The recent public health recommendation restricting non-essential travel in and out of the Lower Mainland has come as a "devastating" shock to tourism businesses in B.C., an industry leader says. According to health officials, it's a measure required to slow the transmission of the virus — but it's another blow for the local tourism industry, which continues to be rocked by the pandemic. Nancy Small, CEO of Tourism Richmond and co-chair of the Metro Vancouver Tourism and Hospitality Industry Response and Recovery Task Force, said while she travel restrictions are hard for an already hurting industry, there were pockets of the province that saw some tourism activity this summer. Tourism revenues down 70%According to Nursey, revenues were down 70 per cent this year through September for the tourism industry in the Greater Victoria area. But after four months of non-essential travel expressly permitted by health officials, the new restriction is a frustration for the tourism CEO.

Source: CBC News November 10, 2020 16:12 UTC