Ski resorts in B.C.91裸聊视频檚 Interior are bracing for financial fallout from highway closures and travel restrictions that leave them cut off from the Lower Mainland.
Senior vice president of Big White ski resort Michael J Ballingall said the resort has already seen more than 70 cancellations for holiday bookings. The wave of cancellations comes as the resort continues to deal with lost revenues and staffing issues from COVID-19.
91裸聊视频淭his is the worst of the worst. We understand there91裸聊视频檚 a pandemic we have to deal with. We understand the airline business is in a state of flux. We did the best we could to fill our resort for Christmas and New Year91裸聊视频檚. Now there91裸聊视频檚 been a natural disaster and we91裸聊视频檙e dealing with that.91裸聊视频�
Ballingall said that 40 per cent of visitors to Big White are destination tourists who stay at the resort for at least one night, but with non-essential travel restricted and the Coquihalla out of commission until late January at the earliest, tourists are left with little option but to fly or cancel.
Silver Star mountain resort echoed Ballingall91裸聊视频檚 concerns about being cut off from the Lower Mainland but said they haven91裸聊视频檛 yet seen the same level of cancellations.
91裸聊视频淲e haven91裸聊视频檛 received many cancellations yet but if the highways remain closed between the Interior and the Lower Mainland after Dec. 1 we absolutely will be impacted. The holiday season is our busiest time of year and we rely heavily on tourists visiting and staying at SilverStar during this time,91裸聊视频� Silver Star media relations manager Chantelle Deacon said.
Sun Peaks resort near Kamloops has seen some cancellations as well. Like Silver Star, they91裸聊视频檙e waiting for Dec. 1 to assess their approach based on highway conditions and any potential trip cancellations.
The Ministry of Arts, Culture and Sport said in a statement to Black Press that financial supports are available to business owners who have been impacted by B.C.91裸聊视频檚 extreme weather events, including disaster financial assistance, tax remittance relief, bill relief and emergency management resources.
Destination B.C. is developing plans to support resorts and advise the public on ways to access resorts once travel restrictions are lifted. The organization has marketing funds available to promote alternative travel routes like airlines.
91裸聊视频淭here are a number of additional options for people looking to get to ski resorts including flying by air. Swoop just announced flights between Abbotsford and Kelowna six days per week and WestJet, Air Canada and Air North have added extra flights, larger aircraft and locked fares,91裸聊视频� ministry spokesperson Cala Wormald said.
Destination B.C. is set to release a 91裸聊视频淗ow to Travel to B.C. this Winter91裸聊视频� guide in early December that will share information on roads and routes for leisure travel.
In the meantime, resorts like Big White are girding themselves for further cancellations.
91裸聊视频淲e just have to deal with it as it comes. We91裸聊视频檒l get through this,91裸聊视频� Ballingall said.
cole.schisler@bpdigital.ca
Like us on and follow us on .
Want to support local journalism? Make a donation
