The BC government is telling people to stay within their health authorities until after the May long weekend. That means anyone from the mainland who booked a camping trip on Vancouver Island is going to have to make other plans. But that could be changing soon!
In an interview with CTV news, Charles McDiarmid of the Wickanninish Inn in Tofino said that these new rules are overdue. Tofino and Ucluelet were busy over Easter weekend with people from the mainland even though the provincial government told people not to travel. This time, BC ferries will not take bookings for camper vans, RVs, or trailers. They will also be calling people with reservations to make sure they are travelling for essential reasons. There will be no extra sailings on the May long weekend.
Hotels will not be booking rooms for people from off island. For people who have already made a reservation, they will get a refund.
Walt Judas, who is the CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of BC, said that these new orders from the BC government are helpful. No one in the industry wants a total travel ban, but it helps local hotels and campgrounds make sure they are only serving people from the island.
“Not everybody will like it,” he told the Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News. But he says that people in the tourism industry know that we need to work together today if we’re going to save the rest of the summer.
Dr. Bonnie Henry says that these rules are in place until after the May long weekend because that is when they think they’ll have vaccinated 60% of all adults in BC.
