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Destination BC Bulletin 27: COVID-19
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Destination BC Pauses All Marketing Activities Due to BC Public Health Order For Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley
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Due to the recent restrictions announced by BC's Provincial Health Officer (PHO), and in alignment with the BC Provincial Government, Destination BC is pausing all marketing activities, for two weeks, effective Saturday, November 7. By taking action now, we hope this prevents further or deeper travel restrictions after November 23. During this time we will continue to provide ongoing tourism industry supports and program, and visitor services.
With regards to our marketing efforts, all paid marketing has been paused, and travel alert banners detailing the public health order have been added to our consumer website. Messaging for travellers reflecting this new health order has been updated on our consumer website, and shared on consumer-facing social media as well.
Destination BC has posted a Messaging Guide for November 10-23 related to the announcement on Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley restrictions to assist tourism businesses and organizations. The document includes messaging for entities within and outside the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Valley Health Regions, and frequently asked questions.
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Tourism Digital Academy Intakes Now Open
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The Tourism Digital Academy is a free, 8-week digital marketing program for BC tourism businesses who are interested in building their knowledge and skills in digital marketing to an intermediate level. Designed for business owners or their marketing team members, this comprehensive program is focused on providing practical, actionable guidance to complete your digital marketing plan. From setting your goals, to building a better understanding of SEO, website usability, content, email marketing, analytics and more – you’ll leave the program with the confidence and knowledge to put that plan into action.
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The program covers goal setting, SEO, website usability, content, email marketing, analytics and more.
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Innovative BC Visitor Centres Support Local Travellers
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Despite 2020 being a challenging year for tourism in BC, visitor centres across the province still managed to serve over 613,000 visitors through face to face, social media, phone, email, and LiveChat interactions between April and September. After initially closing their doors, nearly all of the 130 visitor centres accoss the province reopened safely, following WorkSafeBC protocols created in partnership with Destination BC, and worked hard to adjust service delivery. British Columbians sought the knowledge and expertise of visitor centre counsellors to explore their own backyard.
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Drive-through visitor services in Hope.
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This article introduces Grouse Mountain as a social destination, where friendly locals show visitors their favourite runs.
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BC Ski Showcased in Germany
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Destination BC provided support for ski media visits last year that resulted in media coverage in SKI & BERGE and Ski-Kanada.net, showcasing key ski and heli-ski products including Tyax Lodge, Whistler Blackcomb, Bella Coola Heli Sports, Northern Escape Heli Skiing, Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing, and Grouse Mountain.
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CO-OPERATIVE MARKETING PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM
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The BC Bird Trail Takes Flight!
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In late September, the BC Bird Trail was launched by partners across the province, with support from Destination BC's Co-operative Marketing Partnership Program. The BC Bird Trail was developed to raise awareness about the diversity and quality of BC's birding experiences, and birdwatching-focused travel. Through easy-to-follow itineraries, the Trail encourages visitors to “Discover BC’s Pacific Flyway” in areas covering Central Vancouver Island, Richmond, Delta, and the Fraser Valley. In coming years, the Trail will expand throughout BC.
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Bird watching at Cheam Lake Wetlands Park. Credit: Destination BC/Hubert Kang.
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Canadian Government Introduces Legislation For New, Targeted Support To Help Businesses Through Pandemic
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The Canadian government is taking targeted action to support Canadians and Canadian businesses, non-profits and charities that continue to face uncertainty and economic challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has introduced Bill C-9, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act (Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy), which will implement new, targeted support to help hard-hit businesses. These measures are designed to help businesses get through the second wave of the virus so they can protect jobs, continue to serve their communities, and be positioned for a strong recover.
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Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant Program
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The Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant program will invest up to $300 million in targeted financial support for some of the hardest hit businesses in BC that employ between two and 149 BC residents and have experienced declines in revenue since March 10, 2020. Grants of $10,000 to $30,000 are available. An additional $5,000 to $10,000 grant is available to eligible tourism-related businesses that have been hit especially hard by COVID-19. The program runs until March 31, 2021 or until the funds are fully allocated, whichever comes first. Learn more about the program in this video.
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Provincial Tourism Indicators August 2020
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The Provincial Tourism Indicators, released for August 2020, lists provincial restaurant receipts, average daily room rates (including by community), provincial hotel occupancy rate, and passenger volumes, and more.
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Our Learning Centre provides access to resources and tools, best practices, workshops, and training programs for BC’s tourism industry.
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Demystifying Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
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Most people start their journey to purchase anything–vacations, products, services, experiences and more–by performing an online search on Google or another search engine. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) ensures your website can be found amongst other competing content on the Internet. Demystify search engine optimization and maximize your opportunity to be found online!
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Big Tree Trail on Meares Island. Credit: Destination BC/Jeremy Koreski.
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Ensuring that you have a healthy mix of owned, earned, and paid media will assist you in reaching goals across the whole customer journey.
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Define and Measure Paid, Owned, and Earned Media
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Your content lives across multiple channels—some of which you own and update yourself (your website and social channels), some of which you earn and is created for you (press coverage, social media mentions, reviews etc.), and some of which you pay for (advertising across mediums). Ensuring that you have a healthy mix of owned, earned, and paid media will assist you in reaching goals across the whole customer journey.
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Non-medical Personal Protective Equipment – PPE – plays a key role in helping keep us all safe.
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Small Business BC Helps Businesses Find Personal Protective Equipment
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Small Business BC has created the Non-Medical PPE Marketplace to connect businesses with suppliers of non-medical safety equipment.
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BC Businesses Win 2020 Travellers’ Choice Best of Best Awards
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This year, Tripadvisor and Viator partnered to pull together all the experience reviews, ratings and raves that travellers share from across the globe. Several BC tourism businesses were recognized as 2020 Traveler's Choice Best of the Best Award Winner for Top 10 Experiences in Canada.
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Congratulations to Butchart Gardens, Landsea Tours, Prince of Whales, Cycle City Tours + Rentals, A Taste of Victoria Food Tours, and Ziptrek Ecotours.
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The BC breakout session will cover how national action plans affect British Columbia.
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Register for Free: Upcoming Tourism Industry Association of Canada Tourism Congress
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The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is hosting the upcoming Tourism Congress November 17 to 18, free to tourism entities across Canada.
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Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) Receives North America Responsible Tourism Award
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The World Travel Awards announced that TOTA has been acknowledged with "North America's Responsible Tourism Award" for the third consecutive year.
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Organizers recognized the Thompson Okanagan for it's untapped natural beauty, rich indigenous culture and thriving culinary scene.
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The Elevating Canadian Experiences seminars are powered by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, and funded by the Federal Government.
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Elevating Canadian Experiences Seminars Come to Sunshine Coast
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The Elevating Canadian Experiences Seminar series offers support and strategy development for Rural Tourism, Culinary Tourism and Winter and Shoulder Season Tourism, and is being offered on the Sunshine Coast from November 19-20. The event is being offered in partnership with Destination BC, the Tourism Industry Association of BC, and Sunshine Coast Tourism.
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YVR and WestJet Select UBC as Research Partner for COVID-19 Testing Pilot Study
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Vancouver Airport Authority and WestJet have selected the University of British Columbia (UBC) as the research partner for a COVID-19 rapid testing pilot at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The pilot, which will be conducted on a voluntary basis for passengers on select departing flights when it launches, will seek to gather data to support public health knowledge and the response to COVID-19, and help inform longer-term solutions around aviation safety and health-screening at airports.
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Under the proposed partnership, the parties will work together to design and implement a research study to test and pilot real-time COVID-19 testing at the airport.
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The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada Releases Mid-Term Report on Revised 2020-21 Action Plan
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The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) released its comprehensive mid-term report in late October reflecting on the key performance indicators and progress made towards the 2020-21 Revised Action Plan.
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BC Ferries' Launches Third Battery Electric Hybrid Vessel
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BC Ferries continues to roll out its Clean Futures Plan with the launch of its third battery electric-hybrid Island Class vessel. The new Island Class ferry will service the Campbell River– Quadra Island route in 2022.
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The vessel entered the water on October 28 at Damen Shipyard in Romania.
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Learn with The Presidents Group on International Day of Persons with Disabilities
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The Presidents Group is hosting three online learning sessions on accessibility for International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD), observed annually on December 3. Learn about the business case for inclusive cultures, mental health awareness at work, or legal requirements for accommodations.
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New Advisory Outlines the Risks of Outdoor Heaters in Enclosed Patio Spaces
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Using an outdoor heater in an enclosed space can put your workers and customers at risk of exposure to carbon monoxide. As an employer, it’s important you know how to minimize this risk.
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Patio dining at Nook restaurant in the Shipyards District. Credit: Destination BC/@vancitywild.
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Destination BC COVID-19 Communications
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Here's how to stay connected 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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