Visitor info centre goes virtual for summer

Jul 2, 2020 | 5:15 AM

Not as many tourists are expected to come to Vernon this summer, but the ones that do, won’t be able to stop in at the Visitor Information Centre.

The centre’s services will be offered virtually this summer due to Covid-related budget issues.

Due to the pandemic’s impact on travel, the city’s economic development and tourism manager, Kevin Poole, says hotel room tax revenue will be much lower.

“We collect a little over a million dollars typically from our hotel tax, which does include Air bnb’s. They also pay the tax, the ones located in the city of Vernon. This year, due to Covid, it’s been very challenging for the tourism industry, especially those on the accommodation side. Our estimates at this point, and this is an evolving situation, but likely around $300,000,” Poole told an online forum hosted by the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce.

Poole says the hotel tax funds are the primary source for tourism marketing.

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“As a result of Covid we closed our tourism information centre April 3 primarily due to demand. There was not a lot of people travelling at that time and looking for visitor services. So we did close the centre and now we have some significant budget constraints so we are looking at moving that to a virtual service at least for this year. “

The visitor info centre is on 39th Avenue on the former Civic Arena site.

Poole says they presented a tourism recovery plan to the tourism commission last week and the commission endorsed funds going to virtual services.

“We have seen from tourism operators and accommodators, they really have noticed an uptick in traffic over the last week and we’ve seen that on the visitor services side. So even though the centre is closed, were still taking phone calls and responding to emails, they’re just going internal and were responding to those as quickly as we can.”

As for the recovery plan, Poole said the city has been fortunate to receive $145,000 from the B.C. government for tourism.

“A big component of that is a co-op marketing program and we’re here to work with partners as they work through their recovery The marketing co-op is up to $50,000 that we’ve set aside for this to support the tourism businesses as they promote and try to attract people. More of a staycation but hopefully staying in our accommodations are a part of it,” Poole added.

by Pete McIntyre

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