BC tourism sector anticipating one other dip in summer season with out worldwide travellers

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – According to experts, it will still be an extremely difficult year for tourism companies despite domestic travelers, but some bags and sectors are expected to perform well.

Despite the ongoing rollout of vaccines, British Columbians expect the restrictions to remain in place well into the summer. And that means the tourism industry will have another major success this season.

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Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of BC, says domestic tourism will help – but it won’t be a drag compared to international travelers spending more in the province.

“We rely on international visitors who pay significantly more than the locals to vacation in British Columbia. That said, there is pent-up demand that people will want to travel. The people of British Columbia are eager to travel to other regions so we will see a lot of activity but it really depends on people doing the things that international visitors normally do when they visit British Columbia, with the doors open to keep a lot of companies, ”says Judas.

International visitors spend around three to five times more than locals and, according to Judas, tend to visit the main attractions.

“I would hope that people who normally vacation outside of the province, be it elsewhere in Canada in the US or internationally, choose to instead spend their hard earned dollars in British Columbia doing things for the international visitor come here and that British Columbia is so known for supporting the tourism and hospitality businesses that really need visitors to keep their businesses going. Later this year. If we don’t see significant amounts and good money being spent at these companies, they may not be available beyond this year. “

He notes that various areas of the visitor economy have done reasonably well over the past year, including camping, boating, and golf, which he expects this summer to continue.

And while various bags that British Columbians like to vacation in to like the Okanagon and parts of Vancouver Island also performed well last year, Judas says he’s worried that urban centers like Vancouver and Victoria will add another Will succeed.

“That could happen again this summer unless we see the gradual reopening to local residents from across Canada and ultimately internationally.”

With pre-pandemic sales of over $ 20 billion, BC’s tourism sector saw cash flow cut by at least half over the past year.