Tourism

Britanny Vis, executive director of the Maritime Museum of BC, at their new location on Douglas Street. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Maritime Museum of BC opening to public at new downtown Victoria location

The space – currently featuring an exhibit on the SS Valencia shipwreck – can be rented for events

Britanny Vis, executive director of the Maritime Museum of BC, at their new location on Douglas Street. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
B.C. Premier John Horgan said on June 3 that COVID-19 restrictions won't be eased regionally, “If people want to book arrangements at their favourite place in B.C, you can certainly do that now, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get there,” Horgan said. (NEWS file photo)

FINLAYSON: Time for a ‘health check’ on the tourism industry as summer winds down

To revive the economy, this piece in the strategy is integral, writes Jock Finlayson

  • Aug 26, 2021
B.C. Premier John Horgan said on June 3 that COVID-19 restrictions won't be eased regionally, “If people want to book arrangements at their favourite place in B.C, you can certainly do that now, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get there,” Horgan said. (NEWS file photo)
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation member Timmy Masso set up a blockade at West Main Forest Service Road in an effort to prevent disrespectful visitors from further destroying the area. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Teen’s blockade of Tofino-Ucluelet backroads to tourists underway peacefully

Ucluelet RCMP confirm zero reports of confrontation as stand made against ongoing litter, fires

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation member Timmy Masso set up a blockade at West Main Forest Service Road in an effort to prevent disrespectful visitors from further destroying the area. (Andrew Bailey photo)
A river otter came out of the water to explore the neighbourhood near Victoria Harbour on Aug. 9. (Courtesy of Carly Nagtegaal)

VIDEO: Why did the otter cross the road in Victoria?

Seven-year-old boy spots otter frolicking in the grass near Victoria Harbour

A river otter came out of the water to explore the neighbourhood near Victoria Harbour on Aug. 9. (Courtesy of Carly Nagtegaal)
Timmy Masso is setting up a blockade at West Main Forest Service Road on Tuesday to prevent areas like this from being destroyed by disrespect. (Photo courtesy of Timmy Masso)

First Nations teen set to block destructive tourists from Tofino-Ucluelet wilderness area

“I will be shutting off that road starting at 4 pm today”

Timmy Masso is setting up a blockade at West Main Forest Service Road on Tuesday to prevent areas like this from being destroyed by disrespect. (Photo courtesy of Timmy Masso)
AquaLink, a tourism pilot project connecting five Southern Gulf Islands by water taxi, is set to start this September. (AquaLink/Screenshot)

Water taxi to connect five Southern Gulf Islands in pilot project

Taxi will run every Saturday and Sunday in September

AquaLink, a tourism pilot project connecting five Southern Gulf Islands by water taxi, is set to start this September. (AquaLink/Screenshot)
An empty supermarket inside the mall building. (Binny Paul/Terrace Standard)

Northern B.C.’s famed abandoned town preserved in time awaits its turn

Kitsault’s owner Krishnan Suthanthiran still interested in his plans for a dedicated energy corridor

An empty supermarket inside the mall building. (Binny Paul/Terrace Standard)
Riders with Bikers Against Child Abuse chose to visit the Peninsula on Sunday because of the Sidney Street Market and its food trucks. The market is operating out of a temporary location in the parking lot of the Mary Winspear Centre. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Tourists starting to roll back into Sidney

Sidney Street Market organizers, vendors observing more out-of-towners

Riders with Bikers Against Child Abuse chose to visit the Peninsula on Sunday because of the Sidney Street Market and its food trucks. The market is operating out of a temporary location in the parking lot of the Mary Winspear Centre. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Here’s Jonny, the one and only Jonny Harris on stage in Chemainus. (Photo by Chris Armstrong)

Vancouver Island community depicted in all its glory for TV’s ‘Still Standing’

Program brings unlimited benefits to featured communities like Chemainus

Here’s Jonny, the one and only Jonny Harris on stage in Chemainus. (Photo by Chris Armstrong)
Night lights and the Gates of Harmonious Interest on Fisgard Street in Victoria’s Chinatown. Don Denton photo

Victoria foodie company adds self-guided tours to its menu

Self-guided food are ready for the picking this weekend in Victoria. Off…

Night lights and the Gates of Harmonious Interest on Fisgard Street in Victoria’s Chinatown. Don Denton photo
View of the Malahat Skywalk’s Welcome Centre & Gathering Place, which has ticket sales, a cafe and a gift shop. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

VIDEO: Unique Malahat SkyWalk wows opening day visitors

Tourist facility combines nature-based tourism with a cultural tourism experience

View of the Malahat Skywalk’s Welcome Centre & Gathering Place, which has ticket sales, a cafe and a gift shop. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Canadian flags are seen on the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council as tourists take photos on Parliament Hill before Canada Day, in Ottawa on June 27, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Feds launch tourism fund to help tourism businesses avoid spiral of debt, Joly says

Even as restrictions ease, Minister Mélanie Joly says tourism operators feel some anxiety

Canadian flags are seen on the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council as tourists take photos on Parliament Hill before Canada Day, in Ottawa on June 27, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A local food tourism company opens its kiosk in the Steamship Terminal Building on July 17. (Google Maps)

Foodie tourism company opening kiosk in Victoria waterfront building

Off The Eaten Track adds self-guided tours to its menu

A local food tourism company opens its kiosk in the Steamship Terminal Building on July 17. (Google Maps)
Anna Poustie, chair of the Victoria Cruise Industry Alliance, stands at the Pier B entrance near the association’s office at Ogden Point, which would see tourist traffic of up to 15,000 people in a normal year. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Victoria-led cruise tourism, business coalition warns of potential losses

Without certainty for 2022, many related businesses may not survive another year

Anna Poustie, chair of the Victoria Cruise Industry Alliance, stands at the Pier B entrance near the association’s office at Ogden Point, which would see tourist traffic of up to 15,000 people in a normal year. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Indoor tours resumed July 2 at the B.C. Legislature for the first time since March 2020. Outdoor tours have been running since June. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Free indoor tours resume at B.C. legislature after more than a year

Roughly 100 people were admitted for tours on reopening day July 2

Indoor tours resumed July 2 at the B.C. Legislature for the first time since March 2020. Outdoor tours have been running since June. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
The empty streets of Banff are seen as Parks Canada is restricting vehicles in the national parks and national historic sites due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Banff, Alta., Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Even as Alberta plans to drop nearly all COVID-19 restrictions on July 1st, local businesses and the Banff National Park’s tourism board say they’ll be sorely missing international tourists for a second peak summer season in a row. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Banff is packed, but lack of international visitors leaves many businesses struggling

Real change for the sector will come only when borders are opened

The empty streets of Banff are seen as Parks Canada is restricting vehicles in the national parks and national historic sites due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Banff, Alta., Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Even as Alberta plans to drop nearly all COVID-19 restrictions on July 1st, local businesses and the Banff National Park’s tourism board say they’ll be sorely missing international tourists for a second peak summer season in a row. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A contestant on the U.S. game show The Price is Right on Friday won a trip to Sooke, including a six-day stay at the Prestige Oceanfront Resort Sooke. (Contributed - Prestige Oceanfront Resort Sooke)

Trip to Sooke featured as prize on popular U.S. game show

Price is Right contestant wins a six-night stay at Prestige Oceanfront Resort

A contestant on the U.S. game show The Price is Right on Friday won a trip to Sooke, including a six-day stay at the Prestige Oceanfront Resort Sooke. (Contributed - Prestige Oceanfront Resort Sooke)
Restaurant patrons enjoy the weather on a patio in Vancouver, B.C., on April 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Labour shortages, closed borders major obstacles to B.C. restaurant, tourism restarts

Industry expert says it won’t start to recover until international travellers can visit

Restaurant patrons enjoy the weather on a patio in Vancouver, B.C., on April 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Adventure of All Kinds Awaits in Nanaimo!

There’s fun to be had in Nanaimo, the city by the sea

As the weather continues to warm up, there are unforgettable adventures to…

  • Jun 14, 2021
Adventure of All Kinds Awaits in Nanaimo!
Health-care workers wait for airline passengers at a COVID-19 testing centre at Trudeau Airport in Montreal, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Travel quarantine rules set to ease for fully vaxed Canadians, permanent residents

Business groups welcomed the proposed change, still calling for a clear restart plan

Health-care workers wait for airline passengers at a COVID-19 testing centre at Trudeau Airport in Montreal, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz