Coronavirus spotlight: chatting with Destination British Columbia
21.07.2023 - 08:26
/ roughguides.com
British Columbia – Canada’s westernmost province, home to the vibrant city of Vancouver and world-class skiing at Whistler – is known for its outstanding natural beauty. Its wide-open landscapes and (really) great outdoors have long been a draw for travellers from across the globe. We spoke to Stephanie Fielden, Market Development Manager for Europe & the South Pacific at Destination British Columbia, to find out more about how the region was coping with coronavirus, and what plans are in store going forwards.
Q: What has British Columbia’s experience of coronavirus been like? What does lockdown currently look like in the region? Are businesses starting to open again?
A: In May, the Provincial Government announced BC’s Restart Plan, which outlines the next steps in BC’s strategy to move through the COVID-19 pandemic in 4 phases.
Currently, we are in Phase 2 of BC’s Restart Plan , where British Columbians have been asked to continue to avoid all non-essential, inter-community travel. British Columbians can, however, start to explore their own communities. This does not mean visiting neighbouring towns, but we can start to explore locally. Soon, if case numbers remain low, it’s expected that we’ll move into Phase 3 of the plan, where travel within British Columbia, by BC residents, will be permitted.
While many Indigenous communities in BC are closed to visitors, they look forward to you visiting in the future when it is safe to do so again. In the meantime, please visit Indigenous Tourism BC’s website for future travel inspiration.
Camping in BC reopened on 1 June, with some restrictions in place to ensure safety. While many campgrounds will open, some will remain closed and could gradually reopen through the summer. Please confirm with the campground directly before making any plans. Reservations are strongly recommended.
As of 1 June, BC Parks re-opened most provincial campgrounds and back-country camping, with reservations available to BC residents only. Provincial parks that attract large crowds will remain closed until it is safe to reopen at a later date. Backcountry campgrounds in some parks with high day use will also remain closed. Please see the BC Parks affected by COVID-19 website for anticipated re-opening dates for specific parks.
BC Ferries is operating at a reduced capacity, a limited schedule, and reduction of route service, due to directives from Transport Canada (federal jurisdiction). They ask travellers to avoid non-essential travel. Those who travel will be screened for symptoms before boarding at the ticketing booth.
Many tourism businesses – like hotels and lodges, outdoor adventure companies, wineries/breweries and other attractions – have been finding creative new ways to