Some people in the industry are already seeing a change in the number of people coming from overseas, particularly from China -- the second-largest long-haul market for Canada-bound tourists and where the outbreak began.
Several Canadian tourism marketing agencies have pulled all their ad money from China and are using it to double down on efforts to attract people from other markets like the United States and United Kingdom.
"We know that this will end at some point and we want to continue the relationship, we don't want to abandon the gains that we've made in any markets," said spokeswoman Jantine Van Kregten. She is expected to give a presentation to members of British Columbia's tourism industry Wednesday, with a focus on what to expect if the coronavirus continues to spread globally.
Health Minister Patty Hajdu said the federal government is preparing for a large influx of international travellers during the upcoming tourist season, but was not specific about those plans.
Cheaper fuel, less lineups, better service. Maybe I can actually get a campsite, that tour operators somehow always get ahead of British Columbians. Which the Province swears it’s an Honest first come first serve reservation system.
A tiny microscopic virus puts the world on notice. Yeshua was so right on about his prophecies in these troubled times.