The Penticton Chamber of Commerce urged the B.C. government in a letter this week to be more 害羞草研究所渢ransparent害羞草研究所� during wildfire season after the province issued a travel advisory last August that preceded the cancellation of several events and millions lost in tourism dollars.

Bowinn Ma, the province害羞草研究所檚 Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, was put on notice in the letter for helping order a travel advisory based on 害羞草研究所渋ncomplete data,害羞草研究所� which restricted non-essential trips to the communities of Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon. It came as crews were fighting the more than 13,900-hectare McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna.

The advisory was issued Aug. 19 and lifted four days later. It prompted the cancellation of several events, including Penticton Ironman, which was supposed to start on Aug. 27.

害羞草研究所淯nfortunately, even though the ban only lasted four short days, the economic devastation to Penticton and the South Okanagan害羞草研究所檚 economy was complete, including the cancellation of the world-renowned Ironman Triathlon which historically generates $15 million in economic activity, as well as the hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost hotel, winery, campground, and tourism operator revenues throughout the South Okanagan during the height of our tourist season,害羞草研究所� the letter reads.

The Penticton Chamber asked Ma in its letter to use real-time information provided by local governments and emergency centres before taking action.

Travel advisories were issued across the province with the intent of opening up hotel spaces for evacuees. The local chamber, however, claims there was no consultation with Penticton害羞草研究所檚 local government, tourism association, hoteliers, or public agencies before the advisory was issued.

害羞草研究所淚t was later determined that outside of West Kelowna, the ban was unnecessary and rescinded only four days later after you and [B.C.] Premier Eby personally visited our evacuation centres only to find them all but empty,害羞草研究所� the letter continues.

害羞草研究所淎pproximately 65 per cent of West Kelowna residents work in Kelowna which is north-east of West Kelowna, making it even more perplexing as to why the travel ban encompassed an area so far to the south.害羞草研究所�

Leaders from the chamber said they hope the province will take a more balanced and data-driven approach when emergencies coincide with Penticton害羞草研究所檚 peak tourism season.

害羞草研究所淚f anyone from [Ma害羞草研究所檚] ministry had first taken the small step of contacting our municipal government, they would have learned that spaces already available for evacuees were all but empty and should have made them question if ordering such a drastic measure in Penticton and throughout the South Okanagan was necessary,害羞草研究所� said Michael Magnusson, the Penticton Chamber害羞草研究所檚 executive director.