C-19 BULLETIN - April 16, 2021
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Dr. Henry & Health Minister Dix Urge BCers to Stay Local
Statement from today's News Conference
“Spending time outside is important for our physical and mental well-being. But we have to remember that while being outside with others is much lower risk than being inside, it is not without risk.
Even if we are outside, we need to stay small and continue to use our layers of protection. This means keeping a safe distance and wearing masks, especially if someone is higher risk for serious illness.
Be purposeful about who you are seeing and where you are going, and stick with the same close contacts.
If you choose to see a close friend for brunch on a patio, then make sure it is the same friend every time. If you decide to have a barbecue in your backyard, then keep to your roommates or family only. Or, if you visit your neighbourhood park with another family, then make it with only one other family and do activities that allow everyone to keep a safe distance from each other.
It is easy to look for loopholes, but rather let’s look for how we can keep each other safe.
We need to stay local and stay in our neighbourhoods. We need to stay outside and with our same close friends. So let’s all do our part this weekend so we can stop the spread and put COVID-19 behind us.”
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Province Announces Funding Increase for BC Parks
During the next three years, BC Parks operating and capital budgets combined, will increase by more than $83 million, resulting in new campsites, expanded trails and strengthened management of the park system, making visits to provincial parks more enjoyable than ever. The BC Parks capital budget will increase by an average of 57% and the operating budget will increase by an average of 22% for each year of Budget 2021.
From 2014 to 2019, BC Parks experienced a 23% increase in visitors throughout the province and had another record-breaking year for camping reservations with more than 270,000 made in 2020. In response to the increased demand for camping and outdoor recreation opportunities, the additional funding will go toward construction of new campgrounds, more campsites and amenities at existing campgrounds. For this season, approximately 185 sites are being added to BC Parks, expanding on the over 1,500 sites added to BC Parks and recreational sites since 2017.
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State of Tourism Generating Headlines |
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TIABC Chair, Vivek Sharma and Tourism Richmond CEO, Nancy Small joined Stephen Quinn on CBC's Early Edition to discuss the state of the tourism industry and impacts of increased restrictions since the end of March.
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Ian Tostenson, President & CEO of the BC Restaurant & Foodservices Association (BCRFA) joined Gloria Macarenko for CBC's On the Coast show to discuss the impacts of the recent ban on indoor dining.
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Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) Executive Director, Gregor Craigie spoke with Gregor Craigie of CBC's On the Island about new short-term financial help for restaurants and gyms.
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Okanagan Tourism Agencies Respond as BC Discourages Regional Travel Amid COVID-19 Third Wave
BC’s travel guidelines indicate all non-essential travel should be avoided. This includes travel into and out of B.C. and between regions of the province.
Some Optimism for the Summer Season
Qualizza, Morrison and Shypitka spoke at the Fernie Chamber AGM
Kootenay-Columbia MP, Rob Morrison said that he was pushing the federal government for a clearer plan on the future recovery of the region’s economy, saying that the region’s reliance on tourism and travel, coupled with its distance from the Lower Mainland of B.C. meant it needed a road-map.
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Rocky Mountaineer Delays Season Until July 5th
With each day that passes, and every vaccination administered, we are moving closer to tourism’s restart and recovery. However, in consideration of the continuing travel restrictions and uncertainty of when they will be lifted, Rocky Mountaineer is further delaying the start of our Canadian travel season until July 5, 2021. While we are disappointed for this delay, we remain optimistic about restarting operations in July. Our team is eagerly working to prepare our trains for operations and we all look forward to getting back to doing what we do best: hosting guests for an incredible experience on board our trains.
With the expectation that domestic travel will recover first, we have extended our exclusive offers for Canadian residents making new bookings for 2021. With the Canadian Resident Offer, Canadians can save up to $1,400 per couple on qualifying 2021 vacation packages of five days or more; or they can save $1,000 per couple on the shorter Classic Rail packages. This offer has just been extended to June 11, 2021. With the BC & Alberta Resident Offer, residents of British Columbia and Alberta who travel in 2021 will receive a complimentary voucher to travel again within the next five years. Residents of B.C and Alberta can take advantage of this offer until the end of the 2021 season. We hope these offers, and more to come, will encourage Canadians to consider Rocky Mountaineer and Western Canada for their 2021 travel plans.
We continue to prepare for our 2021 travel season and are implementing an enhanced program committed to health and safety across every part of our operations. We are committed to delivering world-class service with the health and safety of all who travel with us is our highest priority.
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Vancouver Aquarium Under New Ownership
The future of the Vancouver Aquarium has been assured with an agreement signed yesterday to transfer its ownership from Ocean Wise Conservation Association to Herschend Enterprises.
The agreement ensures that Vancouver will continue to have a world-class aquarium with the financial strength to continue building on its 64-years of success as an animal care and animal rescue facility, a cherished educational venue, and one of BC’s top tourist and event destinations.
The agreement is the result of a diligent process initiated by Ocean Wise to save the Aquarium from permanent closure as a result of severe financial challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Herschend has acquired 100% ownership of the Vancouver Aquarium which will continue to be led by Chief Operating Officer, Clint Wright, who has been with the Vancouver Aquarium for more than 30 years. Ocean Wise will remain an independent charitable non-profit ocean conservation organization led by renowned conservationist Lasse Gustavsson.
Herschend is a leading US-based attractions and tourism operator, and the owner of two aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (“AZA”). AZA accreditation represents the highest standard in animal care and welfare while providing a fun, safe, and educational family experience. The focus of Herschend’s aquariums is to inspire families to learn more, care more, and do more for animals and their environments.
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Tell Us Your Story - Deadline Extended
A growing coalition of tourism and hospitality businesses and sectors from around the province is adding its voice to a BC version of the “Hardest Hit” campaign to compel federal and provincial governments to work with our sector on a restart plan that includes the lifting of travel restrictions for immunized people and for those that have tested negative for the COVID-19 virus.
As part of our advocacy efforts, we’re aiming to collect information in the form of stories from businesses like yours to inform government on the extent of the impact that travel restrictions have had on the visitor economy since the start of the pandemic.
We encourage you to write your story using the format (template) below to a maximum of two pages. 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.
Background: Business name; location/s in BC; date established; ownership structure; # of full and/or part-time employees.
Primary Customers: Where your customers are from; demographics; who your booking partners are; what primary marketing channels you use.
Revenue Base: State pre and post-COVID revenues (actual or range & % drop); how much longer you can afford to remain in operation; support programs you’ve applied for and either received or been rejected (state reasons for rejection).
Tourism Supply Chain: List other tourism businesses or other sectors that you work with and how your business supports these enterprises.
Government Decisions: State how federal and/or provincial government orders, directives and measures have affected your business; provide recommendations on what government can do differently or better to lessen the impact on your business.
Community Contribution: Illustrate why your business is a key part of your community and how travel restrictions have impacted you, your employees, your business in general, as well as the community you call home.
Personal Implications: Illustrate the ways the pandemic has affected you personally, professionally, mentally, physically, emotionally or spiritually.
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Did You Attend the BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference?
Thank you again for all those who joined us for our 2021 Tourism & Hospitality Conference.
We would love to hear from you! Below is a post-event survey that we hope you’ll fill out with honest answers and comments. Plus, there is a chance to win an amazing prize!
Get the chance to share your story across BC! WestCoastTraveller.com and Black Press Media will work with the winner to create a story about their business or organization. The story will appear across Black Press Media's British Columbia network and on WestCoastTraveller.com – a total value of $10,000.
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COVID Business 'Pulse Check' Survey
With new COVID restrictions, the BC Chamber of Commerce is launching a COVID-19 Pulse Check Survey to see how your business is impacted and what supports you need in this critical time.
Your feedback to this survey is essential to inform our understanding of the most pressing impacts you are experiencing and what can be done to support your business.
Responses are confidential and personal information will not be shared.
The survey will take ~6 minutes to complete and will close on April 20th at 5PM.
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Parksville Council Endorses Recommendations to Provide Affordable Housing for Tourism and Hospitality Workers
The Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association (PQBTA) and the Society of Organized Services (SOS) will soon work together to provide accommodations for hospitality and tourism workers.
The PQBTA recognizes the need for affordable housing in the community, however, there is a relatively small amount of Online Accommodation Platform (OAP) funds available to dedicate to affordable housing, and would prefer a focused program that is only available to qualifying tourism and hospitality workers. The recommended program would make Parksville Qualicum Beach more attractive to tourism and hospitality industries, and that many of those workers tend to be from a younger demographic looking to ‘put down roots’ with their families.
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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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Tips for Safely Restarting your Tourism Facility
after Hibernation
April 20th from 9:00am to 10:30am (PDT)
The Vancouver Tourism Facility Managers Association is pleased to invite you to its first event of 2021 with Jim Mandeville, Senior Project Manager Large Loss North America for First On Site and Jason McGonigle Principal Environmental Health & Safety Group at Golder.
“Our modern structures — especially large ones — are designed to be lived in. And when they’re not being lived in … or are not being used, or used to their full potential, they can get a little bit achy and they could start to have some problems.”
In tourism and hospitality parts of, or entire buildings may have been shut down or put in hibernation. As we start to look forward to a gradual relaxation of COVID restrictions it is important to consider taking some preventative steps to avoid problems when recommissioning your building. Jim will present on steps you can take to avoid, leaks, clogged drains and catch basins, building structural issues and stagnant water might require special legionella management.
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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.
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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. |
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