Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

WELLS GRAY PARK

Clearwater concerned about impacts to tourism as a result of COVID-19 pandemic

May 14, 2020 | 5:13 PM

KAMLOOPS — British Columbia has the third-largest parks system in North America, behind only the US Parks Service and Canada’s National Parks. However, since April 8, provincial parks across BC have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those parks reopened today [May 14] for day use only, and the public will be expected to follow physical distancing rules as well as other health guidelines. However, even with parks back open, it will be a long road to recovery for communities who rely on those tourism dollars.

One of BC’s hidden gems, Wells Gray Park welcomes millions of visitors each year, who are all treated to some of the most beautiful natural views around. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, tourism season in Clearwater won’t be nearly as busy as usual.

“Tourism for Clearwater is between a $30 to $40 million industry,” Mayor Merlin Blackwell tells CFJC News.

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The community’s other primary industry took a massive hit after the Canfor sawmill in Vavenby shut its doors in July of 2019. With the COVID-19 pandemic threatening tourism, Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell is concerned for the economic well-being of many in his community.

“What most people don’t consider is that the last tourism paycheque happened in Clearwater in September of last year,” Blackwell says. “If we don’t have a tourism season, even a mediocre one, the next one won’t be until May of next year [2021] if things go well.”

One of the reasons the park is such a huge economic engine for the community is where the visitors come from.

“Almost 50 per cent of our visitors come from western Europe,” Tourism Wells Gray Executive Director Stephanie Molina explains. “If we don’t see that, it’s certainly going to have a huge impact on our businesses.”

The Victoria Day long weekend is often the unofficial kickoff to the busy season in the community. Just ask Tay Briggs, who helps manage the Wells Gray Visitors Information Centre.

“We could be seeing 500 to 600 people a day here on the long weekend,” Briggs says.

This year, the centre hasn’t opened yet, as there haven’t been any tourists in the community. With the park closure, BC Parks has undertaken some maintenance projects in the parks, limiting the attractions visitors can access.

“The bridge over the Myrtle River is being worked on. We’re not exactly sure when it’ll be back in,” Briggs says. “Driving access to Helmcken Falls and Dawson Falls won’t be possible.”

At this time, that may be a good thing. As we head into the long weekend, we’re also entering Phase Two of BC’s Restart Plan, and the province wants to make sure British Columbians remain vigilant in the fight against COVID-19. What does that mean for this weekend? The province is asking people to stick close to home, avoid travelling to small communities, and visit local, provincial parks. So maybe hold off on visiting Wells Gray Park until later this summer.

“I think we do have an opportunity to regain enough business that our local tourism industry can survive this season,” Molina says. “[We] then can hopefully have a really strong 2021 season.”