BCRTS COVID-19 Tourism Impact Survey Final Report
The BC Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS) released the final B.C. COVID-19 Tourism Impact Survey 2020-2021 Report, which summarizes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on British Columbia’s visitor economy from April 2020 to December 2021. The report outlines survey responses from B.C. tourism companies in order to share the experiences through one of the most challenging periods in recent history and lessons to navigate future events, impacts, and crises.
Survey questions were developed through a collaborative process, with a mix of core questions that repeated across surveys, as well as one-off or temporary questions designed to inform context-specific events or policies.
Over the course of the 21-month period, BCRTS collected 7,952 responses from 3,849 different visitor economy stakeholders.1,023 participants (13%) operated in the Thompson Okanagan region. The survey heard from many different types of tourism operators across the province, including: accommodation, food and beverage, activities, retail, transportation, visitor centres, Indigenous and non indigenous owned businesses, as well as several others.
Reports were published regularly to share data visualizations and analysis of responses on a provincial and regional level and informed BCRTS in its advocacy and support of the visitor economy over the course of the pandemic.
Recommendations
The BCRTS developed a unique perspective on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the visitor economy through its survey program and other advocacy. This perspective has equipped BCRTS with the knowledge and expertise necessary to make recommendations on how to best navigate future crises.
Recommendations for industry include:
Digitalization and fully developed outreach programs are essential to relief program success.
Insurance solutions specifically tailored by industry would provide greater protection for industry members during times of crisis.
Recommendations for government and other policymakers include:
There exists a need to develop scenario analysis and crisis management plans for future crises.
Access to government-backed credit would increase the coping abilities of the most affected firms in times of crisis.
Programs that are designed to support individuals create distortions for industry when they penalize workers that choose to continue working in the service sector.
View Full Report →
About the British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat:
The British Columbia Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS) is an active collaboration between the five tourism regions of Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association, Northern BC Tourism Association, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, and 4VI (formerly Tourism Vancouver Island). In March 2020, BCRTS members collaborated to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on B.C. tourism businesses and developed the BC Tourism Resiliency Network to support the tourism industry.
For more information, contact:
Chelsea Travere
Communications Specialist
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA)
E: Chelsea@TOTABC.com
Ellen Walker-Matthews
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA)
E: CEO@TOTABC.com
