The removal of COVID-19 capacity restrictions is a positive sign for B.C.B次元官网网址檚 struggling tourism industry, but there is a long way to go on recovery, the industry association says.

B.C.B次元官网网址檚 2022 budget continues pandemic support for tourism operators with a $25 million relief fund, but the big jobs ahead are rebuilding B.C.B次元官网网址檚 tourism workforce and marketing, says Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Association of B.C.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 difficult to say whether $25 million is enough, certainly after last year and what we experienced,B次元官网网址� Judas said Feb. 22 after going through Finance Minister Selina RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 budget presentation. B次元官网网址淚t may not be enough depending on what happens this year. If we revert back to more measures or more restrictions and roll back some of the progress that weB次元官网网址檝e made, then most definitely businesses are going to need help, whether itB次元官网网址檚 the closure of the relief grant or more for the small and medium-sized business recovery grant.B次元官网网址�

The B.C. governmentB次元官网网址檚 spending demands are not letting up this year, with a $6.6 billion increase in deficit spending forecast to repair and strengthen flood-damaged roads and communities, as well as growing health and child care. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a concern for all businesses, says Bridgitte Anderson, president of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.

B次元官网网址淭he budget lacks financial details to support many of the announced initiatives and does not address needed tax and regulatory reform, especially for our small and medium businesses,B次元官网网址� Anderson said.

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Judas noted that tourism recovery depends on restoring air routes for international travel, and B.C. finds itself in a tough competition.

B次元官网网址淚 think what weB次元官网网址檇 really like to see is more specifics around the marketing efforts, whether itB次元官网网址檚 money for Destination B.C., Indigenous Tourism B.C., the regional and community destination marketing and management organizations,B次元官网网址� Judas said. B次元官网网址淎re there sufficient funds for them to market in a more ambitious way, because thereB次元官网网址檚 so much competition now. The world is opening up and everybodyB次元官网网址檚 in the marketplace.

B次元官网网址淚f things progress as they are, we should do fairly well, but it takes a long time for sectors such as meetings and events to ramp back up and attract the international visitation.B次元官网网址�

tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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