Thompson Okanagan Ready to Welcome Visitors... Safely
It is encouraging to learn that indications from recent surveys, online traveler sentiment research, and direct one to one telephone canvassing strongly suggest a global desire for travel post "lockdown."
While some individuals may already be starting to take short trips and make regional travel plans, others are actively planning and preparing to continue to explore farther afield as soon as it is possible.
What I specifically see as the "encouraging" part of these findings, is that while we all continue to be concerned with health and safety for ourselves and others, we have not let fear prevent us from dreaming, planning and even beginning to take steps to once again connect with places and people all over the world.
Understanding this innate need for travel the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), representing over 200 CEO's and Company Presidents from major travel and tourism organizations globally, has been working to ensure that travellers ready to begin to experience the world again are directed to those areas where it is safe to do so.
SAFE TRAVELS, is a recently launched initiative by the WTTC recognizing regions, destinations, and areas who are at a minimum following the guidelines and protocols that developed by the WTTC for many sectors of the tourism industry. The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association made an application us as region to be part of this program and because of the diligence of the Province of BC, the Provincial Health Authority, and Worksafe BC our protocols exceed those of the WTTC and we as a region have been approved to use this International Designation.
The Safe Travels branding is available for all communities in the Thompson Okanagan as part of the approval received by TOTA. There is no cost to participate in this initiative and you are able to apply your own branding to the logo.
Communities and DMOs can contact Ellen-Walker Matthews, Vice President of Market Stewardship, TOTA to learn more about using this branding as a message to travellers near and far that when it is time to come and when they are able to come, we are collectively providing the experiences and memories they are looking for, and we are doing so SAFELY.
Regional Tourism Pledge NEW VIDEO
Resiliency at the Heart of the Thompson Okanagan Regional Pledge
In November 2019 we launched the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Pledge entitled "Seven Affirmations for Seven Generations" drawing from rich indigenous values
1 | TRUE ROOTS
2 | TREAD LIGHTLY
3 | GOOD NEIGHBOUR
4 | TRAVEL SAFELY
5 | LIVE IN HARMONY
6 | CHOOSE LOCAL
7 | EDUCATE OTHERS
SIGN THE PLEDGE
TOTABC.ORG/PLEDGE
We envisioned the Regional Pledge as a critical step in reaffirming all that we hold dear. Helping to remind every one of us that we are but visitors and caretakers of this land, whether we call it home, spend our lives here, or merely chance upon it for a moment in time. Impressing upon us the importance of thoughtfulness, mindfulness, kindness, and care in all that we do.
Little did we know how quickly our world could change, how instantly our lives would be thrown into chaos, and how, in what felt like merely days, our health and well-being whether personal, mental, or financial would be put in grave danger. We have been through a very dark moment in history, one we were not fully prepared for, and by and large did not anticipate.
Today, as we begin to slowly and cautiously awaken from these weeks of lockdown, begin to open our lives back up, start engaging with neighbors and friends from near and eventually from far; these Seven Affirmations are more important than they have ever been. Take time to read them, think about their meaning, to understand, and appreciate how they can guide us forward and to commit to them. We hope you will share them with those you encounter and ask them to also make a commitment to these values, as we all work toward a new way of life and a new way of living together safely.
7 Affirmations for 7 Generations | Tourism Resiliency Video
We knew these words were important in November 2019 when we launched the Pledge, but today we know they truly speak directly to the future more than ever. These seven affirmations provide clarity, direction, kindness, and calm. They are a thoughtful way forward after a very difficult journey.
True Roots, Tread Lightly, Be a Good Neighbour, Travel Safely, Live in Harmony, Choose Local, Educate Others
National Tourism Week
NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK
#BCTourismMatters
May 24th - 31st, we celebrate National Tourism Week in Canada, and this year more than ever we need to highlight the importance of our tourism industry in the Canadian economy.
The trickle-down effect of tourism businesses and operators unable to open or struggling to remain solvent has a tremendous impact in our Thompson Okanagan communities both rural and urban. In this region alone, Tourism is the number one employer, and our largest economic driver; when it falters or worse when it fails the impacts and implications are widespread and far-reaching.
Not just this week, but going forward, we need to celebrate all of those businesses that have pivoted or are working hard to adapt to the new rules and guidelines for tourism. We need to support our stakeholder businesses small and large as they try desperately to survive, and we need to adopt and to commit to shopping local and supporting Provincial and Canadian companies in order to preserve and protect each other through the challenging weeks that still lay ahead.
We can recover from this, we will recover from this but it takes all of us coming together to understand the value and importance of tourism, support those that are trying hard to begin to provide activities and services, and in the days to come, welcome visitors back to our region.
National Tourism Week....you can make a difference #BCTourismMatters
Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO
