Tourism operators are eagerly awaiting any latitude in restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has effectively frozen the start of the tourist season. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

HELPING HAND

Tourism operators navigate COVID-19 restart through homegrown support program

May 26, 2020 | 6:06 PM

NANAIMO — Few industries have been hammered as hard by COVID-19 than tourism, however a support program is helping navigate local businesses through the pandemic.

In April, Tourism Vancouver Island launched a resiliency program designed to provide guidance through a maze of government grants and information for beleaguered Island tourism operators.

Anthony Everett, Tourism VI CEO told NanaimoNewsNOW they’re trying to provide sound advice and direction during unprecedented times.

“We trying to help every business. We’re not just triaging big or small, big revenue or small revenue, we’re trying to help everybody,” Everett said. “So many businesses we’re talking to are really struggling and some of them won’t make it.”

Everett said the economic impact is still incalculable with the COVID-19 situation remaining fluid.

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He said around 10,000 jobs are not currently available in the sector on Vancouver Island, while 90 per cent of businesses have reported they will have to scale back operations to stay in business.

Longwood Brewery signed onto the program during their forced closure in a bid to make sense of a torrent of information coming their way.

Brewery partner Tracy McLean said the support from Tourism Vancouver Island and other entities around Nanaimo has been invaluable during uncertain times.

“What we have been absolutely blown away by is the Nanaimo support, whether that’s other businesses as well or home consumers who are choosing to spend their money locally,” McLean said.

McLean added feedback for their new home delivery service has been overwhelmingly positive and has offset some recent financial pain.

Horne Lake Caves signed onto the program following their closure in March. Richard Varela, park director said the pandemic had ripple effects on their spring and summer seasons.

“Over the May-June period we had 2,800 school kids booked to come who instantly cancelled. We had to return all our revenue and basically walk away from about 3,000 customers,” Varela said.

He added the revenue from those early season tours funds their summer start up including the hiring and training of staff and other expenses.

Along with the program from Tourism Vancouver Island, Varela has leaned on a solid network of operators in B.C. and Alberta.

“The adventure tourism industry is not all that large, especially here on Vancouver Island,” Varela said. “We’ve been in business over 30 years so we have some good connections with outdoor education centres and other adventure attractions.”

On Monday, May 25, the B.C. government rolled out $10 million in new funding for tourism organizations across the province.

The money will be split between 59 different groups, with Nanaimo Hospitality Association receiving $98,500 and Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association landing $86,200.

The money will be largely devoted to operational expenses including staffing.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley