Tourism Kamloops launches survey to gauge reopening comfort levels
by Jenna Wheeler
As COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are lifted and Kamloops prepares for businesses to begin using sidewalks and parking lots, residents are being asked what they think of the reopening process.
Kamloops city council gave the go-ahead yesterday, May 17, for restaurants and businesses to expand their services to private parking lots, sidewalks and green areas to allow space for social distancing measures. Now Tourism Kamloops is asking residents how they feel about the reopening process, and what they’d like to see as the restrictions loosen.
The survey results will be looked at in one week and on a regular basis after that, according to Monica Dickinson, the director of industry relations and communications with Tourism Kamloops. She isn’t yet certain on when the data will be released, but she says the survey will help them to understand the resident’s opinions, not just those of local business owners.
“It’s very important to us to know the sentiment of our Kamloops residents,” Dickinson says. “As much as we’re gaining information from the provincial level and health officials, which is great, our residents' opinions matter.”
The survey asks residents which experiences and services they will be comfortable using, such as hair salons, restaurants, shopping, team sports and provincial travel. Residents are also asked to rate their comfort level for welcoming visitors from other countries, provinces or areas such as the Lower Mainland.
Dickinson says most of tourists that come to Kamloops are people who live within a four- to five-hour drive. She believes the outdoor attractions in Kamloops offer a safe way for those from out of town to spend their time when they visit.
“We feel like we’re ideally situated and located to really benefit some of those initial reopening stages when they happen, and it’s easy to access Kamloops from our target market,” Dickinson says.
“People are aware of our amazing trails systems and golf courses and waterway and fishing, all of the things that were really attractive travel motivators pre-pandemic, and I think those experiences and those travel motivators will bode exceptionally well as we move through this.”
Dickinson says Tourism Kamloops is working with Destination B.C. and Destination Canada to promote tourism while adhering to federal and provincial guidelines.
To have your say, complete the survey by going here.