Tourism

Guide Eli Schellenberg, in red, leads climbers down from the summit of the Mt. Norquay Via Ferrata near Banff, Alta., Thursday, June 20, 2019. Even as gas prices hit record highs, Canadians are fanning out across the country for fresh travel experiences after two years of bottled-up demand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canadians hold their noses at gas prices as they hit the road, skies once again

Some tourism operators expected to double down on domestic markets

Guide Eli Schellenberg, in red, leads climbers down from the summit of the Mt. Norquay Via Ferrata near Banff, Alta., Thursday, June 20, 2019. Even as gas prices hit record highs, Canadians are fanning out across the country for fresh travel experiences after two years of bottled-up demand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Remi Vande Weghe and his dog Maya were setting out for Dog Creek on April 30, 2022 from Williams Lake, as part of a tour through western Canada back home to Quebec. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Bicycle tourist rides through B.C. with his dog en route back to Quebec

Remy Vande Weghe is taking his dog Maya for a very long ride

Remi Vande Weghe and his dog Maya were setting out for Dog Creek on April 30, 2022 from Williams Lake, as part of a tour through western Canada back home to Quebec. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, president of Prairie Sky Gondola, is pictured at the location for a proposed urban gondola in Edmonton on Friday, April 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Cities in Western Canada consider gondolas as part of transit, tourism plans

Projects a way to move people across waterways or get tourists up mountainsides

Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, president of Prairie Sky Gondola, is pictured at the location for a proposed urban gondola in Edmonton on Friday, April 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
The city of Penticton didn’t renew the lease of the Peach to Diana Stirling and instead gave it to a company out of Alberta. (The Peach photo)

The Peach is no more: Penticton awards lease of the iconic stand to Alberta company

Penticton’s Diana Stirling said she is heartbroken by the news

The city of Penticton didn’t renew the lease of the Peach to Diana Stirling and instead gave it to a company out of Alberta. (The Peach photo)
Vivek Sharma, CEO of Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. (TIABC/YouTube)

CEO under fire for telling women at B.C. conference to ‘clean some rooms and do some dishes’

Vivek Sharma, CEO of Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, made the comments at an industry conference on March 9

Vivek Sharma, CEO of Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. (TIABC/YouTube)
B.C. hopes to attract marquee events and conferences to boost the tourism economy. (File photo)

B.C. announces further supports to revitalize tourism economy

Funding aimed at attracting events, conferences and training workers

B.C. hopes to attract marquee events and conferences to boost the tourism economy. (File photo)
Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance announced the Fraser River Discovery Centre will receive $150,000 from the federal Tourism Relief Fund on March 10, 2022. (Cole Schisler/Black Press)

VIDEO: Federal tourism relief fund begins rolling out to B.C. operators

The Fraser River Discovery Centre was the first B.C. organization to receive funding

Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance announced the Fraser River Discovery Centre will receive $150,000 from the federal Tourism Relief Fund on March 10, 2022. (Cole Schisler/Black Press)
Ethel Bell, co-founder of Three Valley Gap, was also a very talented musician and an athlete who loved playing football. (Contributed by Rene Bell Bourget)

‘She will be missed’: Ethel Bell, co-founder of Three Valley Gap hotel, dies at 88

Bell and her late husband, Gordon Bell, built the Three Valley Lake Chateau in the 1950’s

Ethel Bell, co-founder of Three Valley Gap, was also a very talented musician and an athlete who loved playing football. (Contributed by Rene Bell Bourget)
Plans are underway for a project that would see a gondola built near Vernon, climbing 1,600 feet above Kalamalka Lake. (Ridge North America photo)

Gondola proposed in the Okanagan overlooking Kalamalka Lake

The Okanagan Gondola, a project by developers of Golden Skybridge, is pending approval from the RDNO

Plans are underway for a project that would see a gondola built near Vernon, climbing 1,600 feet above Kalamalka Lake. (Ridge North America photo)
The West Coast Women’s Show is among numerous events held annually at Tradex in Abbotsford. A local residents’ group is planning to submit a bid for the operation of the facility that would include continuing to hold trade and consumer shows. (Abbotsford News file photo)

B.C. tourism, events industry receives $9.3M in government supports

Funds intended to support new tourism workers, restart conferences and business events

The West Coast Women’s Show is among numerous events held annually at Tradex in Abbotsford. A local residents’ group is planning to submit a bid for the operation of the facility that would include continuing to hold trade and consumer shows. (Abbotsford News file photo)
People wear face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19 while visiting the Christmas Market in Vancouver, on Thursday, December 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

FINLAYSON: B.C.’s economy has largely healed, thankfully

Over the last 18 months, overall economic production has rebounded, writes Jock Finlayson

  • Dec 24, 2021
People wear face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19 while visiting the Christmas Market in Vancouver, on Thursday, December 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
(Canadian Press photo)

Travel, tourism sectors see glimmers of hope amid Omicron uncertainty

Many Canadians second-guessing their travel plans as information trickles out about Omicron

(Canadian Press photo)
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot)

B.C. ski resorts prepare for holiday cancellations due to highway closures

Big White ski resort said over 70 holiday bookings have already been cancelled

(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot)
Skiers stands at the top of Big White ski resort in Kelowna, B.C., Friday, Jan. 26, 2007. Canadian ski resorts, including Big White, that rely on Canada’s backlogged visa approval service are facing a labour shortage this season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Canadian ski resorts face labour shortage, government slow to issue working visas

“We’ll start panicking around Nov. 1 if nothing changes because there’s just not enough Canadians…”

Skiers stands at the top of Big White ski resort in Kelowna, B.C., Friday, Jan. 26, 2007. Canadian ski resorts, including Big White, that rely on Canada’s backlogged visa approval service are facing a labour shortage this season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Though the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival is gone, the Season of the Wild hosted by Tourism Harrison River Valley aims to act as its spiritual successor and build on the legacy of wildlife awareness and conservation. (Bob Friesen File Photo)

Tourism Harrison River Valley unleashes Season of the Wild celebration

Fall, winter celebration promises multiple events celebrating local wildlife

Though the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival is gone, the Season of the Wild hosted by Tourism Harrison River Valley aims to act as its spiritual successor and build on the legacy of wildlife awareness and conservation. (Bob Friesen File Photo)
The Tree to Sea loop is a 1,000 km bikepacking route around the north end of Vancouver Island. Photo courtesy Miles Arbor

1,000 km route opens northern Vancouver Island to bikepackers

Bikepacking combines ultralight backpacking and bicycle touring

The Tree to Sea loop is a 1,000 km bikepacking route around the north end of Vancouver Island. Photo courtesy Miles Arbor
The Norwegian Bliss en route from Alaska to Seattle makes it's way towards Ogden Point in Victoria, B.C., on Friday June 1, 2018. Two U.S. bills proposed by a congressman and senator aimed at allowing Alaskan-bound cruise ships to bypass Canadian ports would have a "devastating" affect on British Columbia's economy, the head of Victoria's harbour authority says. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Alaska cruise ship bill would have ‘devastating’ economic impact: B.C. port official

Under proposed legislation, large foreign cruise ships can bypass Canadian ports

The Norwegian Bliss en route from Alaska to Seattle makes it's way towards Ogden Point in Victoria, B.C., on Friday June 1, 2018. Two U.S. bills proposed by a congressman and senator aimed at allowing Alaskan-bound cruise ships to bypass Canadian ports would have a "devastating" affect on British Columbia's economy, the head of Victoria's harbour authority says. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
One of four totem poles on the corners of a bridge over the Nass River to Gitwinksihlkw (Canyon City) in northwestern British Columbia is seen on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada is making a bleak prediction about its members’ ability to rapidly recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel

Pandemic recovery for Indigenous tourism will be slow, says report

Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada projects an overall 54 per cent decline since the pandemic

One of four totem poles on the corners of a bridge over the Nass River to Gitwinksihlkw (Canyon City) in northwestern British Columbia is seen on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada is making a bleak prediction about its members’ ability to rapidly recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel
Stephane Prevost, a Banff restaurateur, poses in this handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Tourism destinations brace for busy winter without usual supply of foreign workers

Uncertainty around COVID-19 has kept some potential resort staffers from moving to Canada

Stephane Prevost, a Banff restaurateur, poses in this handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
B.C. Premier John Horgan said on June 3 that COVID-19 restrictions won't be eased regionally, “If people want to book arrangements at their favourite place in B.C, you can certainly do that now, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get there,” Horgan said. (NEWS file photo)

FINLAYSON: Time for a ‘health check’ on the tourism industry as summer winds down

To revive the economy, this piece in the strategy is integral, writes Jock Finlayson

  • Aug 26, 2021
B.C. Premier John Horgan said on June 3 that COVID-19 restrictions won't be eased regionally, “If people want to book arrangements at their favourite place in B.C, you can certainly do that now, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get there,” Horgan said. (NEWS file photo)
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