Throughout COVID-19, local businesses have been working hard to implement measures to ensure the safety of their staff and the public. Now that safe and responsible travel is allowed in BC, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of what is important to consumers as they begin to travel outside their own communities.

Health & Safety

According to Leger’s most recent weekly survey, 61% of Canadians are personally afraid of contracting COVID-19. By communicating your health and safety measures effectively to customers, you can help alleviate some of this fear.

Cleanliness and sanitization are top of mind with everyone, so don’t be shy about your customers seeing these efforts taking place, often. Contactless technology wherever possible will also become more important than ever.

While WorkSafeBC requires you to post your COVID-19 safety plan, it is essential that you also continue communicating these measures through as many channels as possible. Images and short videos are effective ways to demonstrate what your business is doing to keep people safe—click here for a great example from Delta by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort about their Commitment to Clean initiatives.

Flexibility

In a recent Travel Pulse feature, flexible booking was listed as one of the travel trends to look for post-COVID-19. In discussions with various local stakeholders, it appears as though visitors are making the decision to travel at the last minute, with very short booking windows. Being flexible with your booking and cancellation policies will go a long way with visitors, particularly for those who may have to cancel unexpectedly due to COVID-19.

Offers & Incentives

Research conducted by Destination British Columbia in early July indicated that BC residents were becoming slightly more comfortable with participating in tourism-related activities, such as travelling by car for non-essential travel, visiting retailers, eating in a restaurant, or visiting outdoor tourist destinations. If your business can offer an incentive or special deal, this may further encourage visitors to get out and enjoy Kelowna’s many activities and attractions, safely.

We will continue to provide more insights through our Industry News Centre and invite you to email us your insights or ideas on ways to adapt to changing consumer behaviours. By continuing to work together as an industry, promoting safe and responsible travel, we will forge ahead on the road to recovery.

Have general updates about your business to share? Be sure to email us at info@tourismkelowna.com. You can also update your Tourism Kelowna listing with your COVID-19 measures to keep visitors informed.