C-19 BULLETIN - May 21, 2021
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CEO Message
Each day of the year, people around the world acknowledge specific dates for the purposes of celebrating, promoting, and advocating for various causes or issues. In the month of May alone, the streets of every major city have been filled with celebrants of World Tuna Day, World Press Freedom Day, World Migratory Bird Day, World Bee Day, World Tea Day (today), and many others that dominate news headlines.
I trust you caught the sarcasm in the last sentence. The fact is almost no one knows or cares about most of these annual international days, of which there are thousands depending on the source or origin. However, perhaps we should pay closer attention to the official UN-declared (or Canadian) days in particular, especially considering that there is often an underlying message or concern that helps society to right a wrong, teach us a lesson from an historic injustice, or provide us with further insights to learn to appreciate a discipline, living being, place, or profession. Whatever the reason, these special days serve a purpose even if it’s not always obvious to Joe or Jane Sixpack.
In that context, Sunday is the start of National Tourism Week in Canada (FYI - World Tourism Day is September 27th). Notice that it’s not merely one day but an entire week that takes place annually with the goal to celebrate the success of our sector, to recognize the importance of our industry, to acknowledge the professionals who work in tourism, and to encourage action to support the visitor economy over the long term.
Considering what our industry has been through over the last 15 months, I doubt there are many in the mood to celebrate. At the same time, it behooves everyone that works in or is connected to the visitor economy to find it within ourselves to stand tall and proud in the knowledge that tourism counts. We are a key sector that is an essential part of the social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being of communities throughout the province and country. One only needs to consider how the absence of a vibrant tourism industry since March of last year has affected so many towns, cities and regions within BC.
On the people side, we are an industry that not only launches rewarding careers, but one that trains and employs highly skilled and talented individuals to deliver internationally renowned experiences to millions of visitors annually. British Columbia’s reputation for tourism is built on the backs of the entrepreneurs and professionals who lead and/or work in one of the 19,000+ businesses that represent our sector.
I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. At the same time though, I am asking that during Tourism Week you take the opportunity to connect with residents, all levels of government and other stakeholders using whatever medium you choose to underscore what tourism means, how it benefits everyone in our province, and why it counts. Along with TIABC and our sector partners, it would also be helpful to find ways to continue to advocate for relief and recovery measures that will allow businesses and the industry to survive today with the goal of rebuilding toward a brighter and more stable future in the days ahead.
Normally, TIABC takes an active role in celebrating everything tourism with public campaigns to trumpet industry’s impact and prepare communities to welcome back visitors as the peak season approaches. As you can appreciate, we’re taking a somewhat muted public approach in favour of the advocacy work we’ve been focussed on since the start of the pandemic. That said, our intention is to support our national counterparts at TIAC in their campaign to encourage stakeholders to sign the ‘tourism pledge’ to get Canadians traveling throughout the country as soon as restrictions are lifted; we’ll continue working with media to ensure the needs and opportunities within tourism remain a priority that journalists report on; we’ll continue speaking with government on additional support needed in view of the anticipated extended travel restrictions; and we’ll join in public campaigns to ensure that as many people as possible get vaccinated.
It doesn’t matter to me whether you choose to celebrate World No Tobacco Day, World Bicycle Day or World Oceans Day over the next little while. Just don’t miss the opportunity to acknowledge National Tourism Week in whatever way you deem appropriate.
Finally...please know that you are deeply valued, appreciated, and a key part of a strong and proud tourism sector in British Columbia.
Walt Judas
CEO, TIABC
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TOURISM WEEK IN CANADA 2021
A call to support the tourism industry from coast-to-coast-to-coast
Tourism Week is led by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and is held on an annual basis to elevate Canada’s tourism industry. It also highlights the value of the tourism sector to Canada’s economy -- an especially vital message in the era of COVID-19. A key part of the mission for this year’s Tourism Week will be to emphasize the role that tourism plays in Canada’s economic growth.
In 2019, the tourism economy in Canada generated $105 billion in economic activity, accounting for 2% of the country’s GDP. The travel and tourism sector was also responsible for employing over 1.8 million workers.
That was then. Now, industry, including accommodation, recreation and entertainment, food and beverage operators, retail, tour operators and travel service providers, attractions, transportation, meeting and conventions, cruise, Indigenous operators, emerging sectors, and more face relentless challenges – and have done so through 2020 and into 2021.
For example, Canadian passenger air transport revenues fell 91% and accommodation revenues dropped by 71%, from April to November 2020. And even as recovery from the pandemic gathers momentum, the fallout from COVID-19 continues to batter the industry.
As such, Tourism Week is inviting tourism stakeholders across the nation to rally around a call for Canadians to spend their leisure travel budgets on domestic holidays.
To help energize those plans, TIAC has penned a pledge encouraging Canadian consumers to plan and take a vacation in Canada, when restrictions allow, and to spread the word about that experience to friends and neighbours.
“This year, we aim to recognize the resilience of the industry through this unprecedented time,” says Beth Potter, President and CEO of TIAC.
“We are calling on Canadians to take the 2021 Tourism Pledge to travel in Canada first, when restrictions are lifted. This is an invitation to come together as a country and support our local tourism destinations, businesses, and employees,” she said.
It carries the tagline “It’s What Makes Canada Glow,” and that statement will be brought to life throughout the week, as tourism operators from coast-to-coast-coast are encouraged to light up their businesses with the “glowing green” that represents Tourism Week.
Through Tourism Week, industry stakeholders are encouraged to share the message, embrace the campaign and use resources available at TourismCounts.ca, as well as host media events and distribute press releases highlighting their region, destination and their industry members’ contribution to Canada’s Tourism ecosystem.
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Excerpts from News Conference with Premier Horgan & Dr. Henry
Re: Upcoming Long Weekend and Restart Plan
Premier Horgan: Tuesday next week, Minister Dix, Dr Henry and I will be back again to talk about our restart plan. We are all excited about a positive summer and a hopeful fall, but we have got to get there. We have to get there. And that means adhering to the restrictions that are in place today, tomorrow, and throughout the weekend. I am confident that British Columbians can make this modest sacrifice for one more long weekend, so we can protect our front-line workers who have been there for us for the past 15 months and well before that keeping us safe when we most need it. They need us right now to follow the orders so that we can have the summer that we all want to see.
Reporter: How worried are you about people travelling over the weekend? We know that there are campgrounds that are very busy, we know there are people who are planning on travelling to summer homes this weekend. Is there a fear, and are you confident that enough is being done to crack down on those who may travel over the weekend?
Premier Horgan: I want British Columbians to understand that I appreciate it will be a gorgeous weekend, certainly on the part of BC that I have the good fortune of living in, and I suspect in many other parts of the province. So stay local, stay close to home. If you have a cottage within your health authority, that of course is okay by me . But we need to follow the rules until we come out of the circuit breaker, and on Tuesday, Minister Dix, Dr Henry, and I will be laying out the plan forward. It is a positive plan. People will be excited about it. But let's get through this weekend. It is so critically important. We can't stress enough how important it is to follow the guidelines. Don't look for loopholes, don't look for ways around it, find another way to enjoy the weekend and look forward to a fantastic summer.
Reporter: I'm just unclear on if we can expect more enforcement this weekend? Also when it comes to the reopening plan that is going to be unveiled on Tuesday, what level of detail will people see? We see in other jurisdictions, they talk about level of vaccination and cases. What can people expect expect on Tuesday?
Premier Horgan: They can expect on Tuesday that the circuit breaker will be over, and a road map will be laid out for all British Columbians to see. This is great news for young people, who as Bonnie has said, want to get on with their lives. It's great news for entrepreneurs, it's great news for workers, it's great news for adults who want to get on with their lives. And this is what we have been working towards for the past number of weeks, and there will be an abundant amount of information on Tuesday. We look forward to talking to you about that then.
With respect to enforcement of the travel restrictions and other orders that Dr Henry has put in place, that will be as it has been on other days and other weekends. But again, it is critically important that people remember that because the weather is good and the trajectory on case counts is positive, we are not done yet. I really encourage people to please, please, please follow the rules. Don't look for loopholes. Don't try and get around things. Enjoy a good weekend. And then of course next week, we will be plotting our way forward together.
Reporter: Ontario announced their restart program today for details for things that will happen in mid June. I'm just wondering why you feel British Columbians shouldn't given that detail now? Are you concerned they will not hear the details around the fact that they have to wait? I'm just trying to get a sense of what the motivation is for holding off until Tuesday.
Premier Horgan: The motivation is just as you suggested. It's human nature, and we have seen it in previous situations through the pandemic, that when people hear there's good news on the horizon, they assume that horizon is now. And we need to get through this long weekend. It was thoughtfully put in place. Dr Henry and her team and the government worked to make sure we put in place a program that was not overly onerous, but would meet the test of reducing transmission, keeping people safe, and keeping as much of our economy open as possible.
That has been our course from the beginning. Dr Henry's approach was not to shut things down, but find ways that we could operate safely. And for the past 15 months, we have had outstanding results. Mr Ford and other premiers across the country have had different circumstances. The virus affected different provinces in different ways. We are confident that the plan that we will lay out on Tuesday will be a positive one for all British Columbians, whether they are people of faith who yearning to get back to their temples, to their churches, gurdwaras, people who want to get onto the field and play a game, people who want to travel to their summer homes in other parts of the province.
All of that is just around the corner, but it has to be a slow and methodical approach. We are confident that come July, we are going to be in a much better place. But on Tuesday, we will lay out that road map. I think it will be positively received by the vast majority of British Columbians, and I am confident that they can wait a few more days.
Reporter: This question is for Dr Henry. One of the restrictions set to expire at the end of the long weekend is the indoor dining ban. Are you able to give any indication as industry about whether or not they'll be opening their dining rooms in five days' time?
Premier Horgan: Thanks but I'll take that question. The challenge is in managing this in a fair way so all of the people that have been affected by the circuit breaker get information at the same time is to hold with the position that Dr. Henry, Minister Dix and I had from the beginning. The circuit breaker was going to be in effect until midnight on the Monday of the long weekend. Everyone knows that. Everyone heard that. They've also heard that on Tuesday, Minister Dix, Dr. Henry and I will be laying out the roadmap going forward. I appreciate there's a whole bunch of different ways to ask the question. That's the answer. What we'd like to see over the weekend is people taking advantage of an opportunity to perhaps go to one of their favourite restaurants, get a take-out meal, stop in at the immunization centre, get vaccinated, enjoy the good weather and, on Tuesday, the roadmap will be laid out for all BCers to see.
Reporter: There's obviously some unique circumstances for someone trying to run a business such as a restaurant. Obviously, you couldn't open your indoor dining on no notice, such as a Tuesday afternoon announcement. Is any indication going to be given not publicly to any of these restaurant associations?
Premier Horgan: Again, the planning will begin when the orders are lifted. The orders are lifted at midnight on Monday of the long weekend. The roadmap will be laid out on the Tuesday. I think that's the fairest way that we can manage the many BCers, not just those in the hospitality sector who have been outstanding, by the way. This has been a challenge for them. Aside from the tourism industry, the hospitality sector has had the most challenge because we can't have people congregating. We can't have people coming together in large numbers. We understand that. By and large, the hospitality sector also understand that we have to ensure that we give this information equitably to all BCers so they can make the choices that they need to make coming out of the circuit breaker and going in to the restart plan, which will be abundantly clear come Tuesday.
Reporter: Dr. Bonnie Henry, given what the premier has just said in confidently stating that the circuit breaker will be lifted come Tuesday, you have mentioned in the last briefing we had to take a look at how the numbers were doing right through until the long weekend. Are we that confident we are headed in the right direction that we can be so sure to make those statements now and not come Tuesday?
Dr. Henry: You have the same information that we have. We are seeing things go in the right direction. But we also know we have learned in the last 18 months that things can change quickly. And while we have talked about the future, nothing is going to be back to 100% on Tuesday. It's not going to be a light switch. It's going to be a dimmer switch. Right now we have put in a number of additional measures and we need to follow things through this weekend. And we need to follow through into the next weeks. And then we will lay out the plan for what the future will hold, but it's not going to be everything at once. It's going to be slowly, but surely moving towards the light.
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Outdoor Tourism Sector Seeks Strategy to Allow Guide-outfitters to Operate with International Guests in the 2021 Season
Several tourism operators have prepared a document to propose a strategy that may allow outdoor tourism businesses to operate in the second season of the Covid pandemic and avoid business failure.
While the guide-outfitters association of BC has covid safety operations protocols (www.goabc.org/covid-19-best-practices) that allow the businesses to operate with BC clients, many outdoor tourism businesses need international guests.
The proposed set of conditions that any operating businesses would have to comply with to host international guests, includes the following:
- all staff and guest groups must be immunized.
- guest travel in province will be arranged and supplied by business to minimize contact with the general community. Eg. Our USA guests will travel on charter plane from Seattle to the Dean River stopping at YVR for immigration on the tarmac.
- no community or person exposure of guests outside of operation staff.
- businesses maintain staff for entire operating season or divide season into two teams, staff must stay within their work and family pod.
- businesses must follow current covid guidelines for sector.
Read the full letter here
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BC to announce details of economic recovery plan next week, as restrictions ease
A spokesman for B.C.'s devastated tourism sector said the industry wants restrictions lifted on non-essential travel that have kept people contained to specific health authorities.
"There have been a slew of cancellations to all parts of the province. There was a lot of business on the books that didn't materialize," said Walt Judas, Tourism Industry Association of B.C. chief executive officer.
Read the full article here
COVID-19: Privacy watchdogs fear 'significant privacy risk' of vaccine passports
Judas said other countries have clearly laid out their threshold for proof of vaccination or a rapid screening test that someone must provide to avoid the two-week quarantine rules.
“So that’s the direction that we’re really looking forward to and I’ve been asking for for quite some time,” he said.
Read the full article here
U.S. Senate passes bill allowing Alaska-bound cruise ships to bypass BC
“Cruise ships are sailing in other parts of the world,” said Judas, noting other countries are using rapid testing and proof of vaccination as some of the safety measures. “There are ways for it to be done so that it is still safe for communities that welcome cruise ships.”
Read the full article here
Australian ski shows show pent-up demand for travel to Canada
Michael J. Ballingall joined Phil Johnson of AM1150 in Kelowna to talk tourism - including the feedback from the ski shows in Australia that highlighted the desire to get travelling to Canada again.
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TIABC Submission to the Government of Canada
Extension and Proposed Changes to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Introduction of the Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP)
The current Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program ends June 30th. However, Budget 2021 proposes to extend the wage subsidy and the rent subsidy and Lockdown Support until September 25, 2021. But, tt also proposes to gradually decrease the subsidy rate for the wage and rent subsidies, beginning July 4, 2021, in order to ensure an orderly phase-out of the programs as vaccinations are completed and the economy reopens.
Budget 2021 also proposes to introduce the new Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP) for eligible employers that continue to experience qualifying declines in revenues relative to before the pandemic. The proposed subsidy would offset a portion of the extra costs employers take on as they reopen, either by increasing wages or hours worked, or hiring more staff. This support would only be available for active employees and will be available from June 6 to November 20, 2021. Eligible employers would claim the higher of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy or the new proposed subsidy. The aim is to make it as easy as possible for businesses to hire new workers as the economy reopens.
On behalf of the BC tourism and hospitality industry, TIABC recommends:
1. The federal government extend the CEWS Business Support Program for tourism and hospitality businesses through mid-2022. While it is appropriate to end the program for sectors that are rebounding from the pandemic, the tourism and hospitality industry’s circumstances are far different and will therefore need an extended time frame for recovery. Tourism and hospitality businesses have accounted for less than 12% of total funding through CEWS in BC. As a result, extending the program for tourism and hospitality businesses while phasing out the program for better-off sectors will still achieve substantial reductions in government spending.
2. The federal government maintain the 75% maximum level of the CEWS program for tourism and hospitality businesses through mid-2022. Tourism and hospitality businesses continue to be hit harder than virtually all other businesses. Moreover, CEWS support received by tourism and hospitality businesses supports more workers per dollar than in other sectors. Maintaining
the 75% maximum will allow tourism and hospitality business to survive and be ready to again become important contributors to Canada’s economy as they too recover from the effects of the pandemic.
3. The federal government grant an exemption for tourism and hospitality businesses allowing them to claim under both the CEWS and CRHP programs. Tourism and hospitality businesses need such an exemption to enable them to hire new workers in anticipation of improving business conditions during the summer months. The exemption would increase certainty for tourism and hospitality businesses thereby allowing them to respond to increased visitor activity should pandemic conditions allow.
Read the full submission here
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BC Residents' Public Perceptions: COVID-19 Travel and Tourism Wave 25 Report
Destination BC is monitoring British Columbians’ current views on travel, and tracking travel and tourism behaviour intentions to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the industry
This report is released approximately every two weeks to track opinions and intentions and watch how results trend over time.
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COVID-19 Research Roundup: Week 45
DBC's Research Roundup report is updated weekly with relevant research and articles related to the travel and tourism industry and COVID-19.
This report summarize the various research findings from Destination BC, suppliers, other tourism agencies and associations.
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TourismHR Canada Shares High-level Results From Latest Business Survey
(full report will be published in June)
53.7% of respondents had taken on debt to sustain business operations. Of those that had taken on debt, 61.25 are concerned it will hamper their ability to recover
48.7% say they are concerned that inability to hire staff will negatively affect business operations this summer. But, a higher percentage are concerned about:
- Another shutdown due to Covid-19 outbreaks (86.2%)
- Restrictions on travel within Canada (69.9%)
- Restrictions on international travellers (64.1%)
- Lack of traveler confidence (69.1%)
- Weak customer demand (59.2%)
- Expiration of subsidy programs 58.3%)
Key barriers to finding workers this summer among the 48.7% that are concerned:
- Potential workers choosing Employment Insurance payments over returning to work (69.4%)
- Shortage of labour in your region (64.7%)
- Competition for staff from other industries (59.5%)
- Wage expectations of potential employees are too high (59.3%)
- Potential workers fear contracting COVID-19 on the job (56.7%)
- Canadians do not want to work in your industry (48.0%)
- Inability to access wage subsidy programs (e.g., Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy) (45.2%)
- Restrictions on immigrants or temporary workers coming to Canada (32.3%)
- 50%of respondents agree or strongly agree that skills upgrading for managers/supervisors will be a high priority in the coming year
- 63.3 of respondents agree or strongly agree that skills upgrading for frontline staff will be a high priority in the coming year
- 69.2% say cross training will be a high priority.
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Global Travel and Tourism Trade Association, Destinations International, Announces
Destinations International Canadian Alliance
Destinations International, the global trade association for destination organizations has announced the Destinations International Canadian Alliance, a newly formed organization of Canadian members of Destinations International.
Currently, 23 Canadian destination organizations are members of Destinations International, the most of any country besides the United States. Those destination organizations will benefit from being part of this newly formed organization that will create educational content that is relevant to Canadian members and make recommendations on topics, themes and issues that are important to Canadian destination organizations.
To learn more about the Destinations International Canadian Alliance, please visit:
About Destinations International:
Destinations International is the world’s largest resource for official destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards. Destinations International is about serving destination marketing professionals first and foremost. Together with almost 6,000 members and partners from nearly 600 destinations in approximately 15 countries, Destinations International represents a powerful forward-thinking, collaborative association; exchanging bold ideas, connecting innovative people and elevating tourism to its highest potential. For more information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.
About the Destinations International Canadian Alliance
The Destination International Canadian Alliance is comprised of destination organization executives from across Canada. The alliance provides a forum for Canadian destination organization executives to meet regularly throughout the year to coordinate on key industry issues including advocacy, resourcing, policy, and marketing.
The alliance represents Canadian membership within Destinations International and provides strategic guidance to the association and recommendations for how the Association can best serve its Canadian members. This includes developing content and programs that are valuable to Canadian destination organizations.
View the media release here
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Vancouver's Love Letter to Locals
From our heart to yours. This summer is your chance to experience your home in a whole new "love" light. Support local hotels, restaurants and attractions when you plan your vacation right here in Vancouver.
#LoveVancouver
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Thank You Long-standing TIABC Members!
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, and DMOs that been TIABC members for more than 10 years.
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As one of the six tourism regions within BC, Northern BC Tourism is a Regional Destination Management Organization working to promote their region through destination development programming, media relations and marketing activities.
Northern BC Tourism has supported TIABC through membership in our organization, sharing industry resources and information with our members, and being the host region of the planned BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference in 2022.
Thank you to entire Northern BC Tourism team for your support of TIABC!
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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.
We hope your long weekend is a relaxing for you, as it appears to be for this goat that Walt passed on a recent bike ride!
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Thursday, May 27th 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm (PDT)
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s (TIAC) 2021 Tourism Town Hall will be in British Columbia on May 27th, in collaboration with TIABC.
Local small and medium businesses owners will have the opportunity to meet with TIAC, Destination Canada and tourism partners to better understand efforts being made on national tourism issues.
The Town Hall will allow tourism operators to provide first-hand input on issues affecting their business and the tourism industry in this time of COVID and provide feedback on government policy for the recovery and the rebuilding of our sector.
The Town Halls also provide a front-line forum exposure for governments, TIAC, Destination Canada and event sponsors to collaborate with small and medium-sized tourism business operators.
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Business Building In The Face Of COVID
10 Steps To Take Now For Short And Long-Term Success
In a time of great uncertainty, how can tourism & hospitality business operators plan ahead, prepare for the summer season, and take advantage of the available resources? During this free webinar including time for Q&A with Professor Mark Ziebarth of Okanagan College, you will learn 10 steps to take now to plan ahead for short and long-term business success.
Wednesday, May 26th from 1:00pm to 2:00pm PM (PDT)
Mark will share a 10-point plan to help business operators plan for success in a seasonal industry with increased uncertainty due to the pandemic. A worksheet will be provided to apply a strategic approach to your business, specifically towards developing:
- Diversification
- Digital enablement
- Nimble cost structures to meet market demands
- Ability to break inertia
As well, Mark will share ideas on how to take advantage of grants, loans, and other financial resources, with both short term and long term benefits.
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CITAP 2021 AGM
The 2021 CITAP AGM will be held electronically via Zoom Cloud on Wednesday, June 23rd. Online registration through Zoom will open in early June and there will be no cost to attend the meeting.
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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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