Posted:
May 26, 2021
Tourism Fernie looks toward recovery this Tourism Week
This year, Tourism Week (May 23-30) recognizes the resilience of the industry through this unprecedented time while focusing on recovery and encouraging Canadians to travel within Canada this year to support the recovery.
Why does tourism count? Prior to COVID-19, tourism in Canada was a $105 billion industry, accounted for two per cent of Canada’s GDP ($43.5 billion) and employed 1.8 million workers (one in 10 jobs).
In 2020, the pandemic caused Canada’s accommodation revenues to fall an estimated 61%. In B.C., 2019 was the strongest year for tourism generating $22.3 billion in revenues and contributing more to GDP than any other primary resource industry in B.C. In 2020, B.C.’s accommodation revenues fell an estimated 55% compared to 2019.
Posted:
May 19, 2021
City of Fernie promoting outdoor dining options
The City of Fernie is supporting local food-service providers by promoting pop-up COVID-safe dining options throughout the city.
Picnic tables will be installed on 6th Street, the Station Square parking lot, on City Hall grounds starting on May 21 in time for the May long weekend.
Mayor Ange Qualizza
Mayor Ange Qualizza noted, “This pandemic has been extremely hard on our business community, and on our ability to socially gather downtown. Extending and supporting an expansion of outdoor seating options is one small way we can support a fun, ‘al fresco,’ socially distant outdoor dining opportunity and enjoy everything that makes our historic downtown fabulous.”
Posted:
April 29, 2021
Loyal to Local campaign launched in Fernie
Local businesses, organizations and the tourism sector have endured many challenges and hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starting April 29 until June 20, the
LOYAL to LOCAL #FernieStrong initiative aims to further support local by rewarding local spending.
“We’re really excited about this new initiative in partnership with the Fernie Chamber of Commerce, the Visitor Centre and sponsored by Teck,” explained Jikke Gyorki, Executive Officer at Tourism Fernie. “We wanted to create a more engaging way for locals to support local, by helping all business types throughout the community and by showing off their support with free swag and a chance to win.”
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As signs are expected to be posted at the boundary between Alberta and British Columbia to advise against non-essential travel between provinces, border towns and local tourism groups are encouraging people to hit pause on interprovincial travel plans until the spread of COVID-19 slows.
The signs at the border are part of B.C. Premier John Horgan’s strategy to discourage recreational trips between provinces and within B.C. while active cases remain high and variant cases continue to spread. Though more details on the new measures are expected Friday, the province is planning periodic roadblocks and police checkstops to limit non-essential travel.