‘It’s the right move’: B.C. tourism industry reps support Central Okanagan COVID restrictions

KELOWNA (NEWS 1130) – Public health officials are discouraging unvaccinated British Columbians from travelling to Kelowna area, after declaring a COVID-19 outbreak in the Central Okanagan. It’s a move the CEO of the Tourism Industry Association is fully onboard with, in an effort to get a handle on the virus in that part of the province.

“What we don’t want to have happen is to regress and find ourselves with more stringent travel restrictions across the province yet again,” Walt Judas said.

He believes it’s the “right move by government” but admits it’s a concern for the tourism industry.

“Hopefully, it will only be localized and we’ll see those case numbers being reduced and people can feel safe about travelling anywhere in the province,” he said.

Ellen Walker-Matthews, CEO of the Thompson-Okanagan Tourism Association agrees, saying her organization is on board with whatever is necessary to “nip this in the bud.”

“We do know that it’s been a tough 15 months and everyone is trying to get back on track,” she said. “In order to get these numbers down, if there needs to be masking up and other restrictions, then we will follow what the health order is.”

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She hopes any impact on the local tourism industry will be short-lived.

“We don’t want it to ruin the summer. We’re encouraging people to follow the rules, follow what’s being asked of them, and also to get vaccinated … Vaccination is key to this, going forward,” Walker-Matthews said.

On Wednesday, health officials announced, in a bid to get people in the Interior fully vaccinated faster, the interval between COVID-19 vaccine doses there is being cut down to four weeks.

For his part, Judas believes fully vaccinated people should be allowed to travel anywhere in B.C. and also urges those who aren’t to ensure they get both doses.

He adds it’s too soon to say if would-be visitors are already cancelling plans to go there.

“Nothing’s a guarantee. We’re still counting on allowing people from the United States to visit. But if we start to see outbreaks in our province and they extend beyond a local area or a region, government may have to put in further travel restrictions,” Judas added.

‘If you don’t play by the rules, look what’s happened.’

As of midnight, masks will also once again be mandatory indoors in the Central Okanagan. They will also be recommended outdoors in that region, where physical distancing is not possible.

Big White Ski Resort, which offers mountain biking during the summer months, isn’t expecting Wednesday’s announcement to have a significant impact on its operations, especially when it comes to travellers who will soon be allowed to visit Canada from the U.S.

“If you want to come and whale watch or walk in the backcountry and you have to be double vaccinated to get across the border,” said Michael J. Ballingall, senior VP with Big White. “The magnet of BC is stronger than the inconvenience of getting double vaccinated and we can prove that [the fact] 80 per cent of our population has already done that, so I don’t think we’re going to have a problem there.”

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He says visitors to Big White should expect exactly what the public health guidance.

“You’re now going to have to wear a mask inside. This shouldn’t be foreign to anybody. Go find your mask, it’s right there in the glove compartment or in the drawer next to your bed. Just be ready to wear it again,” Ballingall said.

“This is just a great reminder that if you don’t play by the rules, look what’s happened.”

He adds Big White has been housing evacuees forced out of the Osoyoos area by wildfires and says most people have no issue with having to wear a mask when they’re indoors anywhere at the resort, including restaurants.

– With files from Marcella Bernardo