By Melissa Renwick, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter HA-SHILTH-SA

When B.C.91裸聊视频檚 proof of vaccination requirement expired on April 8, it was the last major COVID-19 measure removed by the province.

And with that move, the province also peeled back the inhibitions keeping visitors away from the Tofino/Ucluelet area.

The popular Vancouver Island tourist destination is gearing up for a busy summer season due to pent-up demand for travel, but it will not without some bumps.

Tourism Tofino Executive Director Nancy Cameron said hotel occupancy is expected to be 90 to 95 per cent for July and August.

91裸聊视频淎fter a challenging two years for many tourism operators, we are projecting that July and August visitation will be close to pre-pandemic levels,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲e are thrilled to also see the gradual return of international visitors, although not yet at 2019 levels.91裸聊视频�

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation has eased its COVID-19 restrictions, and after more than two years, the nation91裸聊视频檚 Tribal Administrator Jim Chisholm said 91裸聊视频渓ife is getting back to normal.91裸聊视频�

Face mask requirements have been relaxed, restrictions on the number of people at indoor and outdoor gatherings have been eased, and there is no longer a check-stop at the entrance of Ty-Histanis to monitor people coming and going from the community.

This comes as a 91裸聊视频渞elief91裸聊视频� to many community members, Chisholm said.

91裸聊视频淲e had a lot of our elders and a lot of our people that hadn91裸聊视频檛 seen their grandkids in a year,91裸聊视频� Chisholm said. 91裸聊视频淣ow, they can get back together with their family.91裸聊视频�

While the community is 91裸聊视频渏oyful91裸聊视频� overall, Chisholm said the tribal administration and emergency management continues to closely monitor COVID-19 case counts.

The nation remains concerned anytime one of its members gets COVID-19, he said.

91裸聊视频淲e still do get the odd case, but obviously not as bad as we had it before,91裸聊视频� Chisholm added.

Lewis and Cathy George have been operating the House of Himwitsa, a First Nations art gallery and lodge, since 1991.

While the lodge91裸聊视频檚 occupancy rate has returned to pre-pandemic levels and is already 95 per cent full for the months of July and August, Cathy said they91裸聊视频檙e keeping COVID-19 safety protocols in place.

Staff are only permitted to enter guest rooms after they91裸聊视频檝e managed to disinfect and clean for the next visitors, she said. Visitors are not required to wear masks in the gallery, but Cathy said many put them on before entering the business.

For Cathy, it91裸聊视频檚 a show of 91裸聊视频渞espect.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 important,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淓specially in small communities like this where things can spread so easily. 91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e having a hard time with staff,91裸聊视频� Cathy said. 91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 want to put any pressure on them above and beyond what91裸聊视频檚 already going on.91裸聊视频�

Because of the specialized nature of the art gallery, Cathy said it91裸聊视频檚 been challenging to retain staff. The business is operating with four fewer employees than normally required.

91裸聊视频淓verybody here in Tofino is struggling for staff,91裸聊视频� she said.

With the return of tourists visiting the area, Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce President Laura McDonald said businesses are 91裸聊视频渆xtremely concerned about staffing shortages and the impact on their operations.91裸聊视频�

While a variety of factors are at play, McDonald said the lack of housing is one of the leading causes of the staffing shortages.

The District of Tofino finished construction on a 14-unit affordable housing project earlier this year and another is expected to be complete in 2023, said McDonald.

91裸聊视频淲hile these projects are encouraging, they won91裸聊视频檛 on their own alleviate Tofino91裸聊视频檚 housing issues,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲e still require new residential housing developments to be built in the district. The reality of staffing shortages is that businesses have to adjust and sometimes curtail services, and we are seeing this happen.91裸聊视频�

Despite continuing to wear her mask when the art gallery gets busy and trying to protect family members with asthma, Cathy George said she 91裸聊视频渓ooks forward91裸聊视频� to welcoming international visitors back to her store.

91裸聊视频淚 really enjoy talking to people from all over the world,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭hey just love our culture.91裸聊视频�