What is the objective of the #VancouverComeBack campaign?
The #VancouverComeBack campaign was created to stimulate business for our members by encouraging local residents to get out and experience Vancouver’s restaurants, attractions, and even hotels for a staycation. The campaign initially focuses on local residents, but over time will expand to include the rest of British Columbia, and eventually the rest of the Canadian provinces as well.
By tapping into local pride for our destination and the desire to support our local businesses, as well as showcasing the great experiences available in Vancouver and providing some discounts and special deals, we hope to maximize the amount of tourism business we can generate.
How did you determine that your local community was ready for tourism to resume?
We closely follow the advice of our local health experts regarding the safety aspects of opening up our economy. We also leverage survey data from our national partners at Destination Canada, and our provincial partner at Destination BC. In addition, we conduct our own local resident surveys and reference booking data from a number of sources.
What steps have you taken as a destination to ensure the safety of visitors and residents?
As part of the government’s BC Restart Plan, all Vancouver businesses closely follow the advice and guidance from a number of sources, including:
- Provincial Health Officer guidance
- Destination BC Operating Guidelines for BC Business
- WorkSafe BC information and resources
What advice do you have for other destinations looking to make a comeback?
Every destination is in a unique situation currently, and there’s no playbook on how to handle this sort of crisis. At Tourism Vancouver we are closely watching all sources of data for signals that the public is ready to start traveling again. Like most destinations, we understand that it will be important to focus our attention on domestic travel in the short term, while continuing to keep Vancouver top-of-mind for international travelers once borders reopen and it’s safe to travel again.
