Special Edition TIABC C-19 Bulletin

SPECIAL EDITION

C-19 BULLETIN

April 20, 2021

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TOURISM & HOSPITALITY SECTORS RESPOND TO 2021 BC BUDGET

New Measures Appreciated but may not Save Some Businesses

BC’s major tourism and hospitality sectors welcome tourism-related investments announced in today’s provincial budget but say it may not be enough to save some businesses until such time travel restrictions are lifted and inter-provincial and international travellers can once again visit British Columbia.

The Tourism Industry Association of BC , BC Hotel Association, Alliance of Beverage Licensees, and Restaurants Canada acknowledge and appreciate the Province’s commitment to support tourism recovery including help for major anchor attractions, as well as funds to continue the Small and Medium-sized Business Recovery Grant Program and the promise to extend the Circuit Breaker program in view of impending travel restrictions. At the same time, access to further recovery contingencies the Province budgeted will be needed to help countless businesses hanging on by a thread.

Finance Minister Selina Robinson acknowledged the hard-hit tourism and hospitality sector noting it will be challenged by health measures for some time. She also referenced recovery contingencies that remain an option for the sector as the pandemic lingers.

The Province’s 2021 budget included the following allocations related to the tourism and hospitality industry:

$195 million to continue the Small & Medium-sized Business Recovery Grant Program
$100 million to support tourism recovery including help for major anchor attractions
$20 million for community destination development grants to help with new tourism infrastructure like trails and airport improvements
$83 million (over 3 years) in operating and capital funding for BC Parks to expand and improve trails and backcountry infrastructure, add new campsites, purchase new land to expand parks, improve the Discover Camping reservation system, and support existing park infrastructure
$6 million in capital improvement grants for the Arts Infrastructure Program

Funding for tourism recovery is included as part of the Province’s $3.25 billion for pandemic and recovery contingencies this year including more than $1.1 billion in unallocated funds for unanticipated recovery measures. Government has also set aside $1 billion in 2022/23 and $300 million in 2023/24 for similar purposes.

Read the full media release here

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Budget 2021 Supports People Now

While Building the Foundation for Strong Recovery

Budget 2021 focuses on protecting people’s health and livelihoods through the pandemic, while making investments in services, infrastructure and opportunities to support a strong recovery and a brighter future for everyone.

Budget 2021 addresses immediate challenges and builds the foundation for a strong recovery, with new investments in health and mental health services, business supports, affordable housing and child care, keeping life affordable for families, and record levels of job-creating community infrastructure.

Key budget highlights are included in 3 areas. For example:

Better Health Care

Keeping people safe during the pandemic with $900 million in new funding for testing, contact tracing, personal protective equipment and the largest vaccine rollout in B.C.’s history.

Supporting People and Businesses

Supporting the resilience of B.C. businesses with a suite of grants and funding, some already introduced in response to urgent needs, to help businesses adapt and grow.
Helping ensure tourism businesses and communities make it through the pandemic and are ready to thrive when visitors can safely return.
Improving campgrounds and trails, while adding up to 100 new campsites throughout the province every year, starting in 2022.

Building the Foundation for a Strong Economic Recovery

Supporting tourism businesses and communities with $120 million, including grants to help prepare for future visitors through new tourism infrastructure like trails and airport improvements.