What are the priorities and goals of Kamloops’ candidates with regards to impacts on the hospitality and tourism industry? We’ve asked and here are the responses.
1. What is your knowledge of Tourism Kamloops and its role in the city?
Peter Milobar - BC Liberals
I grew up working in the hotel industry. Our family built and operated the Place Inn/Days Inn and I worked in every department in the full service hotel. I know first hand how important tourism is to the overall economy in Kamloops but also how many individuals it provides a rewarding job to.
Sadie Hunter - BC NDP
Tourism Kamloops' role is to promote the city and area to visitors, with the goal of increasing tourism revenues. TK does that through effective marketing strategies, visual storytelling, and innovation. TK also promotes a sense of pride among locals, who understand the importance of the tourism industry to our economy.
Thomas Martin - BC Green Part
I'd have to look up numbers for specifics, but I know it's important...from Rocky Mountaineer stops, our small but mighty wine scene, hot nights in the city / Ribfest, and all the tournaments we host (shout out to 2014 Brier...that was a fantastic week!), our local ski hills, and (my personal favourite) the access to the great outdoors we have a lot going for us!
2. If elected, how would you advocate for tourism in the region and ensure the B.C. tourism industry remains a priority for the provincial government moving forward?
Peter Milobar - BC Liberals
I would continue to make sure the importance of tourism is well understood by the Provincial government. Tourism should have been more front and centre in the overall Covid discussion around impacts and supports for impacted industry and business right from the start. We need to better engage and get supports out now not months or years from now.
Sadie Hunter - BC NDP
I am well aware of the importance of the tourism industry all over the Kamloops-North Thompson, and particularly in Kamloops. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the industry hard; the loss of Rocky Mountaineer this year, to name just one example, has been devastating to the local economy. The NDP government has recognized the importance of tourism by providing grants to small businesses, including an extra $10,000 for tourism operators. Our region needs a diversified economic base that includes tourism as a key driver. If elected, I would advocate for tourism by listening to the needs of tourism organizations and operators and ensuring the needs of tourism-dependent communities are met. Beyond recovery, consistent funding and support is crucial.
Thomas Martin - BC Green Party
Short term COVID response - BC greens will retool the provincial grant program to focus on small tourism operators as well as working to make the patio program permanent. The 2021 season is not looking promising for international tourists and I think we should continue to promote Kamloops as a destination for BC and Alberta tourism.
3. How would you describe your current understanding of the MRDT (Municipal and Regional District Tax) in Kamloops?
Peter Milobar - BC Liberals
I have a very good understanding of the MRDT and how important it is to have a well funded local marketing agency.
Sadie Hunter - BC NDP
Our local short-term accommodation providers fund Tourism Kamloops, in part, via this 3% tax. That's why "heads in beds" are so important -- TK and local hotels and motels work in partnership to promote and support one another.
Thomas Martin - BC Green Party
I know that it exists and it's supposed to fund promotion of local tourism. I don't know if it's effective or how tourism operators feel about it.
4. If elected, how would you ensure that the MRDT program continues to directly and adequately fund destination marketing organizations in the region, such as Tourism Kamloops?
Peter Milobar - BC Liberals
We need to make sure that with slumping to non existent room revenues, the shortfall of the corresponding revenues is addressed so when marketing is most needed funds are there to make that happen.
Sadie Hunter - BC NDP
I would work with the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture to ensure they are aware of the issues specific to Kamloops, such as our central location, the Tournament Capital brand, the growing recreational tourism market (including wineries, cideries and craft breweries). I would actively create opportunities to bring the Minister and other decision-makers to the region, so that they have a better idea of why the MRDT program is so crucial.
Thomas Martin - BC Green Party
If elected I would have much more freedom to act independently than members of the NDP or BC Liberals. I would be able to stay connected with our regional operators and advocate for their needs, rather than being forced to tow a party line.
5. In 2020, the BC tourism industry has nearly been decimated and the future still entirely uncertain. If elected, what priorities do you see most beneficial to reinvigorating and recovering the BC visitor economy to or exceeding 2019 levels?
Peter Milobar - BC Liberals
We need to be working closely with public health and the Federal Government to develop protocols and systems that will position us to be able to market and provide a safe and secure visit for travellers. People will be seeking out “safe” locations and we can position ourselves to be that sought out destination as travellers start to slowly adjust to the emerging post Covid re-opening.
Sadie Hunter - BC NDP
Although the future is uncertain, British Columbians are fortunate in that it is home to dozens of wonderful places to visit. Promoting "staycations" for 2021, and until the pandemic is over, must continue to be a focus. Local trips take the place of overseas holidays, and while some British Columbians are struggling, others are finding themselves with disposable income. Encouraging residents of BC to explore their own cities as well as other regions of the province will boost the visitor economy.
Thomas Martin - BC Green Party
I think the short term priority is preventing bankruptcies in our local operators. I know that some are surviving and some are struggling. Achieving this should be through a combination of short term support and heavily promoting domestic tourism.
6. Where do you see opportunity for tourism growth within our region and how would you ensure government supports that opportunity?
Peter Milobar - BC Liberals
Much the same as in question 5, government has a role to ensure that public confidence is strong around safety and protocols being monitored and properly monitored and enforced.
Sadie Hunter - BC NDP
It's an exciting time in the Kamloops region. It has long been both one of the most centrally located areas and yet also perhaps one of the most overlooked. Events such as BrewLoops and the Buskers Festival, Indigenous experiences, and a burgeoning food and wine scene are changing that. Continued growth in these areas are major opportunities While a performing arts centre in Kamloops is not immediately imminent, this is another opportunity that will bring residents of neighbouring areas to the city. The BC NDP supports a robust tourism industry. I would ensure that government is made well aware of the unique qualities of Kamloops and the important role that the industry's growth plays.
Thomas Martin - BC Green Party
- Arts Centre
- Refunding BC Parks and creating infrastructure for visitors
- High speed, electric, passenger rail from the lower mainland. This is NOT an election promise, but a subject I would like to see studied. My friends and I have often talked about how a passenger rail service from the lower mainland to the interior would really help the ease of accessing the interior - especially in the winter.
- Making the Kamloops downtown plan a reality
- Supporting the Kamloops north shore plan
7. What relief measures will your government introduce to ensure tourism and hospitality businesses remain solvent until the pandemic is over?
Peter Milobar - BC Liberals
We have committed to a loan program to help businesses make their way through to when tourism volumes increase. We are also committted to quickly implementing many of the other supports tourism was asking for in their $680 million request of government. It is simply not good enough after 7 months now that the response has been a $50 milli9n committee to further drag out the process of getting supports to an industry that needs help today to survive.
Sadie Hunter - BC NDP
The NDP's economic recovery plan provided $300 million in grants to small and medium sized businesses with a top-up of $10,000 for tourism operators. This program will be up and running this week and we anticipate a large number of those participating will be from tourism and hospitality sectors. The BC NDP worked to get programs up and running as quickly as possible and applications opened last week. A program like this would normally take more than a year to roll out. The grant program is a first step and the NDP is open to working with small businesses to adjust and improve it to make sure businesses that need help are getting the right kind of support.
The NDP has also established a task force of leaders from the tourism sector to work together on ideas to help the sector and together chart a path forward and gave them an initial $50 million to spend on their ideas as a starting point and we will be there to fund further ideas and initiatives to help our tourism sector. We will continue working together to get people and businesses the help they need as we move through this pandemic.
Thomas Martin - BC Green Party
- Retool the provincial grant program to focus on supporting small tourism operators
- Immediately work with industry to establish criteria that make sense.
- Accelerate the timeline to ensure grant money can start to flow immediately
- Work with the not-for-profit tourism businesses, cultural facilities and attractions to develop a separate granting program that will ensure these signature businesses can survive COVID-19.
- Work with the federal government to establish a repayable loan program for the hospitality sector and for tourism operators that exceed the criteria for the small tourism operator grant program.
- Make the expanded patio program permanent
We thank each of the candidates for their responses and wish them well on October 24th.
