COVID- 19
COVID-19
All employers resuming operations are required to develop a COVID-19 Safety Plan that outlines the policies, guidelines, and procedures they have put in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in their business. This plan follows the six steps outlined in the COVID-19 and returning to safe operation template developed by WorkSafeBC. Employers must involve frontline workers, joint health and safety committees, and supervisors in identifying protocols for their workplace. They do not need a formal plan in place to begin operation, but are expected to develop it while protecting the safety of their workers
BC is Currently in Step 3 of its Restart Plan
COVID-19 has created an ever-changing and unpredictable landscape for the tourism & hospitality industry.
BC’s Restart is a careful, four-step plan to bring BC back together.
Getting vaccinated is the most important tool supporting our restart.
With British Columbians achieving nearly 80% adult Dose 1 vaccine coverage and COVID-19 case counts continuing to decline, the Province safely moved to Step 3 of its four-step restart on July 1, 2021. British Columbia continues to take steps in safely bringing people back together, with the goal to transition into Step 4 of BC’s Restart plan, when it is safe to do so!
Tourism Restart Step 3 Toolkit
For a quick guide on communications, health and safety, workforce, and marketing in relation to Step 3 of BC’s Restart Plan, BC tourism businesses and partners can also refer to Destination BC’s Tourism Restart Step 3 Toolkit.
Refer to the Messaging Guidance until further notice, related to Step 3 of BC’s four-step Restart Plan. The document includes marketing messaging, responsible travel infographics, and a comprehensive FAQ.
The goal of Step 3 of BC’s Restart Plan is to encourage travel to and throughout the province by Canadians.
Useful Resources
- Preparing for Step 3 of BC’s Restart: Communicable disease prevention
- Industry Specific Information on COVID-19 Safety Plans
- Provincial Health Officer Statement for Employers on Transitioning from COVID-19 Safety Plans to Communicable Disease Plans
- Communicable Disease Prevention: A guide for employers
- Operating your Business During COVID-19
TIABC Publishes “Know Before You Go” Video Series
In the Fall of 2021 TIABC, published five videos highlighting the efforts that the tourism industry is taking to keep guests, staff, BC residents and visitors safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click on the images below to watch the videos about Restaurants & Food Services, Attractions, Bars & Pubs, Accommodations and Camping & RV’ing.
Joint Statement on Resumption of Travel Within BC
June 15, 2021 – Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport; Brenda Baptiste, Chair, Indigenous Tourism BC; Walt Judas, CEO, Tourism Industry Association of BC; Ingrid Jarrett, President and CEO, BC Hotel Association; Anthony Everett, Chair of the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat; and Richard Porges, President and CEO, Destination BC, released a statement on the resumption of non-essential travel within B.C.
Tourism Task Force Presents Final Report to Minister
On December 9th, 2020 the Tourism Task Force presented its final report to the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, Hon. Melanie Mark, with a series of recommendations to support businesses and the workforce, and maintain confidence in travelers and communities.
On Sept. 18, 2020, Government appointed 11 business and industry leaders to a Tourism Task Force focused on identifying actions to help B.C.’s tourism industry recover from the impacts of the pandemic and put the industry on a path toward long-term growth. The task force was formed as part of StrongerBC, British Columbia’s economic recovery plan.
Over a period of almost three months, members of the task force gathered information on best practices from other jurisdictions and analyzed the impact of existing provincial and federal relief programs. The task force also held targeted consultations through a series of regional and topic-specific stakeholder roundtables and received presentations from 12 tourism experts.
BC Government Announces COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan – September 17, 2020
Learn more at: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PREM0052-001780
Find out more and download the full report at: strongerbc.gov.bc.ca
Keep up to date with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport announcements here
Tourism & Hospitality Sector Seeks $680 Million Recovery Stimulus Package from B.C. Government
On July 21, 2020 the BC tourism industry released a proposal for immediate and vital assistance for the sector hardest hit by COVID-19 and travel restrictions.
Download the full proposal here: Recovery Stimulus Package for British Columbia’s Tourism & Hospitality Sector
Read the media release and backgrounder here
On July 20, 2020, letters were sent to each MLA in British Columbia regarding this proposal.
