Travel Restrictions to Curb the Spread of COVID-19 Come into Effect

Today, BC Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, the Honourable Mike Farnworth, announced under the Emergency Program Act an order restricting non-essential travel between certain regions of the province effective from April 23, 2021 until May 25, 2021.

The order combines BC's five health authorities into three (3) regions of the province. Travel into and out of the regions for non-essential reasons is not allowed and is now prohibited by law. The regions are:

1. Vancouver Island (Vancouver Island Health)

2. Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley (Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health)

3. Northern/Interior (Northern Health and Interior Health, including the Thompson Okanagan region, Bella Coola Valley, the Central Coast, and Hope)

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Non-essential travel includes:

• Vacations, weekend getaways and tourism activities

• Visiting family or friends for social reasons

• Recreation activities

Essential travel includes:

• Returning to your principal residence, moving or helping someone move

• Work, both paid and unpaid (volunteer)

• Commercial transportation of goods

• Getting health care or social services or helping someone get those services

• Court appearance, complying with a court order or parole check-in

• Shared custody agreement

• Child care services

• Attending school at a post-secondary institution

• Responding to a critical incident, like search and rescue operations

• Providing care to a person because of a psychological, behavioural or health condition, or a physical, cognitive or mental impairment

• Providing care or assistance to a person who is seriously ill, disabled or has a physical or cognitive impairment

• Visiting a resident (as an essential visitor) at:

  • A community care facility licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act that provides long term care within the meaning of section 2 of the Residential Care Regulation

  • A private hospital licensed under the Hospital Act

  • A non-profit institution that has been designated as a hospital under the Hospital Act and is operated primarily for the reception and treatment of persons requiring extended care at a higher level than that generally provided in a private hospital licensed under the Hospital Act

• Attending a funeral

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Enforcement:

• The goal of the order is education and reminding people about travel restrictions

• If the restrictions need to be enforced, police can issue a fine. At the discretion of police, people not obeying the travel restrictions may be subject to a $575 fine

• Police will not be engaging in random checks

• Periodic road checks may be set up at key travel corridors during times associated with leisure travel to remind travellers of the order

• People from outside the province who are travelling to B.C. for non-essential reasons can be subject to the same enforcement measures

Additional measures:

• Additional measures are in place to support the restriction on non-essential travel, including increased signage on highways and at border crossings reminding travellers of current restrictions; and

• Hotels and resorts eliminating or cancelling bookings from out-of-area guests

• Review essential travel information from BC Ferries

• Travellers who have a camping reservation with BC Parks in another region can reschedule or cancel for free at any time and get a full refund

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Joint Statement Asking People to Stay Local to Bend the Curve

 Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport; Richard Porges, Interm President and CEO, Destination BC; Brenda Baptiste, Chair, Indigenous Tourism BC; Walt Judas, CEO, Tourism Industry of BC; and Ingrid Jarrett, President and CEO, BC Hotel Association have released a statement asking all British Columbians to stay local unless travel is absolutely essential.

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The Tourism Industry Association of BC, BC Hotel Association, Destination BC, BC Regional Tourism Secretariat (including Tourism Vancouver Island) and Indigenous Tourism BC have collectively developed a toolkit for accommodators and tourism operators to communicate changes to guests, staff and stakeholders. The communications toolkit includes key messaging, a Q&A, and other resources to ensure industry is better-positioned to handle these restrictions.

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We are here to support you. 

We know this is a challenging and confusing time for our industry, tourism businesses, employers, and employees. The Tourism Resiliency Program is FREE and here to help with one-on-one support, programs, and resources.

Regional Tourism Associations Mark Earth Day by Taking First Steps Toward Biosphere Certification

(Kelowna, BC) - To commemorate Earth Day, The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) came together with four other regional destination management organization counterparts under the B.C. Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS), including the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, Kootenay Rockies, Northern B.C. and Tourism Vancouver Island, to support their signing of a letter of commitment to pursue the Responsible Tourism Institute’s Biosphere certification. TOTA successfully received this designation in 2017, and is proud to work with regional partners to help further collective initiatives and make a far-reaching positive impact. 

“The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association is in very select company and has distinguished itself as a leader among destination management organizations across the globe,” says Anthony Everett, Chair of the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat. “The ultimate certification of five regional associations is one that will resonate with visitors around the world, when it is safe for them to travel and once again visit our province which is home to many of the most beautiful destinations found anywhere.”

Since achieving the status in November 2017, the team at TOTA has been working with regional communities and tourism stakeholders to broaden the reach of this initiative. Through the certification, the Biosphere Commitment Program was created to assist regional businesses in their efforts to become responsible, sustainable tourism operators. One example of this is the Eco-Efficiency program, whereby TOTA works one-on-one with stakeholders to provide guidance for reducing energy, water, and waste outputs through an onsite assessment program as well as carbon software training.

“Now more than ever, destination management organizations must address challenges such as social license, safety and responsibility in a way they never have before,” said TOTA Senior Vice President and Acting CEO Ellen Walker-Mathews. “These efforts will also communicate to travellers that we adhere and are committed to ideals that parallel their own.”

Guided by the certification and by working in collaboration with industry, TOTA is able to collect data pertaining to key tourism issue areas. This baseline data assists us in better understanding the positive and negative impacts tourism has on our community systems and social well being, and to work to make adjustments accordingly. Sustainable and regenerative tourism are critical long term goals. Our ongoing efforts will help direct us towards making lasting improvements that will benefit generations to come.

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About the Biosphere Certification:

The Biosphere certification is based on established standards in areas that include climate change, environment, social, economy and culture – and guarantees compliance and continuous improvement through a private, voluntary and independent certification system – which is evaluated on an annual basis. The certification allows a region to showcase how they take sustainability seriously, but also ensures they are accountable to make necessary and ongoing improvements, in alignment with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

About the Responsible Tourism Institute:
The Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI) has been leading the contribution of tourism to Sustainable Development for more than 20 years. The mission of the RTI is the promotion of the principles of the World Charter for Sustainable Tourism and all the guidelines and precepts on Sustainable Development promoted by United Nations.

About the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat:

The BC Regional Tourism Secretariat (BCRTS) is a collaboration between five regional destination management organizations Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association, Northern British Columbia Tourism Association, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, and Tourism Vancouver Island representing more than 8,000 tourism businesses and organizations. The BCRTS is leading a ground-up approach so local voices and knowledge shape programs and compliment local and regional tourism strategies. This focus is also reflected in destination development to help tourism operators offer the most desirable and sustainable tourism experience for visitors

New Provincial Restrictions Announced To Help Save Our Summer

Kelowna, B.C. - Premier John Horgan announced new provincial restrictions today that, together with increased vaccinations, should help to bend the curve and hopefully Save Our Summer. The new restrictions will remain in place until after the May Long Weekend (including the previously announced restrictions on indoor dining).

The Premier also noted that as of Friday, new orders under the Emergency Program Act will be put in place to restrict British Columbians from making non-essential travel bookings in B.C. outside the health authority in which they reside. Tourism operators have been asked to assist in this effort by voluntarily declining reservations from customers residing outside their health region until after the May long weekend.

Random audits will be conducted and fines levied to further discourage people from travelling without a legitimate reason.

BC Ferries will not be take bookings for RVs or campers and will contact those with previous bookings to confirm that their travel is essential. They are also supporting by not adding additional sailings leading up to the long weekend, as done in past years.

British Columbians who have made campground reservations outside their health authority region will receive refunds. New signs will be posted along the Alberta border, reminding potential visitors that only essential travel into B.C. is allowed.

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Premier Horgan noted that the new rules are not designed to put more stress on struggling tourism operators and that government has been and will continue to work collaboratively with the sector. Additional information about the travel restrictions and their enforcement is expected to be released later this week.

It is five week period which, if we work together and follow the provincial guidelines, will help ensure that we reduce the further spread of COVID-19 and the variants and enable us to have a summer, fall, and winter that we can all begin to enjoy again.

We will continue to bring you additional details as more information becomes available.

Supports for Tourism Businesses

The B.C. Circuit Breaker Program will be extended and is available to support businesses through this time through grant funds. For more information, including the application process and eligibility, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/business-relief

For more information on the Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant program, including the application process and eligibility, visit: www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/economic-recovery/business-recovery-grant

Other supports are available for Thompson Okanagan tourism businesses and employees as part of TOTA's Tourism Resiliency Program, including:

• 1-1 Advisor Virtual Meeting with a TOTA team member

• Expert Business Mentorship with an Okanagan College business professor

• Mental Health Support through the Canadian Mental Health Association

• Micro Loans through Community Futures

• Email Recovery@TOTABC.com for quick questions or to schedule a 1-1 call/video with a TOTA Advisor