Tourism

Riders with Bikers Against Child Abuse chose to visit the Peninsula on Sunday because of the Sidney Street Market and its food trucks. The market is operating out of a temporary location in the parking lot of the Mary Winspear Centre. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Tourists starting to roll back into Sidney

Sidney Street Market organizers, vendors observing more out-of-towners

Riders with Bikers Against Child Abuse chose to visit the Peninsula on Sunday because of the Sidney Street Market and its food trucks. The market is operating out of a temporary location in the parking lot of the Mary Winspear Centre. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Here’s Jonny, the one and only Jonny Harris on stage in Chemainus. (Photo by Chris Armstrong)

Chemainus depicted in all its glory for Still Standing

TV program brings unlimited benefits to featured communities

Here’s Jonny, the one and only Jonny Harris on stage in Chemainus. (Photo by Chris Armstrong)
View of the Malahat Skywalk’s Welcome Centre & Gathering Place, which has ticket sales, a cafe and a gift shop. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

VIDEO: Unique Malahat SkyWalk wows opening day visitors

Tourist facility combines nature-based tourism with a cultural tourism experience

View of the Malahat Skywalk’s Welcome Centre & Gathering Place, which has ticket sales, a cafe and a gift shop. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Canadian flags are seen on the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council as tourists take photos on Parliament Hill before Canada Day, in Ottawa on June 27, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Feds launch tourism fund to help tourism businesses avoid spiral of debt, Joly says

Even as restrictions ease, Minister Mélanie Joly says tourism operators feel some anxiety

Canadian flags are seen on the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council as tourists take photos on Parliament Hill before Canada Day, in Ottawa on June 27, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A local food tourism company opens its kiosk in the Steamship Terminal Building on July 17. (Google Maps)

Foodie tourism company opening kiosk in Victoria waterfront building

Off The Eaten Track adds self-guided tours to its menu

A local food tourism company opens its kiosk in the Steamship Terminal Building on July 17. (Google Maps)
Anna Poustie, chair of the Victoria Cruise Industry Alliance, stands at the Pier B entrance near the association’s office at Ogden Point, which would see tourist traffic of up to 15,000 people in a normal year. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Victoria-led cruise tourism, business coalition warns of potential losses

Without certainty for 2022, many related businesses may not survive another year

Anna Poustie, chair of the Victoria Cruise Industry Alliance, stands at the Pier B entrance near the association’s office at Ogden Point, which would see tourist traffic of up to 15,000 people in a normal year. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Indoor tours resumed July 2 at the B.C. Legislature for the first time since March 2020. Outdoor tours have been running since June. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Free indoor tours resume at B.C. legislature after more than a year

Roughly 100 people were admitted for tours on reopening day July 2

Indoor tours resumed July 2 at the B.C. Legislature for the first time since March 2020. Outdoor tours have been running since June. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Blain Sepos, executive director of the Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association, visits the PQB News/VI Free Daily studio. (Peter McCully photo)

PQBeat: Catching up with Blain Sepos of the Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association

Podcast: Chat includes COVID-19, tourism’s huge impact on the PQB/Island economy and more

Blain Sepos, executive director of the Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association, visits the PQB News/VI Free Daily studio. (Peter McCully photo)
The empty streets of Banff are seen as Parks Canada is restricting vehicles in the national parks and national historic sites due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Banff, Alta., Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Even as Alberta plans to drop nearly all COVID-19 restrictions on July 1st, local businesses and the Banff National Park’s tourism board say they’ll be sorely missing international tourists for a second peak summer season in a row. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Banff is packed, but lack of international visitors leaves many businesses struggling

Real change for the sector will come only when borders are opened

The empty streets of Banff are seen as Parks Canada is restricting vehicles in the national parks and national historic sites due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Banff, Alta., Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Even as Alberta plans to drop nearly all COVID-19 restrictions on July 1st, local businesses and the Banff National Park’s tourism board say they’ll be sorely missing international tourists for a second peak summer season in a row. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A contestant on the U.S. game show The Price is Right on Friday won a trip to Sooke, including a six-day stay at the Prestige Oceanfront Resort Sooke. (Contributed - Prestige Oceanfront Resort Sooke)

Trip to Sooke featured as prize on popular U.S. game show

Price is Right contestant wins a six-night stay at Prestige Oceanfront Resort

A contestant on the U.S. game show The Price is Right on Friday won a trip to Sooke, including a six-day stay at the Prestige Oceanfront Resort Sooke. (Contributed - Prestige Oceanfront Resort Sooke)
Restaurant patrons enjoy the weather on a patio in Vancouver, B.C., on April 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Labour shortages, closed borders major obstacles to B.C. restaurant, tourism restarts

Industry expert says it won’t start to recover until international travellers can visit

Restaurant patrons enjoy the weather on a patio in Vancouver, B.C., on April 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Health-care workers wait for airline passengers at a COVID-19 testing centre at Trudeau Airport in Montreal, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Travel quarantine rules set to ease for fully vaxed Canadians, permanent residents

Business groups welcomed the proposed change, still calling for a clear restart plan

Health-care workers wait for airline passengers at a COVID-19 testing centre at Trudeau Airport in Montreal, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
FILE – A view of Hudson Bay Mountain Resort and surroundings near Smithers, B.C., on Monday, Sept. 3, 2018. The trail makes for a bracing hike to Crater Lake (unseen). THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel

Tourism, hospitality sector digs in for 2nd COVID summer amid wait for border re-opening

Government decisions on travel will be the deciding factor for much of B.C.’s tourism and hospitality industry

FILE – A view of Hudson Bay Mountain Resort and surroundings near Smithers, B.C., on Monday, Sept. 3, 2018. The trail makes for a bracing hike to Crater Lake (unseen). THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel
People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of coronavirus walk along a comercial street in downtown Madrid, Spain, Saturday, June 5, 2021. Coronavirus infections, hospitalizations and deaths are plummeting across much of Europe. Vaccination rates are accelerating, and with them, the promise of summer vacations. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

To the beach! Spain opens borders to tourists, cruise ships

Spanish government hopes to welcome 14.5 million to 15.5 million visitors between July and September

People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of coronavirus walk along a comercial street in downtown Madrid, Spain, Saturday, June 5, 2021. Coronavirus infections, hospitalizations and deaths are plummeting across much of Europe. Vaccination rates are accelerating, and with them, the promise of summer vacations. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau walks between buildings in the Parliamentary precinct in Ottawa on Friday May 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Trudeau says government looking at plan for return of international tourists

Anyone coming to Canada would need to be fully vaccinated before arriving, PM said

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau walks between buildings in the Parliamentary precinct in Ottawa on Friday May 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Vancouver’s PNE says it’s been left out of wage subsidies and grants available to most other businesses and organizations amid the pandemic because it’s municipally owned. (Evanessence Photography)

No PNE? Future of B.C.’s 111-year-old attraction hangs on funding

The PNE has survived two world wars and the Great Depression, but the challenges of COVID have pushed the tourist attraction to the brink, with thousands of jobs now at risk

Vancouver’s PNE says it’s been left out of wage subsidies and grants available to most other businesses and organizations amid the pandemic because it’s municipally owned. (Evanessence Photography)
People look on as the Norwegian Bliss en route from Alaska to Seattle makes it’s way towards Ogden Point, in Victoria, B.C., Friday, June 1, 2018. The CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority said he tried to alert Canadian and B.C. politicians to the ramifications of the change that would temporarily allow international cruise ships to bypass B.C. ports. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Cruise blues: Harbour authority frets as Alaskan cruise ships set to bypass Victoria

CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority worries about a temporary measure becoming permanent

People look on as the Norwegian Bliss en route from Alaska to Seattle makes it’s way towards Ogden Point, in Victoria, B.C., Friday, June 1, 2018. The CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority said he tried to alert Canadian and B.C. politicians to the ramifications of the change that would temporarily allow international cruise ships to bypass B.C. ports. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The U.S. Senate on Thursday, May 13 passed a bill that could allow cruise ships to come straight to Alaska. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

Alaskan cruise ships bypassing B.C. ports could cost the province millions

The U.S. Senate approved The Alaska Tourism Recovery Act, which could see ships travel directly between the State of Washington and Alaska

The U.S. Senate on Thursday, May 13 passed a bill that could allow cruise ships to come straight to Alaska. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)
Tourist-related industries have had a hard year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the related travel bans in B.C., across the country and internationally. (File photo)

Cowichan Valley tourism feeling tight pinch from pandemic

Charting a course for recovery necessary, as about 37 per cent can’t pay their bills right now

Tourist-related industries have had a hard year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the related travel bans in B.C., across the country and internationally. (File photo)
A crew of WestCoast WILD Adventures employees tackled an onslaught of litter left at the ‘Locks of Love’ fence at Wally Creek on May 2. (Anne-Marie Gosselin photo)

Litter woes continue at ‘Locks of Love’ fence near Tofino-Ucluelet

Popular Highway 4 spot continues to be consumed by disrespect

A crew of WestCoast WILD Adventures employees tackled an onslaught of litter left at the ‘Locks of Love’ fence at Wally Creek on May 2. (Anne-Marie Gosselin photo)