By Melissa Renwick, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter HA-SHILTH-SA

When B.C.B次元官网网址檚 proof of vaccination requirement expired on April 8, it was the last major COVID-19 measure removed by the province.

And with that move, the province also peeled back the inhibitions keeping visitors away from the Tofino/Ucluelet area.

The popular Vancouver Island tourist destination is gearing up for a busy summer season due to pent-up demand for travel, but it will not without some bumps.

Tourism Tofino Executive Director Nancy Cameron said hotel occupancy is expected to be 90 to 95 per cent for July and August.

B次元官网网址淎fter a challenging two years for many tourism operators, we are projecting that July and August visitation will be close to pre-pandemic levels,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e are thrilled to also see the gradual return of international visitors, although not yet at 2019 levels.B次元官网网址�

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation has eased its COVID-19 restrictions, and after more than two years, the nationB次元官网网址檚 Tribal Administrator Jim Chisholm said B次元官网网址渓ife is getting back to normal.B次元官网网址�

Face mask requirements have been relaxed, restrictions on the number of people at indoor and outdoor gatherings have been eased, and there is no longer a check-stop at the entrance of Ty-Histanis to monitor people coming and going from the community.

This comes as a B次元官网网址渞eliefB次元官网网址� to many community members, Chisholm said.

B次元官网网址淲e had a lot of our elders and a lot of our people that hadnB次元官网网址檛 seen their grandkids in a year,B次元官网网址� Chisholm said. B次元官网网址淣ow, they can get back together with their family.B次元官网网址�

While the community is B次元官网网址渏oyfulB次元官网网址� overall, Chisholm said the tribal administration and emergency management continues to closely monitor COVID-19 case counts.

The nation remains concerned anytime one of its members gets COVID-19, he said.

B次元官网网址淲e still do get the odd case, but obviously not as bad as we had it before,B次元官网网址� Chisholm added.

Lewis and Cathy George have been operating the House of Himwitsa, a First Nations art gallery and lodge, since 1991.

While the lodgeB次元官网网址檚 occupancy rate has returned to pre-pandemic levels and is already 95 per cent full for the months of July and August, Cathy said theyB次元官网网址檙e keeping COVID-19 safety protocols in place.

Staff are only permitted to enter guest rooms after theyB次元官网网址檝e managed to disinfect and clean for the next visitors, she said. Visitors are not required to wear masks in the gallery, but Cathy said many put them on before entering the business.

For Cathy, itB次元官网网址檚 a show of B次元官网网址渞espect.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 important,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淓specially in small communities like this where things can spread so easily. B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e having a hard time with staff,B次元官网网址� Cathy said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want to put any pressure on them above and beyond whatB次元官网网址檚 already going on.B次元官网网址�

Because of the specialized nature of the art gallery, Cathy said itB次元官网网址檚 been challenging to retain staff. The business is operating with four fewer employees than normally required.

B次元官网网址淓verybody here in Tofino is struggling for staff,B次元官网网址� she said.

With the return of tourists visiting the area, Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce President Laura McDonald said businesses are B次元官网网址渆xtremely concerned about staffing shortages and the impact on their operations.B次元官网网址�

While a variety of factors are at play, McDonald said the lack of housing is one of the leading causes of the staffing shortages.

The District of Tofino finished construction on a 14-unit affordable housing project earlier this year and another is expected to be complete in 2023, said McDonald.

B次元官网网址淲hile these projects are encouraging, they wonB次元官网网址檛 on their own alleviate TofinoB次元官网网址檚 housing issues,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e still require new residential housing developments to be built in the district. The reality of staffing shortages is that businesses have to adjust and sometimes curtail services, and we are seeing this happen.B次元官网网址�

Despite continuing to wear her mask when the art gallery gets busy and trying to protect family members with asthma, Cathy George said she B次元官网网址渓ooks forwardB次元官网网址� to welcoming international visitors back to her store.

B次元官网网址淚 really enjoy talking to people from all over the world,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hey just love our culture.B次元官网网址�