A Message from Richard Porges, Interim President and CEO: 2020 in Review

This has been a year unlike any other and has been incredibly difficult for all of us, as an industry, and as people who have seen the devastating impacts that COVID-19 has had on our businesses, colleagues and loved ones. Our thoughts are with  those who have lost  loved ones to COVID-19, have seen their businesses close,  have lost their jobs or have suffered from the myriad of other consequences of this pandemic.  Of all sectors of our economy, the tourism industry has been hardest hit by COVID-19. However, crises often bring out the best in people and we have rallied together to support each other over the past year. More than ever, Destination BC is working closely with our industry partners and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, and we have seen new collaborations, such as the BC Tourism Resiliency Network, the Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria Taskforces, and many others arise across industry. Our governments have responded to the challenge of COVID-19, and we have worked collaboratively as an industry and as a global society.

Despite everything our industry has done over the last few months to keep businesses open, people employed and people safe as they travel throughout BC, we know that coming out of this, our industry will look different.

The global effort to combat COVID-19, the Black Lives Matter Movement, British Columbia’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People Act, and our collaborative efforts as an industry in BC have set us on the right path to build back differently, and better. Let’s take  this to heart as we rebuild our industry in 2021 and beyond.

The first delivery of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in BC this week, and as we look to 2021 with cautious optimism, we wish the new year brings you, and your loved ones, a healthy, safe  and more prosperous future.