Tourists take photographs outside the British Columbia Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Friday August 26, 2011.A coalition of British Columbia tourism industry groups is urging the province against considering a domestic travel ban, saying restricting travel between provinces to fight COVID-19 would only further harm the sector.
He said many tourism-related businesses are barely surviving due to the pandemic and a travel ban now would likely mean many won’t survive the winter.“Tourism businesses in large and small communities are the glue that binds communities together,” Sharma said in an interview. “It runs through the fabric of our province and we need to find solutions as to how we can support them to get into spring and to create an environment in the spring where those businesses can flourish and succeed.
Sharma, speaking on behalf of tourism and accommodations organizations from Vancouver, Richmond and Greater Victoria, said a non-essential travel ban could also heighten unnecessary fears and misperceptions toward visitors to B.C. Sharma said the association has a legal opinion stating a travel ban would be difficult to implement due to Canada’s mobility rights provisions, but the industry is not looking for a legal confrontation with the province.“We don’t want to talk about conflict,” he said. “I don’t even want to say we will challenge this in court.”
Oh my oh my everybody just stop and think
Yes but it may keep us alive to travel later
Just look at how we are doing in Ontario.
boycottBC bcpoli
What gives with people...so our lives don't matter at all? Just tourism is important? Strange priorities i think...the value of life these days? Let's just try to stay alive eh...
Everyone is struggling. End this pandemic by obeying science and we can all return to life.
But ar what cost if you don't
Looking the picture, by the time people can wear summer cloths, the ban could be lifted
Wish Ontario did this.
People dying from COVID is also bad for business.
BC opened the flood gates end of June for July 1st wkn prior to being closed and we did not have any Covid cases. Many BCers complained many times about the numbers rising and BC did nothing. It got out of control and BC has been restrictied ever since. Poor planning all along.
So start a travel blog. Then travel for work
You actually want tourists ?
BC travel ban will harm BC economy less than huge COVID-19 infection rates in the long term.
It has to be done!!! What's wrong with these people
Do you want to stop the spread and return to some normalcy? Temporary travel ban from other provinces where COVID is out of control may be answer to help BC
The pandemic is with us, the virus loves the tourism sector. People are spreading the virus, and lots are getting ill, and some are dying. But let’s just complain.
To get where we need to go in terms of reduction (both short and long term) we need to be New Zealand like vs death by a thousand cuts= ban first. A ''tourist'' should be pre-tested in home country/province 48 hours before arrival. This is what the BVI is doing vs Mexico crazy.
I’ve had my own self imposed travel ban to BC since 2018. Won’t impact me in the slightest.
The lives of those who can’t work, support their families, raise their independents- killing their livelihoods- are equally as devastating as the death rate. The percentage of families suffering and struggling is tragic too.
So will people dying. Get over it
Priorities people. Priorities!
Reality is; for some time, maybe for decades, traveling around the world, even relatively locally will be cut down to the bare necessity. Not for pleasure, culture etc. So the life will become local. What is wrong with that? Nothing at all Every country can live/work on their own
... so ... what do U suggest? ... letting more people die? ... downsize, shutdown, retire, adjust and be patient! ... the government is giving support, not maintaining profits!
Facts are apparently every life doesn’t matter. We see it in the comments here People who are well off and don’t care about the pain of those who are killing themselves and being put out on the street for a virus that has a 99.9% survival rate
Both our government and MSM are trash
Wow would’ve never guessed 🙄
So.... does Vivek Sharma think we should let everyone travel to BC and to hell with the people who will end up dying because some clown wants to stand with his ice cream cone and gape at the scenery. I'm fed up with ignorant people.
Typical of any sector all me me me , covid spreads like wildfire, new strains scratching at the door waiting to get In, the country needs to shut its doors for one month, no In no out , and. Those who wish to leave, 2 weeks isolation at an isolation hotel at Their own expense
“Lack of BC travel ban will kill people.”
jjhorgan bcndp Everyone has to make changes because of covid... including our tourism. I personally don't want tourists in BC when we are making efforts to slow the spread. Our lives matter too!
Great reporting thanks.
The CCP has locked down more and tighter than any country in earth guess what the still got Covid it isn’t going anywhere you want to be mad be bad at them
No, you think ? 😒
Who the fuck writes your headlines, Captain Obvious? Yes travel bans and lockdowns hurt businesses but less people will die or get ill, that’s it, that is the truth.
Everything gov is doing is crushing everything. And its deliberate.
Too damn bad stay home I want to see my Grand kids
Too damn bad. So someone's life isn't important to you then ?