B.C. tourism operators, hotels, lodges can apply for COVID-19 grants
Posted January 14, 2022 3:16 pm.
Last Updated January 14, 2022 7:09 pm.
Tourism operators in British Columbia can apply for financial help from a $15-million relief fund to cover some of their losses due to COVID-19.
The provincial government says B.C.-owned hotels or motels that employ more than 150 people, Indigenous-owned resorts on reserves with over 100 employees and tourism operators who hold tenure or BC Parks permits can all apply for grants.
“The tourism industry in B.C. continues to be hit hard by the pandemic,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, in a statement. “This grant was a call to action by the Tourism Task Force to support these businesses with their bottom line and ensure they can thrive.”
The government says in a news release the grants can be used for property taxes, BC Hydro fees or for the costs of tenure or park-use permits. Businesses with tenure or park permits include whitewater rafting, zip lines, wildlife viewing, fishing and hunting.
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The grant is among other measures the province has brought in to help the hard-hit tourism sector, and the announcement comes as a relief to BC Hotel Association President Ingrid Jarrett.
“We know that more than 15 million would have been very, very welcome. But we also know there are finite resources and there are many other industries,” shee says.
“I don’t remember being as happy and relieved that our industry is seeing real support.”
The Tourism Accommodation and Commercial Recreation Relief Fund will offer critical support to large accommodators which are among the #HardestHit. Thank you @melaniejmark and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport for making this funding possible! https://t.co/Wcv6E5L7xm
— BC Hotel Association (@bchotelassoc) January 14, 2022
She says the support with fixed costs is particularly welcome, as it will allow operators to spend their money elsewhere, “which will allow businesses once again to bring their full complement of employees back, to continue to train, to upskill, and for us to recruit.”
With tightened restrictions on events and gatherings announced just before Christmas, Jarrett says the last few weeks brought more losses as bookings were cancelled during what is usually a profitable period.
