|
|
Destination BC Bulletin 13: COVID-19
|
|
|
|
Destination BC's Response, Recovery, Resilience Plan
|
|
|
We are still in Phase 2 of BC's Restart Plan, which falls under the Response and Recovery phases of Destination BC's Response, Recovery, Resilience plan. In these phases, we are:
|
-
Restoring tourism’s social license by ensuring we have the support of host communities and residents to reignite travel demand.
-
Addressing consumer concerns by highlighting appropriate nature-based experiences, targeting key travellers (younger, adventurers, passions-based travellers and families) and focusing on travel close to home. And, of course, encouraging operators to enhance and share their health and safety precautions by working with their sector associations and WorkSafeBC.
|
|
Although Phase 3 truly only begins when our Provincial Health Authorities officially indicate that domestic travel can resume, there is an opportunity to support BC tourism businesses now by ‘turning up the dial’ on messaging for BC residents to start planning their travel, and to educate BC residents on how to travel safely and responsibly in BC this summer.
|
|
|
|
So this week, we continue to focus on encouraging British Columbians to visit local tourism and hospitality businesses, and plan their summer travel, while restoring our industry's social license in host communities so they feel comfortable welcoming visitors this summer and fall. As always, we are aligning our messaging with directives from our Provincial Health Officer and doing our part to ensure British Columbians minimize non-essential travel outside their communities. Learn more in the Messaging Guidance for June 11–17.
|
|
|
|
|
When we reach Phase 3 of BC's Restart Plan, at which point province-wide travel will be permitted, we will:
|
-
Reignite industry revenue by supporting the Provincial Health Officer’s easing of restrictions (activity by activity, community by community), through a BC-wide, emotive campaign (when/where appropriate and welcomed by host communities), with hyper personalized content to support businesses, sectors and destinations around BC.
-
Propel BC tourism businesses and destinations forward through sharing of content, data and capabilities in our powerful marketing network, extending and increasing exposure of operators through shared media and other programs to be shared soon.
|
|
Destination BC's Ari Martinez has been hosting live training sessions online and recording them for later viewing.
|
|
Virtual Destination Training in Mexico
|
|
Destination BC has been actively engaging with key travel partners around the world via virtual destination training and networking. In Mexico, Destination BC’s Ari Martinez, has provided training to over 1600 travel trade partners in the past six weeks. The virtual training sessions are well-attended and proving to be successful, so may become a long-term outreach activity. The opportunity for travel agents to ask questions about travel to BC and Canada has been very valuable, with Ari assisting on logistical answers and inspiring future travel to British Columbia.
|
|
|
|
|
MERIAN is a monthly culture and travel magazine with a circulation of 60,000 and approximately 830,000 readers.
|
|
Inspiring Future BC Travel in Germany
|
|
Although international marketing is paused, Destination BC and Destination Canada are working to inspire future travel for summer 2021. An 8-page story showcasing BC was published in MERIAN. Written by the magazine’s editor, Inka Schmeling, the story focuses on her memories of BC when she studied at UBC and her return visits, and how she will pass on the love of BC to her son and daughter with a trip to BC in the summer of 2021, ticking off some of her favourite places.
|
|
|
|
|
Team Canada's weekly webinars for Australian travel agents.
|
|
Team Canada Training in Australia
|
|
Destination Canada has rebooted their Canada Specialist travel trade training program in key markets around the world, including Australia. Destination BC joined other key in-market partners—9 in total—to host a webinar with 65 travel agents who signed in, eager for destination training. Comments from the travel agents included: “I can not wait to get my clients back to Canada”! The weekly webinars kicked off last week, with each one focusing on the key highlights in each province and city.
|
|
|
|
|
Join our upcoming Road to Recovery webinar sessions, many of which are hosted in partnership with go2HR! The series is designed to take you through ‘checkpoints’ to collectively consider and work on as we move towards recovery in the travel and tourism sector.
|
-
June 16: SEO in Uncertain Times: How it can Help Recovery Efforts (in partnership with VERB Interactive)
-
June 18: Adapting Customer Service & Guest Communication in a Pandemic Impacted Business Environment
-
June 23: Facebook + Instagram for Travel: Building a Strong Foundation (in partnership with Facebook)
-
June 25: Returning to Work: Protecting Mental Health
-
July 7: Revisiting your COVID-19 Safety Plan
|
Latest Provincial Updates
|
|
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, BC has extended the state of emergency through to the end of the day on June 23, 2020, allowing government to continue to take the necessary steps to keep British Columbians safe.
|
|
On June 10, Premier Horgan announced that Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, has approved a plan to encourage the NHL to choose Vancouver as its 12-team hub city for hosting hockey games when the season resumes later this summer. Tourism Vancouver participated in the process with the Vancouver Canucks, noting a significant benefit to hotels, food and other services. Premier Horgan advised that he has written to the Prime Minister advising him that Vancouver and British Columbia would welcome the NHL as per the plan which involves a modification to the quarantine plan that would allow a team to be a family entity or a bubble.
|
|
On June 11, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Federal Minister Responsible for Tourism, and the Honourable Marc Miller, Federal Minister of Indigenous Services, announced $133M to support Indigenous businesses during the pandemic, including $16M for Indigenous tourism. Learn more about the importance of this funding in the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada's News Release.
|
|
The Government of Canada launched a new online hub for organizations looking to find resources on buying and supplying personal protective equipment. As businesses re-open, they need reliable information on how to buy and sell the necessary supplies required to keep themselves and others safe. The hub will evolve to include additional resources as needed.
|
|
|
The Ready to Reopen Winery & Hospitality Best Practices document can be found in the Ready to Reopen Tool Kit.
|
|
BC Wineries Ready to Reopen Resources
|
|
The BC Wine Institute engaged industry stakeholders in developing reopening guidelines. With this member input, the Ready to Reopen Toolkit was created, which includes recommended best practices and key messages for wineries to safely reopen hospitality, tasting room and winery guest experiences while complying with health and safety protocols. Learn more in the link below and check out their newly launched Wines of BC Explorer app too!
|
|
|
|
|
|
ITAC Launches Recovery Plan
|
|
|
The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) has launched a four-year, $50 million strategic recovery plan with the goal to respond, recover and rebuild the Indigenous tourism industry across Canada to levels experienced in 2019 by 2024. The three main priorities of ITAC’s plan are ensuring the sustainability of: ITAC member businesses across the country; the provincial and territorial Indigenous tourism associations; and ITAC’s national operations.
|
|
|
|
|
As the city re-opens, Tourism Vancouver is aligning all activities with directives from Health and WorkSafeBC, and will monitor progress carefully along the way.
|
|
Tourism Vancouver Launches 'Come Back' Campaign for Locals
|
|
#VancouverComeBack is a call for locals of the lower mainland to come back to experiences and businesses that make Metro Vancouver such a special destination. In their new campaign, Tourism Vancouver is inviting Metro Vancouverites to come back to enjoying the flavours of the city – in the many restaurants, bars and cafes – find a getaway close to home for a change of scenery, and explore the many adventures steps from residents' backyards.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On June 11, the Provincial Health Officer released a new public order, removing the 50% capacity limit for premises, including licensed premises, in which food or drink is served. Those establishments that can meet the requirements of the order are permitted to open, regardless of license type. This means liquor primaries are permitted to open, regardless if they serve food or not, so long as you can meet the requirements of the order.
|
|
|
|
|
Nuxalk Nation, Thorsen Creek, Great Bear Rainforest |
Destination BC/Callum Snape
|
|
Celebrate Indigenous BC in June
|
|
June is National Indigenous History Month and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day! This month, celebrate the rich cultures, heritage, and important achievements and contributions of Indigenous peoples across Canada. Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) is encouraging communities across BC to find creative ways to honour more than 200 Indigenous communities in British Columbia, in respect of the travel restrictions and social gathering limitations. Visit ITBC's website for inspiration!
|
|
|
|
|
|
COVID-19 Workplace Assessment Tool
|
|
go2HR’s new COVID-19 Workplace Assessment Tool provides tourism and hospitality employers with information and resources to assist you in developing a robust COVID-19 Safety Plan. The tool includes five key steps, which will help you evaluate your current set up in relation to managing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in your workplace, with suggestions on how to improve.
|
|
|
|
|
|
WorkSafeBC Inspection FAQs
|
|
As many businesses return to operations, WorkSafeBC officers may call or visit to evaluate how you are protecting your employees and customers from COVID-19. This FAQs document outlines what you can expect from a WorkSafeBC inspection. As a reminder, every employer is required to have a COVID-19 safety plan. If a formal plan is not already in place prior to opening, one must be developed while protecting the safety of employees.
|
|
|
|
|
Passengers aboard BC Ferries' vessel Island Sky |
Destination BC/Andrew Strain
|
|
Face Coverings Mandatory on BC Ferries from mid-June
|
|
In keeping with directives and guidance from Transport Canada, starting June 15 passengers travelling with BC Ferries will be required to carry a face covering that covers their mouth and nose, and asked to wear this covering in situations when physical distancing cannot be maintained. This requirement applies to routes longer than 30 minutes and to all passengers over the age of two, including passengers travelling in a vehicle.
|
|
|
|
Destination BC COVID-19 Communications
|
|
How else can you keep up to date on industry news during this fast-moving pandemic?
|
|
If you have questions that cannot be answered through the various resources on our website and official channels, please send them to [email protected] and we will work to address them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
