Coast Hotel, Kamloops (Image Credit: CFJC News)

By Sydney Chisholm

Travel restrictions

Many Kamloops hotel rooms stand empty in response to accommodations order

Aug 22, 2023 | 5:07 PM

KAMLOOPS– Would-be travellers to the region have cancelled their accommodations to make room for evacuees and emergency responders in the region as per the provincial emergency order. However, many of the hotel rooms remain empty.

The new restrictions prohibit the use of temporary accommodations including hotels, motels, and campgrounds in the region for non-essential travellers.

“Obviously with the order that came down from the province, we have seen a large amount of cancellations so all the tour groups have cancelled,” Kamloops Accommodation Association chair, Angela Tasker told CFJC News.

“A lot of the regular travelling public has decided not to come because they have heard of that and they want to make room for the evacuees and the firefighters which is awesome, as do we.”

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However, according to the Kamloops Accommodation Association, hotels in the Tournament Capital are yet to see an inpouring of evacuees or emergency personnel. “We probably were about 80-90 per cent occupancy which is typical August business,” Tasker said. “It’s our peak season and now we are more like 30 to 50 per cent occupied so we have plenty of space.”

Without the usual reservation numbers in its peak season, Tasker said it may be difficult for the industry to run its normal operations. “I guess our concern more is that if we don’t have that occupancy bumped back up then our staff is gonna have less hours and we are gonna have less jobs for hotel workers and restaurant workers which is pretty important,” she said.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association stated it had received a commitment from the premier that financial relief will be explored to offset any losses resulting from the travel order.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness lifted the travel restrictions for everywhere but West Kelowna. “We are lifting travel restrictions for the purpose of staying in temporary accommodation for most of the southern Interior, with the exception of West Kelowna,” the statement read.

“The order will be lifted for Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon starting tomorrow, Aug. 23, 2023.”