Tourism in the Okanagan continues to take a major hit as strict health measures to combat the COVID-19 virus remain in place.
On March 31, the District of Lake Country council decided to suspend a Lake Country of Commerce contract, ceasing tourism operations for the remainder of the year.
Karen Miller, communications officer with the District of Lake Country said the decision was an easy one.
害羞草研究所淔unding a service that may put people at risk during this COVID害羞草研究所�19 pandemic may present a risk to the district both legally and financially, on top of the greater community health risk,害羞草研究所� said Miller.
害羞草研究所淭he service is not considered essential and there is potential that non害羞草研究所恊ssential services will be forced to shut down in the near future. So, this termination gets ahead of the issue, rather than having the district terminate the service mid害羞草研究所恠eason.害羞草研究所�
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Other tourism marketing and support agencies also pivoted their own messaging given the changes in the sector resulting from COVID害羞草研究所�19.
According to Ellen Walker-Matthews, vice president of industry and destination stewardship with Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, all Okanagan tourist centres (other than Lake Country) remain in operation and are doing so online while encouraging people to stay home and to visit the Okanagan when the health ministers restrictions are lifted.
害羞草研究所淭he biggest thing is the health and well-being of everyone,害羞草研究所� said Walker-Matthews.
害羞草研究所淎t this point, there is really no tourism opportunity other than asking people to stay home and asking people to visit when it害羞草研究所檚 safe to do so and when those in authority say it害羞草研究所檚 time that we can go out again.害羞草研究所�
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The spring and summer months have historically been an important time for the Okanagan economically, often seeing a large increase in tourism during this time. Walker-Matthews said there害羞草研究所檚 no way of sugar codding it 害羞草研究所� Kelowna and the Okanagan are being heavily affected, which is why the local tourism sector is doing everything it can to be best positioned for when the pandemic concludes.
害羞草研究所淭his is the time of year that everyone in this region makes their livelihood, from the small business operator to the large business operator,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淲e are on calls daily with our stakeholders trying to assess their situation and eventually hopefully access the funding that they害羞草研究所檙e so desperately in need of. Our CEO Glenn Mandziuk is also on a call every day with the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture and weekly with the tourism minister. So, we害羞草研究所檙e trying to make sure that information is communicated and streamlines up to the government in the best way possible to help the industry survive this.害羞草研究所�
Dr. Bonnie Henry continues to preach social and physical distancing while urging British Columbians to halt non-essential travel within the province, especially to smaller communities that may not be able to cope with a COVID-19 outbreak.
On April 2, Henry cited the holiday weekend coming in just over a week, asking people to celebrate Easter in a 害羞草研究所渟afe way害羞草研究所� so the holiday doesn害羞草研究所檛 lead to more outbreaks.
害羞草研究所淲e need to think about what we can do to support people in practicing their faith without having to have in-person gatherings,害羞草研究所� Henry said, noting she was heartened that many faith groups have already stopped face-to-face gatherings to keep their seniors safe.
As of April 6, a total of 1,266 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in B.C., 783 of which have recovered from the illness and 39 people have died.
