Whereas tourism is the primary industry for many rural communities in BC and these communities rely on peak travel periods during the summer months to support their local economies; And whereas natural disasters such as wildfires and resulting smoke have an impact on travel, and enforced travel restrictions further discourage visitors from traveling to regions with active wildfires; And whereas tourism is supported by small businesses that breathe life into local economies by creating jobs and employment opportunities, supporting local supply chains, and generating tax revenue for local governments; And whereas the business cycle for tourism-dependent communities, is limited to a short window during the summer months, and the loss of one summer season can be detrimental to the economic vibrancy of a community: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the Province to: 1. Develop economic recovery supports for tourism-dependent rural communities, and 2. Consult with local governments, the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce and Destination BC to develop long-term economic supports that focus on building resiliency for tourism-dependent rural communities.
Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport works closely with the BC tourism industry to keep people safe, ensure tourism businesses are prepared and resilient, and maintain the provinces reputation as a safe and welcoming destination. This includes mitigation and preparedness work before an emergency, coordination of tourism resources supporting response, and assessing needs for recovery. This work helps mitigate the economic impacts of emergencies on tourism as the sector is better prepared and more resilient. The ministry continues to work with the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation JEDI to ensure businesses have tools and guidance to be better prepared to respond and recover. JEDI is the ministry responsible for economic recovery following emergency events in the province, working with the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness EMCR. The ministry also supports communities and the economy by continuing to support destination events and festivals that help attract people back to communities throughout B.C. following extreme weather events. Destination British Columbia DBC supports a strong and competitive future for BC tourism through global marketing, destination development, industry learning, cooperative community-based programs, and visitor services. When feasible, and often in partnership with other organizations, DBC may also support recovery efforts across the sector, to encourage visitation back to impacted areas once it is safe to do so. Tourism is an incredibly resilient sector, and it has immense potential for growth. The ministry will continue to engage with tourism partners and explore the sectors evolving needs to support renewal of the industry and help achieve better outcomes for communities and the visitor economy.