how to support the 2 Steps Forward BC initiative: 
Share your story. Connect with the 2 Steps team to learn more about meaningful ways to engage in the conversation.
Join the walk. From a safe distance and within your own communities. 
Sign the pledge. Ask the government to create a tailored tourism plan that includes a balanced, risk-based approach so hospitality and tourism can prepare to reopen when it is safe to do so. 

For more information, please connect with the 2 Steps team.
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TIABC Welcomes New Member

Black Rock Oceanfront Resort
Set in nature, designed for luxury comfort. Black Rock Oceanfront Resort is a dream getaway for your Vancouver Island holiday destination.


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Moments of Levity

As an industry that continues to face enormous challenges during COVID-19, every once in a while 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 be published in our C-19 Bulletin each week.
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Earth Day Announcement

April 22nd 1:00pm (PDT)

The British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat will be hosting a number of special guests will speak about an issue that will be a key component of future planning, contribute greatly to a more sustainable tourism sector, and aid us in rebuilding the post-COVID tourism economy.

Four regional destination management organizations in the province (that operate as the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat - BCRTS) plan to sign a letter of commitment to pursue the Responsible Tourism Institute’s Biosphere certification. This certification is based on established standards in areas that include climate change, environment, social, economy and culture – and guarantees compliance and continuous improvement through a private, voluntary and independent certification system – which is evaluated on an annual basis.
 
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, is the only destination management organization in Canada to achieve this status and will share their experience on this journey. 

Register here
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TIABC CEO, Walt Judas and BCHA President & CEO, Ingrid Jarrett will discuss the state of the hospitality and tourism industry and provide an update on advocacy efforts.
 
The webinar will be 45 minutes in length with a 15 minute open forum for questions.
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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.