The removal of COVID-19 capacity restrictions is a positive sign for B.C.91裸聊视频檚 struggling tourism industry, but there is a long way to go on recovery, the industry association says.

B.C.91裸聊视频檚 2022 budget continues pandemic support for tourism operators with a $25 million relief fund, but the big jobs ahead are rebuilding B.C.91裸聊视频檚 tourism workforce and marketing, says Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Association of B.C.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 difficult to say whether $25 million is enough, certainly after last year and what we experienced,91裸聊视频� Judas said Feb. 22 after going through Finance Minister Selina Robinson91裸聊视频檚 budget presentation. 91裸聊视频淚t may not be enough depending on what happens this year. If we revert back to more measures or more restrictions and roll back some of the progress that we91裸聊视频檝e made, then most definitely businesses are going to need help, whether it91裸聊视频檚 the closure of the relief grant or more for the small and medium-sized business recovery grant.91裸聊视频�

The B.C. government91裸聊视频檚 spending demands are not letting up this year, with a $6.6 billion increase in deficit spending forecast to repair and strengthen flood-damaged roads and communities, as well as growing health and child care. That91裸聊视频檚 a concern for all businesses, says Bridgitte Anderson, president of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.

91裸聊视频淭he budget lacks financial details to support many of the announced initiatives and does not address needed tax and regulatory reform, especially for our small and medium businesses,91裸聊视频� Anderson said.

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Judas noted that tourism recovery depends on restoring air routes for international travel, and B.C. finds itself in a tough competition.

91裸聊视频淚 think what we91裸聊视频檇 really like to see is more specifics around the marketing efforts, whether it91裸聊视频檚 money for Destination B.C., Indigenous Tourism B.C., the regional and community destination marketing and management organizations,91裸聊视频� Judas said. 91裸聊视频淎re there sufficient funds for them to market in a more ambitious way, because there91裸聊视频檚 so much competition now. The world is opening up and everybody91裸聊视频檚 in the marketplace.

91裸聊视频淚f things progress as they are, we should do fairly well, but it takes a long time for sectors such as meetings and events to ramp back up and attract the international visitation.91裸聊视频�

tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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