SHARE ON: A Humpback whale. (Brigitte Werner, Pixabay)
Industry leaders are worried that the province’s tourism investments may not be able to save some businesses in time.
B.C.’s major tourism and hospitality sectors say that while they welcome the funding announced during Tuesday’s budget, it may not be enough to save some businesses until such time travel restrictions are lifted, and inter-provincial and international travellers can once again visit the province.
Ian MacPhee works for Vancouver Island’s Prince of Whales Whale Watching and is also a director with the Tourism Industry Association of B.C. (TIABC).
“Frankly, there isn’t much new in [the budget] for business or retail,” said Bruenjes.
Tuesday’s budget included $195 million to continue the Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant Program, which allows businesses to access up to $30,000 to support recovery and adapt to COVID-19.
There’s $150 million to support the Increased Employment Incentive tax credit; continued PST exemption on the purchase of select equipment and machinery until the end of September; and a permanent move to allow restaurants, bars and tourism operators with liquor licences to purchase beer, wine and spirits at wholesale prices.
The budget includes $500 million over three years to expand the digital economy through the InBC fund, an investment fund to help companies scale up, and attract and retain jobs and investment in B.C.
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The provincial government has announced a $50 million relief program to help businesses affected by BC’s three-week “circuit breaker” emergency restrictions.
The program is called the Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant. The province says that the initiative will help 14,000 businesses that were hurt by the most recent health orders. This includes restaurants, bars, breweries, wineries, gyms, and fitness centres.
Eligible businesses will receive a one-time fund of up to $10,000 to help cover expenses such as rent, insurance, employee wages, maintenance, and utilities. The money can also be used to cover unexpected costs like perishable goods.
“We understand how greatly this group of businesses have been, and continue to be, impacted by the pandemic,” Premier John Horgan says in an emailed statement.
More people visited Central Okanagan in 2020 but fewer stayed in hotels
Lisanne Ballantyne, president and CEO of Tourism Kelowna, says more travellers to Central Okanagan despite the pandemic doesn t translate into more spending on hotels and other businesses in the region.
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