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Dear Members,
First and foremost, we wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each of the accommodation providers in the Thompson Okanagan region who have been diligently reporting their availability and for their willingness to provide safe shelter for evacuees and emergency responders in the wake of the devastating wildfires in BC. Your collective efforts have been truly remarkable, and we have heard from countless operators who are eager to assist evacuation efforts as our industry continues to support Emergency Support Services (ESS), Emergency Management BC (EMBC), and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, & Sport with evacuation placements.
Our thoughts remain with all those impacted by the wildfires, and we can't praise enough the relentless dedication of our firefighters, BC Wildfire, and the countless community fire departments that have shown unwavering support across the province.
Although efforts are being prioritized to ensure the immediate safety of British Columbians, we are extremely cognizant of the devastating impacts the Non-essential Travel Order has had, and will continue to have, on our accommodation community within the Central and Southeast interior. This is particularly problematic, as we have heard from many members from across the regions impacted by the orders, that they are sitting at close to zero occupancy, with very few evacuees at their property.
Beyond the obvious and severe financial impacts of having minimal to no occupancy during peak season, we understand that employers also face uncertainty surrounding labour, major events, and product loss, among many other obstacles. Additionally, we face challenges in gaining the confidence of travellers, both domestic and international, when these restrictions are in place which greatly impacts future tourism opportunities. While we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting evacuees, the urgency of addressing this issue cannot be overlooked.
Over recent days, the BCHA, alongside Ellen Walker-Matthews, President and CEO of Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), has actively engaged with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, advocating for a number of measures aimed at supporting our accommodation members, relaying your concerns. We've presented a comprehensive overview of the on-ground situation, laying out the facts to facilitate an informed decision-making process.
Presently, considering the evacuation requirements and available accommodations, we have a surplus of hotels/motels and campgrounds within Kelowna and West Kelowna. Although the fires' threat persists, the cooler temperatures and potential rain forecast offer some relief.
Given these insights, we have formally urged our Tourism Ministry to have EMCR, Minister Ma, and the Premier to move forward with the following measures:
- A safe and expedited lifting of the essential-only travel order, particularly in areas like Osoyoos, Oliver, Penticton, Summerland, Vernon, and Kamloops, where accommodation is not currently being fully utilized to support evacuation efforts.
- A commitment from the Premier that financial relief will be explored to offset the substantial economic losses experienced by operators due to the implementation of the travel order.
These requests were formally submitted yesterday, and we're convening again this morning to gauge their reception. As always, we encourage you to share your insights and feedback so that we can continue to support your voice and concerns.
In the interim, we will continue to work to restore the region's operations with care and attention to the substantial losses so many of you have endured.
Kind regards,
The BCHA Team
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