Premier John Horgan has announced a $50-million grant program for the tourism sector as it continues to weather the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dubbed the “BC Major Anchor Attractions” program, Horgan says this money will be for major tourism operators allowing them to cover rent, payroll, utilities, and any other costs they might incur.
“Everyone in B.C. has fond memories of visiting or working at our province’s many major anchor attractions. Many communities depend on tourism landmarks to boost the local economy, bring visitors to town and provide many young people with their first jobs,” Horgan said, in a statement.
“We are helping these important businesses survive today so they are ready for a strong recovery, and future generations can enjoy these iconic institutions for years to come.”
Tourism operators with more than 75,000 visitors a year can get up to $1-million, while rural tourism operators with at least 15,000 visitors a year and tour bus operators with at least 30,000 passengers a year are eligible for up to $500,000.
The province says examples of “turnstile” attractions eligible for this funding include amusement parks, wildlife parks, botanical gardens, heritage institutions, museums, galleries, and science centres. Not-for-profit organizations and businesses are not eligible.
“The pandemic has illuminated on how important anchor attractions and tour bus companies are to our communities and our tourism ecosystem,” said Tourism Minister Melanie Mark.
“Our government is responding to a call to action from the Tourism Task Force, which identified the need to fill in the gaps and support these important job creators across our province. We’re taking strong action to ensure they can continue to draw people to B.C., continue enriching our local experiences and keep people employed.”
The deadline to apply for this funding is June 7 with the money expected to be handed out in July.
Eligible tourism businesses can also apply for the provincial government’s small and medium businesses grant program that was announced earlier this year.
