![Tourism Kamloops CEO says province's $100M for tourism industry is 'not nearly enough'](https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/1605/files/2020/05/tourism-kamloops-visitor-centre.jpg)
‘It’s not nearly enough.’
That is what the CEO of Tourism Kamloops says after the provincial government announced $100-million for the tourism industry earlier this month.
Bev DeSantis says that amount of money doesn’t come close to the needs of those in the sector hit the hardest.
“I was really excited that the government has recognized tourism as an important industry in the province and that desperate help is needed,” she said. “This is a far cry as from what we have asked for to support our industry.”
“I’m sure some businesses will appreciate this boost of support but there are a lot of businesses that are not going to make it without support from the government in a broader way.”
B.C.’s tourism and hospitality businesses were hoping for $680-million to help with recovery following months of little to no activity because of the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions.
Instead, the province will launch a tourism task force that will decide on how to spend $50 million of the funding in the current fiscal year. The other half of the money will go towards tourism-dependent communities, marketing for regional tourism, and a recovery strategy for Destination B.C..
“This is tough, tough times for that sector,” NDP Leader John Horgan said. “We’ve put in place programs that will help them get through the next short while.”
Speaking on the NL Morning News, DeSantis admitted she wasn’t a fan of how the money will be allocated as well.
“I would have preferred to see the money in the pocket’s of the people who need it and businesses that are struggling to survive now,” she said. “And for those larger businesses, I mean, $40,000 that doesn’t help Rocky Mountaineer, that really doesn’t help a lot of the larger tourism businesses and folks in our city.”
She previously told NL News that overall the summer has been discouraging from a tourism standpoint, but that it was not unexpected because of COVID-19.
Extra Grants for Tourism Operators
The tourism industry will also be aided by the recovery grants for small and medium-sized businesses, which will give tourism operators an additional $10,000 top-up.
“It’s a good start,” said Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of B.C, noting the industry is expected to earn less than $7-billion this year, compared to $20.5 billion in revenue back in 2018.
This additional funding is meant to help tourism operators pay rent and utility bills, with Judas saying they’re looking to get the money to buisinesses as quickly as posible so they can survive in the winter months.
And he hopes that there will be more money for tourism announced by the provincial government in the 2021 budget.
Comments