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Destination BC Bulletin 17: COVID-19
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Research and Insights by Destination BC
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During the pandemic, Destination BC has been actively monitoring the travel and tourism landscape, and producing reports to understand the impact of COVID-19 on BC tourism.
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As part of this, we have been tracking British Columbians' current views on travel and tourism, including related behaviour intentions. Through bi-weekly waves of research commissioned with Insights West, industry partners can learn about BC residents' perceptions and intentions and watch how results trend over time. Read the latest BC Public Perceptions report.
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We are also rounding up relevant research and articles each week related to the travel and tourism industry and COVID-19. Information provided in these Roundup Reports highlights not only local insights, but global insights which may be applicable to BC now.
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The latest report, compiled on July 6, has findings that include:
• BC residents are conservative in their travel intentions amid Phase 3 announcement.
• Decrease in sales volumes reported as greatest impact on businesses.
• Encouraging tourism will allow many BC tourism businesses to turn profits.
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We also encourage you to familiarize yourself with our Signals & Sentiment Dashboard, designed to help BC’s tourism industry make strategic, data-driven marketing decisions in the coming months.
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While the tourism industry and British Columbia as a whole has experienced the impact of the pandemic, reported tourism statistics of Q1 (Jan-Mar 2020) are now available in our latest Tourism Indicators report.
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COVID-19 Industry Call – July 9
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For our July 9 industry call, we were delighted to have three guest speakers join us—Andy Hedley from Golf BC, Joss Penny from BC Lodging and Campground Association, and Matt Jennings from Fishing BC. They joined to speak about how their respective sectors have approached reopening and the landscape their sector economy is experiencing. As always, you can catch up via the recording on our COVID-19 Industry Calls page.
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Aerial shot over Dune Za Keyih Provincial Park—a great spot for adventurous travellers | Destination BC/Taylor Burk
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Destination BC in the Media
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Destination BC has been speaking with local and national media to boost awareness of our #exploreBC campaign. Maya Lange, Destination BC's VP of Global Marketing, spoke with CBC about summer staycations and capacity across the province for trips this summer. Maya also spoke to Global News about the need to get British Columbians to travel throughout BC to support our tourism industry. We have also been working with media outlets—including CTV News and Daily Hive—on sharing safe travel tips.
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Accessible kayaking | Power To Be
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Accessibility Funding Opportunities
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We have rounded up funding opportunities for BC tourism businesses and organizations to make their business or destination more accessible. Please take note of the federal government’s Enabling Accessibility Fund, which is closing soon. Many BC tourism businesses will be eligible to apply for the program, which includes funds for small accessibility projects like ramps, doors and washrooms. The deadline to apply is July 13.
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In China, virtual training has been conducted via multiple platforms including WeChat
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BC Travel Agent Training in China
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In China, Destination BC’s in-market engagement with Travel Trade continues, most recently with a 1.5-hour training webinar for China Peace Travel, based in Beijing. A total of 115 agents attended the webinar in late June. Despite these difficult times, many outbound tour operators have been eager to keep up with the latest destination knowledge. In total, Destination BC has virtually trained 1100+ travel agents and tour operators in China since March.
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Destination Training via the Canada Specialist Program
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Destination training remains vital for travel agents in our key markets around the world. To support this, Destination Canada is continuing with their Canada Specialist Program (CSP)—an educational tool designed to expand agents' knowledge of Canada and help them sell the destination more effectively. In addition, Destination Canada has expanded the program to include domestic travel agents. To support this, Destination BC has developed a virtual training presentation, which will be launched in the coming days and available on the CSP website.
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As part of their activities in Australia, Destination Canada deployed their BC focused travel trade e-newsletter to 2000 Canada Specialist Agents. Joanne Motta, Destination BC's in-market lead, worked in partnership with her Destination Canada counterparts to include inspiring BC content. The focus is on increasing destination knowledge and getting travel trade ready to sell BC when the time is right.
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BC Talks COVID-19 to Rough Guides
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In June, Destination BC chatted to Rough Guides, a leading travel publisher known for its “tell it like it is” attitude, accurate, up-to-date content and authoritative contemporary writing. The candid conversation was published as a feature on Rough Guides' global website, and promoted across their social channels, which have a follower base of over 500,000. While a few details are now out of date, the article still has lots of relevant, useful information.
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We have completed our Road to Recovery Webinar Series! Delivering 14 webinars to over 3200 tourism partners over eight weeks. Plus, a further 2800 and counting, who have viewed the recordings online. The recordings can be found on the Safety and Emergency Preparedness page on our corporate website, where you will also find other COVID-19 recovery tools and resources. Catch up on any webinars you might have missed—and share them with your networks—to learn more about the COVID-19 travel market, visitor experience, business operations, digital marketing and more.
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Latest Provincial Updates
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On July 7, the BC government formally extended the provincial state of emergency through end of day on July 21, 2020.
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On July 8, Canada's Finance Minister Bill Morneau gave a fiscal update, and released an “Economic and Fiscal Snapshot” outlining the details of Canada’s current economic conditions.
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Read Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park's story of resilience | Tourism Vancouver Island/Ben Giesbrecht
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Stories of Resilience on Vancouver Island
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Tourism Vancouver Island has launched a series called "Stories of Resilience" to profile tourism businesses in the region who, in the face of adversity due to the COVID-19 crisis, have been able to adapt and are on the road to recovery and long-term resilience. The stories serve to encourage a shared connection between businesses during these difficult times, and inspire tourism operators and owners to participate in the Vancouver Island Coastal Tourism Resiliency Program.
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Boardwalk at the Ancient Forest, east of Prince George | Northern BC Tourism/Jongsun Park
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Government Funding Secured for Chun T'oh Whudujut Provincial Park
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The Lheidli T'enneh First Nation has secured $7.8 million from the federal and provincial governments for improvements and additions to the Ancient Forest/Chun T'oh Whutujut Provincial Park. The Lheidli T'enneh First Nation plans to use the new funds to build new hiking trails, a sweat lodge, a pit house and a gazebo. The project, which is expected to take three years, also includes improving existing boardwalks, access roads, washrooms, parking and signage.
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Morning Bay Vineyards | Destination BC/Andrea Johnson
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"Local Time" Wine Campaign
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The BC Wine Institute (BCWI), with support from Destination BC tourism initiatives, recently launched its Local Time campaign, inviting wine lovers from across the province to explore BC wine through the new Wines of BC Explorer app and Sip LOVE Local contest. With more than 234 BC wineries now open for tastings with new rules of engagement in place, the Explorer app offers up-to-date information on new and elevated winery experiences, locations, operating hours and promotions.
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BC Business Pulse Check #4
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The BC Chamber of Commerce has launched the fourth COVID-19 Pulse Check survey. As in previous versions, this 'pulse check' aims to understand the most recent impacts to your business, and the efficacy of existing government supports, as well as any challenges your business is facing in reopening. Survey results are shared directly with government. It takes less than 7 minutes to complete and closes on July 13.
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Tourism Industry Impact Survey
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As the federal government continues to review current programs in place, it's vital for strong data to show where any shortfalls exist. The Tourism Industry Association of Canada's new survey aims to help assess whether the programs are meeting the needs of tourism and whether shortfalls exist. Please provide your much-needed input as soon as possible.
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Destination BC COVID-19 Communications
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How can you keep up-to-date on the latest from Destination BC?
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If you have questions that can't 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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