'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
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi found dead at helicopter crash site, state media says
Iranian president, the country’s foreign minister and others have been found dead at the site of a helicopter crash Monday after a search through a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest.
Court eases internet restrictions for Sask. man who matched with a 15-year-old girl on Tinder
A Saskatchewan man who had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl he met on Tinder successfully appealed to shorten release conditions barring him from online dating.
Stittsville residents seeking answers as bylaw cracks down on street basketball nets
Stittsville residents on Kearnsley Way are seeking answers after an unusual bylaw crackdown on Friday. Every home with a basketball net received a ticket instructing homeowners to remove their nets from the road.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
Ex-partner charged with first-degree murder after 55-year-old woman killed in Montreal
Less than 24 hours after Montreal's 12th homicide investigation began, Montreal police confirmed that a 55-year-old woman's death in St. Michel is the island's 13th homicide. The woman's ex-spouse has been charged with first-degree murder.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
Toxic drugs circulating in northeastern Ont., police say
Canada’s largest First Nations police service, the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service issued a community safety alert as extremely toxic drugs are likely circulating in many of the communities it serves.