The province is working on a COVID-19 stimulus package of $1.8 billion and the tourism industry is hoping to see a big chunk of that cash.

Tourism Kamloops CEO, Beverly DeSantis, was on the NL Morning News, and pointed out just how vital the industry is to British Columbia.

“Tourism contributes $20 billion to the B.C. economy every year and 300,000 jobs and 19,000 businesses so it is the second largest contributor to the GDP,” she said. “What we’re asking for is $680 million of stimulus package be given and considered for the tourism industry to help these businesses and this industry make it through so that we do have an industry coming into next summer.”

“So, really it’s just a fraction of the contribution of tourism.”

She says she is optimistic that a cash injection will come.

“We’re really hopeful that the government is considering this stimulus package because the ripple effect of what happens when you don’t have a robust industry,” she added, pointing to a recent story about the province’s auto insurer.

“With ICBC, 50,000 less accidents that means not 50,000 less people on the road but I mean it just tells a story of people are not moving as much period. So, if they weren’t moving in July and August they’re not going to be moving coming into fall and this is very scary for us.”

And DeSantis notes the stimulus money is necessary to ensure that businesses in the industry continue to thrive and that there is a tourism industry left when the pandemic is over.