Wildfire Update for BC's Tourism Industry

British Columbia continues to face wildfire activity, with a State of Provincial Emergency in effect. Our thoughts are with the communities affected, those who have been displaced, and the emergency personnel working around the clock to keep people safe. The immediate priority remains protecting lives, supporting evacuees, and assisting emergency response efforts.
 

Safety Comes First

Encourage travellers to follow all evacuation orders, alerts, road closures, and direction from emergency officials.

Before and during travel, encourage visitors to regularly check official sources, including:

• Emergency Info BC
• Drive BC
• BC Wildfire Service
• Alertable (download the App and customise alerts to the area(s) you are travelling in/to)
• Know Before You Go

If a community is under an evacuation order or alert, travellers should avoid non-essential travel to that area. (Areas under evacuation order are technically closed to the public.) 

Key message: Follow official information and local guidance at all times.

NOTE: Issue with Third-Party Maps

During rapidly evolving wildfire and emergency situations, third-party mapping platforms (Apple, Google etc.) may not always reflect the latest road closures, evacuation activity, or travel advisories. When sharing travel information with visitors, always refer them to official sources, including DriveBC.ca, for current transportation updates.

Understanding What 'Wildfire-Impacted' Means 

Wildfire conditions vary significantly across British When discussing wildfire impacts with travellers, it is important to distinguish between communities directly affected by wildfire activity and areas where travel continues as normal.

Wildfire-impacted communities are those affected by:

• Active wildfire activity
• Evacuation orders or alerts
• Road closures
• Emergency response operations

Travellers should avoid non-essential travel to communities currently under evacuation orders or alerts. At the time this newsletter was published, the Summerland area and Penticton are considered 'impacted areas'. Penticton is included in this temporary 'avoidance' zone, per Government messaging, due to the high number of evacuees they are supporting and housing. (This is subject to change; please check official resources.)

Key message: Local conditions matter. A wildfire in one area does not mean an entire region, or all of British Columbia, is affected.
 

A Big Province Means Different Conditions Across Different Communities

British Columbia is one of Canada's largest and most geographically diverse provinces. Conditions can vary dramatically between destinations, making local information critically important.

Travellers should be advised to focus on the status of the specific community they plan to visit rather than making assumptions based on conditions elsewhere in the province.

More than 130 visitor centres across BC can help travellers understand current conditions, identify alternative destinations, and adjust travel plans if needed.

Ensure your nearest visitor centre has up-to-date information about your community/business:
Visitor Information Services

*Note: Destination BC is providing regular updates to the entire Visitor Services Network on government orders and alerts.

Putting BC's Size Into Perspective

Help travellers understand why local conditions matter:

• The United Kingdom fits inside British Columbia nearly four times.
• BC is approximately 2.6 times larger than Germany.
• BC is larger than Washington, Oregon, and California combined.
• BC is larger than France and Germany combined.
• BC is roughly half the size of Mexico.
• All four Atlantic provinces combined fit inside British Columbia, with room to spare.

Here are a series of size comparison images, at scale, for industry use.

Key message: Check the status of your specific destination, not generalizations about the province as a whole.

Most Destinations Are Open and Welcoming Visitors 

While some communities are focused on emergency response and recovery, there is currently no province-wide travel ban in British Columbia.

As reiterated by Minister Greene during the August 11 media briefing, most destinations across the province remain open and ready to welcome visitors.

Travellers whose original plans may be affected are encouraged to consider alternative destinations and connect with local visitor centres for the latest information.

When travel cannot proceed because of wildfire impacts, travellers are encouraged to consider rebooking where possible.

Many tourism businesses in affected communities will need support during recovery, and future bookings can play an important role in helping local economies rebound when conditions improve.

Key message: Most of British Columbia remains open, welcoming, and ready to receive visitors. If now isn't the right time to visit, consider returning when communities are ready to welcome visitors again.
 

Important Update: Off-Road Vehicle Restrictions

The BC Wildfire Service has implemented temporary restrictions on recreational off-road vehicle (ORV) use on Crown land across the Kamloops and Southeast Fire Centres, and parts of the Coastal and Cariboo Fire Centres.

The restrictions are intended to support public safety and reduce wildfire risk during a period of elevated fire danger. Location specific information for each Fire Centre can be found here.
 
What Is Prohibited?
The recreational use of off-road vehicles on Crown land, including:

• All-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
• Motorcycles
• Side-by-side vehicles

What Is Still Permitted?
Commercial tourism operators using ORVs for business purposes continue to be exempt from the order.

Highway-legal vehicles may continue travelling on authorized roads, including Forest Service Roads, but must remain on established road surfaces.

The restriction should not be interpreted as:

• A closure of Crown land
• A general backcountry closure
• A prohibition on all ORV activity

The order took effect at 12 p.m. PT on August 10, 2026, and is currently scheduled to remain in place until October 9, 2026, unless rescinded earlier.

For current details, maps, and updates:

• BC Wildfire Service Restrictions and Prohibitions
• Drive BC

Update from Destination BC's Market Development Team

When emergencies happen, timely, accurate information matters, especially for visitors planning travel from around the world.

One of the key ways Destination BC's Market Development team supports the tourism industry during situations like the current wildfire activity is by working closely with our network of overseas representatives and travel trade partners to help ensure accurate information reaches visitors, travel advisors, tour operators, and industry partners in key international markets.

Destination BC's Market Development team has been working with our in-market teams to:

• Share timely updates on wildfire impacts and travel conditions, using verified information from official sources
• Proactively provide updates to travel trade partners, rather than waiting for inquiries
• Translate and localize information so partners can better understand the geography, scale, and context of impacts in British Columbia
• Monitor international media coverage and traveller sentiment to identify emerging concerns and flag misinformation
• Help ensure consistent messaging across markets and channels

This work is especially important because media coverage and traveller perceptions can vary significantly from market to market. By maintaining close relationships with travel trade partners, media contacts, and industry partners around the world, our teams can provide context, answer questions, and help ensure travellers receive reliable information from trusted sources.

As the situation evolves, the Market Development team will continue monitoring international coverage, gathering feedback from overseas partners, reviewing outbound communications across markets, and sharing relevant insights to help support a coordinated response across the tourism industry.
 

Employer Update from go2HR: Employee and Temporary Foreign Worker Information

The Federal Government's hazardous-weather guidance includes a dedicated section for employers and temporary foreign workers. It directs employers to:

• Maintain an updated evacuation and communication plan.
• Follow all evacuation orders.
• Report temporary foreign workers (TFW) who cannot be reached to the applicable regional processing centre.
• Issue Records of Employment when workers are laid off.
• Notify the Employer Contact Centre about changes affecting an approved Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), including layoffs or changed working or housing conditions.
• Continue meeting TFW Program obligations, including those relating to working conditions and employer-provided housing.

BC employment standards continue to apply during an emergency. A temporary interruption in operations does not automatically give an employer an unrestricted right to lay employees off. Employers facing significant layoffs or terminations should obtain appropriate employment advice rather than assuming the wildfire removes normal employment obligations.

For more information:

• ESDC: guidance for TFWs
• WorkSafeBC: health and safety related guidance for employers

Contact information:

Changes to an LMIA, layoffs or TFWP employer obligations: 

• ESDC/Service Canada Employer Contact Centre: 1-800-367-5693 (Monday to Friday, 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Eastern Time)

BC employment standards questions: 

• Employment Standards Branch: 1-833-236-3700

Tourism and Hospitality Businesses Are Supporting Their Communities and Evacuees

Across affected regions, tourism and hospitality businesses are stepping up to support evacuees, emergency personnel, and local residents.

Working alongside local governments, volunteers, and response agencies, businesses are providing accommodations, meals, supplies, and other forms of assistance where needed.

Examples include:

• Food trucks providing free meals at reception centres
• Hotels helping connect evacuees with donated goods and community supports
• Community organizations delivering meals and supplies
• Tourism businesses offering discounts and assistance to displaced residents
• Hospitality operators supporting accommodation needs for evacuees and emergency responders

The Province continues to work with the tourism and hospitality sector to secure accommodations, including more than 1,000 hotel rooms in the Okanagan, with additional inventory being added as available.

If you have an example of a tourism or hospitality business, organization or sector providing much needed support to their community, please send it our way at [email protected].
 
The situation continues to evolve, and local conditions can change quickly. Travellers, residents, and tourism businesses should continue to monitor official sources, follow local direction, and make decisions based on the conditions in their specific destination. By staying informed and supporting affected communities, British Columbians and visitors can help ensure public safety while contributing to recovery efforts when communities are ready to welcome guests again.