Tourism

Sunny days are back again for businesses feeding off Ucluelet’s Wild Pacific Trail and the other attractions of Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim. (John McKinley photo)

`Life is getting back to normal’ for tourism in Tofino/Ucluelet area

Residents remain cautious with COVID as businesses struggle with staffing as visitors flood back

Sunny days are back again for businesses feeding off Ucluelet’s Wild Pacific Trail and the other attractions of Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim. (John McKinley photo)
FILE - Elvis impersonator Brendan Paul, right, walks down the aisle during a wedding ceremony for Katie Salvatore, center, and Eric Wheeler at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Authentic Brands Group (ABG) sent cease-and-desist letters earlier this month to multiple chapels, saying they had to comply by the end of May, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Company to Las Vegas chapels: No more Elvis-themed weddings

Authentic Brands Group sent cease-and-desist letters in early May to multiple chapels

FILE - Elvis impersonator Brendan Paul, right, walks down the aisle during a wedding ceremony for Katie Salvatore, center, and Eric Wheeler at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Authentic Brands Group (ABG) sent cease-and-desist letters earlier this month to multiple chapels, saying they had to comply by the end of May, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Jock Finlayson is a senior policy advisor with the Business Council of British Columbia.

FINLAYSON: Taming the inflation monster

‘Canadian policymakers should support the Bank of Canada’s efforts to get inflation back to 2 per cent’

  • Jun 1, 2022
Jock Finlayson is a senior policy advisor with the Business Council of British Columbia.
Students explore the outdoors and learn how to lead in the Greater Victoria School District’s Tourism and Leadership Exploration program. (Photo by Sean Thompson)

Greater Victoria teens explore outdoors, hone leadership skills with tourism program

Businesses partner in SD61 program that trains students as tour guides

Students explore the outdoors and learn how to lead in the Greater Victoria School District’s Tourism and Leadership Exploration program. (Photo by Sean Thompson)
Melanie Mark, MLA elect for Vancouver-Mt Pleasant, speaks with media after becoming the first First Nations woman to serve in the legislature as she looks up at family and friends during a swearing in ceremony at legislature on Wednesday, February 17, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

MARK: B.C.’s tourism industry paddles out of the pandemic storm, ready to welcome visitors

‘The recovery of the tourism industry is bringing a new challenge for operators in B.C.’

  • May 27, 2022
Melanie Mark, MLA elect for Vancouver-Mt Pleasant, speaks with media after becoming the first First Nations woman to serve in the legislature as she looks up at family and friends during a swearing in ceremony at legislature on Wednesday, February 17, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Eldo Enns rides his penny farthing bicycle in Dawson City, Yukon, on Friday June 19, 2009. Yukon’s tourism industry is abuzz with anticipation as Canada’s northernmost border opens June 1 for the first time since the pandemic began, says the executive director of the Klondike Visitors Association in Dawson City.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada’s most northern border to reopen June 1, Yukon prepares for return of tourism

Americans typically make up most of the territory’s tourists

Eldo Enns rides his penny farthing bicycle in Dawson City, Yukon, on Friday June 19, 2009. Yukon’s tourism industry is abuzz with anticipation as Canada’s northernmost border opens June 1 for the first time since the pandemic began, says the executive director of the Klondike Visitors Association in Dawson City.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Lake Cowichan’s floating walkway has been removed due to rot. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)

Cowichan Lake’s floating walkway dead in the water

Town needs grant money to replace aged structure

Lake Cowichan’s floating walkway has been removed due to rot. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)
A treehouse-style home in East Sooke has been selected as the top new host in Canada by Airbnb.

East Sooke treehouse retreat tops Airbnb list

Vacation property earns accolades for a desirable destination

A treehouse-style home in East Sooke has been selected as the top new host in Canada by Airbnb.
Citizen scientists in the Gulf Islands are worried humpback whales are being stressed by too much time with whale watching vessels. (Black Press Media file photo)

Citizen science whale observers worry humpbacks being harassed

One mother whale and her calf followed for upwards of 5 hours a day recently, says volunteer group

Citizen scientists in the Gulf Islands are worried humpback whales are being stressed by too much time with whale watching vessels. (Black Press Media file photo)
Guide Eli Schellenberg, in red, leads climbers down from the summit of the Mt. Norquay Via Ferrata near Banff, Alta., Thursday, June 20, 2019. Even as gas prices hit record highs, Canadians are fanning out across the country for fresh travel experiences after two years of bottled-up demand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canadians hold their noses at gas prices as they hit the road, skies once again

Some tourism operators expected to double down on domestic markets

Guide Eli Schellenberg, in red, leads climbers down from the summit of the Mt. Norquay Via Ferrata near Banff, Alta., Thursday, June 20, 2019. Even as gas prices hit record highs, Canadians are fanning out across the country for fresh travel experiences after two years of bottled-up demand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
(Black Press Media file photo)

PawSwap offers treats for pet owners, dog-friendly businesses with rewards

The Isle of Dogs campaign promotes Vancouver Island as one of B.C.’s most dog-friendly locations

(Black Press Media file photo)
Destination Greater Victoria named Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites general manager Brenda Ollis recipient of the 2022 Miracle Award and Harbour Air Group CEO Randy Wright the recipient of the Life Member Award. (Photos courtesy DGV)

Longtime Greater Victoria tourism leaders honoured for career contributions

Chateau Victoria’s Brenda Ollis, Harbour Air’s Randy Wright earn prestigious awards

Destination Greater Victoria named Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites general manager Brenda Ollis recipient of the 2022 Miracle Award and Harbour Air Group CEO Randy Wright the recipient of the Life Member Award. (Photos courtesy DGV)
Remi Vande Weghe and his dog Maya were setting out for Dog Creek on April 30, 2022 from Williams Lake, as part of a tour through western Canada back home to Quebec. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Bicycle tourist rides through B.C. with his dog en route back to Quebec

Remy Vande Weghe is taking his dog Maya for a very long ride

Remi Vande Weghe and his dog Maya were setting out for Dog Creek on April 30, 2022 from Williams Lake, as part of a tour through western Canada back home to Quebec. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Josh Brown beams over his Vancouver Island Tourism Employee of the Year award overlooking the spectacular view from Black Rock Oceanfront Resort’s lounge on April 23. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Ucluelet hospitality champion honoured as Island’s top employee

Black Rock Oceanfront Resort’s Josh Brown named Employee of the Year at Island Tourism Conference

Josh Brown beams over his Vancouver Island Tourism Employee of the Year award overlooking the spectacular view from Black Rock Oceanfront Resort’s lounge on April 23. (Andrew Bailey photo)
Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, president of Prairie Sky Gondola, is pictured at the location for a proposed urban gondola in Edmonton on Friday, April 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Cities in Western Canada consider gondolas as part of transit, tourism plans

Projects a way to move people across waterways or get tourists up mountainsides

Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, president of Prairie Sky Gondola, is pictured at the location for a proposed urban gondola in Edmonton on Friday, April 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Tourism Nanaimo anticipates the city could see an overflow of visitors who would have otherwise gone to Victoria or Tofino as those communities see accommodations filling up. (Nanaimo Bulletin photo)

Nanaimo expecting overflow tourism as Victoria hotels fill up for summer

Tourism Nanaimo reports to council on plans and expectations for coming season

Tourism Nanaimo anticipates the city could see an overflow of visitors who would have otherwise gone to Victoria or Tofino as those communities see accommodations filling up. (Nanaimo Bulletin photo)
Red dots show listed Greater Victoria properties on Airbnb, on the international tracking website Inside Airbnb. (insideairbnb.com/victoria)

Data project blames short-term rentals for strangling Victoria’s housing market

Greater Victoria has 3,156 Airbnb listings, with three hosts making up 128 listings

Red dots show listed Greater Victoria properties on Airbnb, on the international tracking website Inside Airbnb. (insideairbnb.com/victoria)
Faro at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, which was recently honoured as Employer of the Year at the 2022 Vancouver Island Tourism Conference Industry Awards. Faro was previously listed on the inaugural 100 Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining list by opentable.com. (Courtesy of Oak Bay Beach Hotel)

5 Vancouver Island tourism teams earn top accolades

Oak Bay Beach Hotel best employer, Malahat SkyWalk voted people’s choice

Faro at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, which was recently honoured as Employer of the Year at the 2022 Vancouver Island Tourism Conference Industry Awards. Faro was previously listed on the inaugural 100 Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining list by opentable.com. (Courtesy of Oak Bay Beach Hotel)
The Victoria Clipper approaches its berth in the Inner Harbour after sailing from Seattle on Friday, April 15, for the first time since the fall of 2021 and for what is hoped to be the return of normal crossings, which were disrupted for two years by pandemic border restrictions. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Demand strong as Victoria Clipper brings first passengers from Seattle in months

Ferry line hopes staffing woes will soon be resolved to accommodate surging demand

The Victoria Clipper approaches its berth in the Inner Harbour after sailing from Seattle on Friday, April 15, for the first time since the fall of 2021 and for what is hoped to be the return of normal crossings, which were disrupted for two years by pandemic border restrictions. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Nanaimo author Josh Gillingham has created the Vancouver Island Coffee Tour website that includes a map with directions to a growing list of more than 50 independent coffee roasters across the Island and Gulf Islands that tourists and residents can follow to find the region’s best brews. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo author’s online ‘coffee tour’ an added perk for visiting Vancouver Island

Residents and visitors can follow guide to more than 50 Island-region coffee roasters

Nanaimo author Josh Gillingham has created the Vancouver Island Coffee Tour website that includes a map with directions to a growing list of more than 50 independent coffee roasters across the Island and Gulf Islands that tourists and residents can follow to find the region’s best brews. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)