Tourism

The Summerland Ornamental Gardens have been closed to the public since March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A reopening date has not yet been determined. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland Ornamental Gardens remain closed

Staff and volunteers continue to weed and maintain plants

The Summerland Ornamental Gardens have been closed to the public since March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A reopening date has not yet been determined. (Summerland Review file photo)
The Kettle Valley Steam Railway will resume its operations on July 18. The tourist train will operated with a reduced schedule and physical distancing measures in place. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland steam train to begin operations

Reduced schedule, physical distancing planned for Kettle Valley Steam Railway beginning July 18

The Kettle Valley Steam Railway will resume its operations on July 18. The tourist train will operated with a reduced schedule and physical distancing measures in place. (Summerland Review file photo)
While tourism numbers in the summer of 2020 are lower than in previous years, visitors are still spending time at Peach Orchard Beach and other amenities in Summerland. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

After slow start, Summerland sees more tourism activity

Majority of visitors come from within British Columbia

While tourism numbers in the summer of 2020 are lower than in previous years, visitors are still spending time at Peach Orchard Beach and other amenities in Summerland. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)
Visitors Center along Hwy 5 to the town of Valemount, B.C., with the Cariboo Mountain range in background. (Village of Valemount/Wikimedia Commons)

Northern communities welcome tourists as province opens to in-B.C. travellers

Officials have asked British Columbians to be careful as they travel this summer

  • Jul 6, 2020
Visitors Center along Hwy 5 to the town of Valemount, B.C., with the Cariboo Mountain range in background. (Village of Valemount/Wikimedia Commons)
B.C. accommodators need phone lines to light up as in-province travel given green light

B.C. accommodators need phone lines to light up as in-province travel given green light

Travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic have decimated the tourism and hospitality industries

  • Jul 5, 2020
B.C. accommodators need phone lines to light up as in-province travel given green light
B.C. Premier John Horgan speaks about economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic at the B.C. legislature, June 17, 2020. (B.C. government)

B.C. Liberals criticize Horgan’s economic recovery plan for excluding tourism sector representation

The Economic Recovery Task Force began meeting weekly on conference calls in April

B.C. Premier John Horgan speaks about economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic at the B.C. legislature, June 17, 2020. (B.C. government)
The Village of Keremeos is preparing to open up the village to in-province travellers as the province enters Phase 3 of its reopening plan. (Brennan Phillips - Keremeos Review)

Village of Keremeos prepares to welcome in-province travellers

B.C. has loosened travel guidelines for residents within the province

The Village of Keremeos is preparing to open up the village to in-province travellers as the province enters Phase 3 of its reopening plan. (Brennan Phillips - Keremeos Review)
Tourism is an economic driver within the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, as seen in this 2017 photo. This year, the regional district is preparing for Phase Three of the province’s restart plan and the return of tourists to the region. (Photo by John Poon) Travel Penticton has a year of challenges trying to spread the word to tourists that the city is “still happening” despite flooding and smoke due to the wildfires. John Poon/ Special to the Western News

Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen plans for Phase Three of reopening

Board chair urges visitors to respect provincial directives to slow spread of COVID-19

Tourism is an economic driver within the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, as seen in this 2017 photo. This year, the regional district is preparing for Phase Three of the province’s restart plan and the return of tourists to the region. (Photo by John Poon) Travel Penticton has a year of challenges trying to spread the word to tourists that the city is “still happening” despite flooding and smoke due to the wildfires. John Poon/ Special to the Western News
SilverStar Mountain Resort has earned the Climate Change Impact Award from the National Ski Areas Association. (Dave Heath photo)

SilverStar earns climate action award

Vernon ski resort recognized for environmental efforts

SilverStar Mountain Resort has earned the Climate Change Impact Award from the National Ski Areas Association. (Dave Heath photo)
Okanagan resort ready to sparkle post COVID-19

Okanagan resort ready to sparkle post COVID-19

Sparkling Hill ready to reopen following more than two months of being closed

Okanagan resort ready to sparkle post COVID-19
Feds earmark $1.5M to support recovery of B.C., Indigenous tourism

Feds earmark $1.5M to support recovery of B.C., Indigenous tourism

B.C. money will be split between Vancouver Island and Indigenous tourism

Feds earmark $1.5M to support recovery of B.C., Indigenous tourism
The AIDAdiva cruise ship, on a 10-day trip from New York to Montreal, arrives in Halifax on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Large cruise ships barred from Canadian waters until end of October: Garneau

Last year 140 cruise ships brought more than two million visitors to Canadian ports

The AIDAdiva cruise ship, on a 10-day trip from New York to Montreal, arrives in Halifax on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
BC Wildlife Park staff are joined by Gabrielle and Dimitri Armstrong and their parents, after the youth raised more than $10,000 to help keep the Kamloops park open. (Wildlife Park photo)

Kids raise $10,000 to feed Kamloops wildlife

Bottle drive initially set out to raise $2,000 to feed the animals at the wildlife park

BC Wildlife Park staff are joined by Gabrielle and Dimitri Armstrong and their parents, after the youth raised more than $10,000 to help keep the Kamloops park open. (Wildlife Park photo)
Almost half of shops in North Okanagan mall reopened

Almost half of shops in North Okanagan mall reopened

Reduced food court capacity, curb-side pickup program en route

Almost half of shops in North Okanagan mall reopened
(The Canadian Press)

Beach bummer: Novel coronavirus can live in water, but is it infectious?

Living in water and being infectious in water are different things

(The Canadian Press)
Jock Finlayson is executive vice president and chief policy officer of the Business Council of BC. (Submitted)

COLUMN: Residents should explore B.C. to help tourism industry amid COVID-19

Jock Finlayson is executive vice president and chief policy officer of the Business Council of BC

  • May 11, 2020
Jock Finlayson is executive vice president and chief policy officer of the Business Council of BC. (Submitted)
There’s still plenty of snow at SilverStar Mountain Resort, and with coronavirus concerns, plans for a June 19 bike park opening are up in the air. (SilverStar Mountain Resort)

SilverStar summer opening up in the air

Resort still eyeing opening day June 19, no delays confirmed

There’s still plenty of snow at SilverStar Mountain Resort, and with coronavirus concerns, plans for a June 19 bike park opening are up in the air. (SilverStar Mountain Resort)
The Vernon Visitor Information Centre’s operating contract expires Thursday, April 30, and will not be renewed for the time being. (Google photo)

One Okanagan visitor’s centre contract not renewed

Temporary closure expands; no staff available as of May 1; requests for proposals cancelled

The Vernon Visitor Information Centre’s operating contract expires Thursday, April 30, and will not be renewed for the time being. (Google photo)
Program builds Okanagan tourism resiliency amid COVID-19

Program builds Okanagan tourism resiliency amid COVID-19

For most of the industry, this is the eighth week of provincial shut down

Program builds Okanagan tourism resiliency amid COVID-19
The Gwaii Haanas legacy totem pole is seen after being raised in Windy Bay, B.C., on Lyell Island in Haida Gwaii on August 15, 2013. As the COVID-19 pandemic forces remote British Columbia communities to close their borders to outsiders, Indigenous tourism companies along the coast say the federal government is leaving them behind. Tours for Haida Gwaii are normally booked well in advance due to high demand and the quota system placed on the area. The remoteness of the region also means it has a shorter tourism high season than other locations in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Indigenous tourism being ignored by federal government, B.C. operators say

Tourism associations say little to nothing has been done to help their sector during the COVID-19 pandemic

The Gwaii Haanas legacy totem pole is seen after being raised in Windy Bay, B.C., on Lyell Island in Haida Gwaii on August 15, 2013. As the COVID-19 pandemic forces remote British Columbia communities to close their borders to outsiders, Indigenous tourism companies along the coast say the federal government is leaving them behind. Tours for Haida Gwaii are normally booked well in advance due to high demand and the quota system placed on the area. The remoteness of the region also means it has a shorter tourism high season than other locations in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck