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Destination BC Bulletin 14: COVID-19
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Destination BC Ready for Phase 3
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We are still in Phase 2 of BC's Restart Plan, which falls within the Response and Recovery phases of Destination BC's Response, Recovery, Resilience plan. As we look to transition to Phase 3, Destination BC is launching Explore BC: a significant domestic marketing campaign to encourage British Columbians to plan, book, and travel this summer and fall in BC.
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When province-wide travel is permitted, the messaging will transition to Explore BC now. The campaign’s platform aims to rally the entire tourism industry and BC residents with an immediate call to action to Explore BC, in turn supporting the communities they visit. To do this, we need your help! We’ve created an Explore BC Recovery Marketing Campaign Industry Playbook to provide tourism partners with information, ideas, and tools to support the Explore BC campaign and amplify our collective voice.
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For now, the messaging guidance remains much the same as last week: avoid inter-community travel at this time, enjoy the outdoors and support locally, and start planning your BC vacations. Learn more in the Messaging Guidance for June 18–24.
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As we 'turn up the dial' on encouraging BC residents to start planning their travel and support BC tourism businesses, we have an opportunity to talk about how to travel safely and responsibly this summer—visit 10 Ways to Travel Safely and Responsibly in BC.
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We also encourage you to listen to our June 18 industry call, when we had Kirby Brown from the Sea-to-Sky Gondola, and Ingrid Jarrett from the BC Hotel Association, join us to talk about how they have approached the re-opening, the health and safety guidelines and their observations as we move closer to Phase 3 of BC’s Restart Plan.
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BC's Recovery – Have Your Say
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As part of Building BC’s Recovery, Together: Have Your Say British Columbians are invited to share feedback on how to best use the $1.5 Billion that the Province has earmarked for recovery. It is imperative that your voices be heard, that the voices of tourism be heard. Please share your ideas and provide your suggestions to government by July 21.
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There are three main ways to submit your ideas, experiences and priorities on how the Province should allocate the funds set aside for recovery:
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National Indigenous History Month and Indigenous Peoples Day
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June is National Indigenous History Month and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day! We are encouraging tourism industry members and stakeholders across the province to recognize, reflect on, and celebrate the rich cultures, heritage, important achievements and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across Canada.
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George Me’las Taylor, ITBC Board Member and Chief Henry Seaweed at the 2019 Victoria Indigenous Cultural Festival | Justin Sparks Photography
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To help, Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) has created a fantastic resource page highlighting the creative ways you can honour more than 200 Indigenous communities in BC. From learning more about the land you live on to joining virtual events and supporting Indigenous-owned businesses, there are many ways you can celebrate while respecting travel restrictions and social gathering limitations. Make sure you check out ITBC's list of Indigenous Experiences Open in 2020, which can also be accessed by downloading the ITBC app.
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Of particular importance, is respecting choices made by Indigenous communities and businesses as to whether they are welcoming visitors or not at this time. ITBC has created a How to Travel Responsibly page outlining things to think about as you plan your next local Indigenous travel experience.
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June 21 is the date chosen due to the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year. It offers a dedicated day of recognition and celebration, while National Indigenous History Month offers a month-long opportunity to honour the history, heritage and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Take this time to learn, reflect on, and celebrate.
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Building on the excellent partnership with ITBC over the past 20 years, Destination BC is committed to supporting the continued growth of a sustainable, authentic and culturally rich Indigenous tourism industry in British Columbia.
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Industry Resource: What's Open in BC
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As we wait to move into Phase 3 and travel restrictions begin to ease, BC residents are becoming more eager to learn about what’s open in the province. To help answer this question, Destination BC has compiled a list of communities who are maintaining lists of businesses that are open in their communities: hellobc.com/whats-open-in-bc. If you are a community destination marketing organization or a chamber of commerce, and you’re maintaining a list on your website of open businesses in your community, please email us to be included.
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A Statement from Destination BC on Diversity and Inclusion
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The Black Lives Matter movement has inspired important new conversations all over the world about the racial barriers that block social and economic equity. Here at home in British Columbia, we have been reflecting on how Destination BC plays a role in dismantling these barriers.
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There are only three webinars to go in our Road to Recovery Series!
June 23: Facebook + Instagram for Travel: Building a Strong Foundation
Learn how to best leverage the Facebook Family of Apps to build a presence for your business, connect with your community and communicate with your customers. Agenda will include guidance on the best formats/tools to communicate different types of messages. In partnership with Facebook.
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June 25: Returning to Work: Protecting Mental Health
Returning to the workplace during this pandemic will be a challenging and emotional time for many. Learn practical strategies for taking care of your own mental health and that of your employees. Plus, techniques to de-escalate potential situations with visitors and guests. In partnership with go2HR.
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July 7: Revisiting your COVID-19 Safety Plan
Join us for a candid panel discussion with tourism employers, sharing some key insights and learnings based on their experiences in creating and implementing safety plans. This is a great time to revisit your plan and make any revisions as needed. In partnership with go2HR.
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Reminder! Webinars 1 through 11 in our Road to Recovery Series are available to view on our Learning Centre, along with Q&A documents from the Destination BC led sessions.
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How to Manage Your Online Presence During Recovery
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As we shift towards cautious encouragement of local travel, it is vital that travellers have timely, fulsome, and accurate information about tourism businesses that are open in their community, and around British Columbia. Here are five things to do right now to ensure your tourism business’ online presence is up to date.
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Latest Provincial Updates
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On June 18, Minister Doug Donaldson announced nearly $14 Million in one-time grants for over 150 projects to support economic development and recreation in rural communities throughout the province. Projects selected for these one-time grants were chosen from the following three categories: First Nations; municipalities; and not-for-profit organizations—with priority given to projects that have a focus on economic development and job creation.
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The grant includes $5 Million for 39 trail-building and recreation projects, and almost $9 Million for 114 projects supporting rural community development.
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For example, the District of Tumbler Ridge will use $500,000 to build a series of world-class mountain biking trails in and around its UNESCO Global Geopark.
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Another receipient, the Williams Lake Indian Band (WLIB), received $500,000 to build a cannabis production facility.
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The Province has approved a temporary wholesale liquor pricing model to support businesses like restaurants, bars and tourism operators with liquor licences—fantastic news for our industry. The program will be in place from the end of July 2020 until March 31, 2021, when it will be reviewed.
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As of June 19, more small businesses will be able to apply for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). The expanded eligibility rules will provide much-needed access to the capital many small tourism businesses in BC need to see them through the current challenges.
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On June 16, the Prime Minister announced the extension of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). This extension will make the benefit available to eligible workers for up to a total of 24 weeks. Previously, the maximum was 16 weeks.
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As of June 12, temperature screening will be required for travellers at Canadian airports. This is an additional measure to protocols already in place, requiring air travellers to undergo a health check prior to boarding and carry a non-medical mask or face covering to cover their mouth and nose during travel.
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The Canada–US border will remain closed to non-essential travel until at least July 21, 2020.
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ITAC Supports Indigenous Tourism in BC
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The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada's (ITAC) first round of their COVID-19 Development Stimulus Fund is supporting Indigenous tourism businesses across BC. Learn how the fund is making a difference for the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler through maintaining employment for core staff who are the heartbeat of the Centre—watch their moving video. And learn how another fund recipient, Homalco Wildlife and Culture Tours, will utilize the financial support in their thank-you testimonial.
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TAKEcare Travel Program at YVR
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The new YVR TAKEcare program is a health and safety program designed to help people move through the airport safely and with confidence. It places industry-leading health, safety and cleaning practices and protocols at the forefront of airport processes. Under TAKEcare, YVR is investing in new technologies and reconfiguring airport infrastructure, expanding on existing measures, and implementing new ones.
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Reconnect in Victoria Campaign
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Destination Greater Victoria is preparing to launch a marketing campaign designed to attract visitors from Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. Titled “Reconnect”, the campaign’s focus is for visitors to reconnect to nature, special places, and favourite restaurants and social activities. Campaign tactics include a new destination video, digital and social media marketing, TV and radio advertising, and a member partnership program with CHEK television.
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Sunshine 'Coast Love' Campaign
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In part through this a series of mesmerizing videos, Tourism Sunshine Coast is inspiring local residents to explore their own backyard, rediscover their favourite places and activities, and support local business owners—also know as neighbours—in their Coast Love Campaign. The campaign showcases the endless ways Sunshine Coast dwellers can explore a little closer to home this summer, in support of local businesses.
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Delta’s Community Resilience and Economic Recovery Support Team, which includes Tourism Delta, has launched a community campaign to inspire and ignite a movement around a shared love for Delta. The We Love Delta campaign will help to stimulate economic recovery by encouraging local residents to come together, share their stories, and support Delta businesses through an imperative call to action to spend local dollars locally.
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go2HR Restarting Operations Resources
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To help support tourism and hospitality employers navigate and manage the risk of COVID-19 in the workplace, several industry associations have compiled sector specific guidance. go2HR has rounded up these guides and provided a four-step recommendation on how to use these guides along with WorkSafeBC protocols to build a robust COVID-19 Safety Plan for your business.
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Small Business BC Support Hub
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The BC Business COVID-19 Support Service website connects businesses with the resources and guidance needed to navigate challenges due to COVID-19. Information and services available through this hub are updated regularly. The initiative is a partnership between Small Business BC, the BC Government, and the Government of Canada.
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The survey will be open until June 26, 2020.
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Tourism HR Canada’s Survey
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While recognizing how many surveys tourism businesses have been asked to fill out, Tourism HR Canada has created a survey to gather input which will assist in making policy and program recommendations specific to tourism workforce needs during and post COVID-19. The feedback will help determine how deeply the workforce has been affected by COVID-19, assess the effectiveness of government programs, identify businesses' capacity to re-open, and more.
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Destination BC COVID-19 Communications
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How else can you keep up to date on industry news during this fast-moving pandemic?
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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.
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