'Things collapsed instantly': Thompson-Okanagan businesses still reeling from travel ban
All travel restrictions have been lifted in B.C. just days after they were introduced, but visitors are not coming back in the same numbers that were expected.
Last Saturday, the premier announced the ban on non-essential travel to the Central Interior and Southeast B.C., in an effort to free up accommodation spaces for wildfire evacuees and frontline responders.
“Things collapsed instantly. Phone just rang off the hook with people saying I need to cancel my reservation,” said Wyn Lewis, owner of Vibrant Vine winery in Kelowna.
He said the Saturday before, they welcomed 400 visitors, and that number drastically dropped to 23 after the travel restrictions were announced.
“So it was as bad as the depths of COVID. It was really, really bad. As soon as people were told to stay away from Kelowna, the tourist business basically dried up completely,” Lewis said.
He said the raging wildfires in the area was a “traumatic” experience, as several of his employees had to be evacuated.
But now things are starting to look up, as visitors packed the lawn to enjoy the winery’s concert series.
To give back to the community, Lewis said they’re donating half of all concert ticket proceeds, which will go to the United Way’s wildfire relief fund.
OTHER REGIONS IMPACTED
Even though the Similkameen Valley was not named in the travel ban, people still steered clear.
“We still feel the effects very acutely because the vast majority of people that visit us are coming to or going from the Okanagan,” explained Chris Mathieson, general manager of Grist Mill and Gardens in Keremeos.
He said the heritage site relies on admission sales and campground reservations to help them get through the winter.
During a typical summer day, they’d see about a hundred guests, but since the travel ban, there have just been a handful of people visiting.
“By not having any tourists at the busiest time of the year, it's a really big hit on a place that doesn't make a lot of money,” Mathieson said.
Although the travel restrictions were lifted a few days later, it was already too late, he said.
“People don't magically reappear the second the bans come off. They still got to plan trips, they've still got to make other arrangements,” he said.
He said he’s unclear if they’ll be able to recover from the travel restrictions, but remains hopeful that word is spreading about campground vacancies.
“Our community's been doing a really good job of stepping up and finding other ways to support us…things like booking campground spots into the future or buying our preserves. So that's been really reassuring, but it doesn't completely replace the big hole that the shutdown left behind,” he said.
MILLIONS IN TOURISM DOLLARS GONE
This weekend, Penticton was supposed to welcome the Ironman Triathlon, a world-class event that usually draws international racers and would bring in at least $15 million to the south Okanagan, according to tourism leaders.
But the event was cancelled hours after the premier announced travel restrictions.
“Those people come from international markets, and they stay usually for a long time. They're usually here for five to 10 days, and they're gone. So they can't quickly be replaced,” said Ellen Matthews-Walker, president and CEO of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association.
She said they are still trying to calculate exactly how much money has been lost as a result of the travel restrictions to the region.
She said she spoke to two small lodging operators that saw upwards of $300,000 worth of cancellations in three days.
“Then multiply that to all the various businesses large and small around the region. It's going to be a staggering number,” she said.
Matthews-Walker is hoping the province will step up to help the tourism and hospitality industry.
They’re requesting the province create a financial program for the businesses impacted, provide marketing dollars to help promote their fall season, assistance to lobby the federal government to extend the payback on COVID relief that’s due in December and create an incentive program to encourage people in B.C., Alberta and Washington State to visit.
“We're hopeful that we'll be able to find some solutions for our industry,” she said.
She encourages people to support their favourite businesses by buying gift cards to use at a later date.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
3 law officers serving warrant are killed, 5 wounded in shootout at North Carolina home, police say
Three officers on a U.S. Marshals Task Force serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and five other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday at a North Carolina home, police said.
'Shocked and concerned': Calgary principal charged with possession of child pornography
A Calgary elementary school principal has been charged with possession of child pornography, authorities announced Monday.
Health authority confirms cockroaches at B.C. hospital, insists they 'do not bite'
The Vancouver Island Health Authority is downplaying what staff describe as a cockroach infestation in a medical unit of Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
Toronto police arrest 12 people, lay 102 charges in major credit card fraud scheme
Toronto police say 12 people are facing a combined 102 charges in connection with an investigation into a major credit fraud scheme.
Winner of US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer
One of the winners of a historic US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
Britney and Jamie Spears settlement avoids long, potentially ugly and revealing trial
Britney Spears and her father Jamie Spears will avoid what could have been a long, ugly and revealing trial with a settlement of the lingering issues in the court conservatorship that controlled her life and financial decisions for nearly 14 years.
WATCH 'Double whammy': What happens if you don't file your taxes by the deadline
The clock is ticking ahead of the deadline to file a 2023 income tax return. A personal finance expert explains why you should get them done -- even if you owe more than you can pay.