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Everything to know about B.C.'s new guidance on travel in the province

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Ready to explore B.C. this summer?

Provincial officials announced the beginning of Step 2 in B.C.'s Restart Plan Monday (June 14), which will allow British Columbians to enjoy travel across the province for the first time in several months. 

"Thanks to our collective efforts and commitment to get vaccinated, we are ready to take another step forward in our careful restart," said Premier John Horgan. "This next step means seeing more of the people we love, visiting more of our favourite places and safely celebrating the major milestones we've missed. Better days are in sight, but we must continue to do our part, get vaccinated, keep our layers of protection strong and work together to put this pandemic behind us." 

Recreational travel is now permitted across the province and the order restricting travel has been lifted.  However, Horgan noted that "we are advising against travel outside of the province."

In Step 2 of B.C.'s Restart Plan, the following restrictions have been lifted and you may enjoy the following: 

• Provincial travel restrictions lifted
• Recreational travel within B.C. allowed
• BC Transit and BC Ferries offers increased service as needed

Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, said, "Our step-by-step reopening plan is giving British Columbians what they have been waiting for. The best way we can show our love for B.C. is to get out and eat, stay, shop and play. Whether it's watching your kids play sports outside, going to the theatre or travelling to new and exciting destinations across the province, we can finally get out and support people, jobs and our economy."

B.C. prepares to safely move to Step 2 of its restart plan

Public health safety protocols, such as mask-wearing in all indoor public spaces and physical distancing, will remain in place during Step 2.

British Columbians travelling within B.C. are asked to plan ahead and be respectful while visiting communities, especially smaller and rural towns, as well as Indigenous communities - including respecting local travel advisories. Travel manners and guidelines to follow during summer trips and vacations include:

* getting vaccinated;

* pre-trip planning and research before arriving at destination;

* respecting any local travel advisories to isolated and remote communities and Indigenous communities;

* following masks guideline;

* respecting personal space and practising good hygiene, including frequent handwashing; and

* no travelling for anyone who is sick. If symptoms develop while travelling, self-isolate immediately and contact 811 for guidance and testing.

The transition into Step 2 of the four-step restart plan aligns with key metrics for moving forward. More than 75 per cent of adults are vaccinated with their first dose, exceeding the target Step 2 minimum threshold of 65 per cent. The other metrics for moving through the stages - COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations - continue to steadily decline. 

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Here's everything you need to know about travel in B.C. this year

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If you've been dying to head out on a road trip in B.C., you might be able to do so in a matter of weeks.

Provincial officials revealed B.C.'s restart plan Tuesday (May 25), which indicates the restrictions that prohibit non-essential travel between three regional zones in the province will continue until June 15; recreational travel within a regional zone is permitted.

The regional zones are:

• Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley (Fraser Health and Coastal Health regions);
• Vancouver Island (Island Health region); and
• Northern/Interior (Interior Health and Northern Health regions).

On June 15, as long as COVID-19 numbers continue to trend down, the province will lift the restrictions banning travel across the province. Recreational travel will be permitted and BC Transit and BC Ferries will increase services as needed. 

Travel across Canada is expected to resume on Canada Day (July 1).  

B.C.'s Restart — a four-step plan to bring B.C. back together — will be a slow and gradual return to a more normal life, with safety and health protocols such as mask-wearing and physical distancing remaining in place and mandatory during the initial two steps of the plan.

'It is a very effective measure of stopping transmission in introductions into communities'

When asked why restrictions on gatherings and indoor dining are easing up ahead of travel, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry told reporters that there are differences in transmission rates in communities around the province. 

"It is a very effective measure of stopping transmission in introductions into communities. We're not yet at that point where enough people are immunized, where case levels are low enough, so that was the rationale around that," she explained.

"We know that indoor dining can happen when we're at certain levels. We know that people who work in the Restaurant and Food Association food businesses have been able to be immunized and I know a lot of people have been immunized so we have that extra layer of protection now with case rates coming down."

If cases continue to trend down, Henry encouraged British Columbians to book a week-long holiday after the provincial restrictions are lifted on June 15. 

Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth told reporters in a press briefing on April 23 that a $575 fine will  be issued to people who contravene the order restricting non-essential travel in the province  under the Emergency Program Act (EPA). The order has been extended and people from outside the province who are travelling in B.C. for non-essential reasons can be subject to the same enforcement measures.

Under the EPA, an order restricting non-essential travel between certain regions of the province remains in place until June 15 at midnight.

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Non-essential travel restrictions lift for most of B.C.’s southern Interior

By James Paracy

Posted August 22, 2023 5:36 pm.

Last Updated August 23, 2023 6:17 am.

Non-essential travel restrictions have been lifted for much of B.C.’s southern Interior after devastating wildfires cleared out thousands of properties in the area.

Restrictions ended as the clock hit midnight on Wednesday, and travellers are able to return to Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton, and Vernon.

The province initially issued restrictions on non-essential travel on Saturday, August 19 — when it was reported that approximately 35,000 British Columbians were on evacuation order and another 30,000 were on alert.

B.C. wildfire evacuees ‘relieved’ to find places to stay

Progress made on kelowna and okanagan wildfires: officials, nearly 200 structures destroyed by okanagan wildfires: officials.

B.C.’s Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Bowinn Ma says West Kelowna remains an exception, however, as crews continue to battle the out-of-control McDougall Creek wildfire. She says temporary accommodation will continue to be reserved for those who need it most.

“The emergency order we put in place on Saturday has had the effect we required and thousands of hotel rooms were made available for people forced from their homes, as well as the many firefighters and emergency crews who are protecting us during the worst wildfire season in our history. Working with local governments and First Nations, we will continue to place people in the accommodations that are now available,” Ma explained.

“In recent days, B.C. experienced some of the most devastating wildfires in our history. We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who cancelled their plans to travel to the Interior in recent days, as well as to our partners in the tourism industry for their support and understanding.”

Related video:

Ma asks travellers to make their way through the province safely and avoid communities that are heavily affected by fires and continue to face challenges.

“Listen to the direction of local communities. Respect emergency orders and alerts. While many communities in the Interior are looking forward to welcoming people, others, like Lake Country and the Shuswap, are advising that now is not a good time to visit.”

Meanwhile, Highway 1 remains closed in two spots — just east of Kamloops, as well as a small section of the highway between Lytton and Hope.

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B.C.-wide ban on non-essential travel extended until June 15

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The restrictions on travel across British Columbia will be extended until mid-June in order to stop the spread of COVID-19 and variants of concern.

Provincial officials revealed B.C.'s Restart Plan Tuesday (May 25), which indicates the restrictions that prohibit non-essential travel between three regional zones in the province will continue until June 15; recreational travel within a regional zone is permitted. 

The regional zones are:

• Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley (Fraser Health and Coastal Health regions);
• Vancouver Island (Island Health region); and
• Northern/Interior (Interior Health and Northern Health regions).

Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth told reporters in a press briefing on April 23 that a $575 fine will  be issued to people who contravene the order restricting non-essential travel in the province  under the Emergency Program Act. The order has been extended and people from outside the province who are travelling in B.C. for non-essential reasons can be subject to the same enforcement measures.

Under the EPA, an order restricting non-essential travel between certain regions of the province remains in place until June 15 at midnight.

Non-essential travel under the Emergency Program Act

Only one person has been issued a ticket for non-essential travel under the Emergency Program Act.  On May 1, a North Vancouver man heading over the Malahat when  he was pulled over for speeding and other offences by an RCMP traffic officer . The officer asked the driver why he was travelling and he was told to get back on the ferry.

When stopped at a road check restricting non-essential travel, police only have the authority to request:

• a driver’s name, address and driver’s license
• any available documentation regarding driver’s name and address (for example, secondary identification that confirms a driver’s residential address if recently moved)
• the purpose of the driver’s travel (documentation regarding travel is not required)

Passengers in vehicles will not be checked. 

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All bark and no bite? Still no enforcement of B.C. travel ban

Penny Daflos CTV News Vancouver Journalist

@PennyDaflos Contact

VANCOUVER -- Several days after the B.C. government implemented a bold ban on non-essential travel in the province, officials admit there is still no enforcement.

On Tuesday, John Horgan acknowledged there’s no been no action taken to restrict travel between health authorities, but claimed plans are still in the works. When challenged on whether there will be any enforcement at all before the “circuit breaker” lockdown expires after the May long weekend , Horgan was defensive.

“We lay out the orders, we lay out the laws and it's up to law enforcement to deploy resources to meet those expectations and I know (Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth) is working with (RCMP) E-Division, working with his officials in public safety to make sure that everybody's on the same page,” he said.

The government’s approach on a number of issues to curb infection-generating behaviour during the pandemic has hinged on public messaging relying heavily on terms like “expectations” and “discouragement” rather than enforcement, which has been light.

“I’m confident by the end of the week we will be (announcing details),” Horgan insisted.

But just days after the premier made the surprise announcement of Counter Attack-style road checks acting as a "random audit" to ensure people wouldn't travel between health authorities for non-essential reasons, Farnworth was already walking back the government’s position.

"Over the coming days, we will continue working with police to establish additional measures to ensure they have the necessary authority to conduct periodic roadside checks like the Counter Attack program at strategic points into and out of the defined regions," Farnworth said, announcing that Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health would count as a single region, with Northern Health and Interior Health functioning in the same way.

It’s important to note, those hybrid regions are considerably larger than before, and allow someone from Abbotsford to legally travel to Whistler with nothing but a plea to keep them closer to home.

Not only that, Vancouver police and the RCMP were quick to say they had grave concerns about the plan and wanted nothing to do with enforcement that raised questions about exactly who would be stopped and under what circumstances.

While Farnworth pointed out typical BC Ferries traffic was down significantly over the first weekend since the non-essential travel ban’s announcement, he also admitted there would be zero enforcement at airports for flights between British Columbia communities — as well as other provinces.

“Interprovincial flights are federally regulated so the province has no jurisdiction when it comes to flights,” he said.

Hammered by journalists and critics questioning why he couldn’t restrict travel between provinces as British Columbia struggled through the second wave, Horgan issued a statement late on a Friday afternoon in January insisting his government had received legal advice that it wasn’t possible.

“The review of our legal options made it clear we can’t prevent people from travelling to British Columbia,” it read. “Much of current interprovincial travel is work related and therefore cannot be restricted.”

Fast forward to the third wave, with the April 19 announcement coming as B.C. staggered under the weight of soaring infections and as hospitals became overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, suggesting the hurdle to travel restrictions was largely a political impediment, rather than a legal one.

And while some hotels and other hospitality bodies were cancelling bookings, that was of their own volition. Even BC Ferries acknowledged passengers are travelling under the honour system and ferries staff will take them at their word if they claim their travel is essential .

The strategy appears to be similar to the government’s policy around fines in the first wave of the pandemic: While the public safety minister made headlines about empowering bylaw officers, conservation officers and even liquor inspectors to go after pandemic rule-breakers , he didn’t actually give them the authority to issue fines until many months later.

Will we see even a single roadblock in and out of the Lower Mainland before the circuit breaker orders expire on Victoria Day?

It’s possible there will be a handful of enforcement actions, which government can point to as proof of keeping their word. But it increasingly looks like they’re counting on the initial threat of enforcement that came from headline-generating political rhetoric to change public behaviour, rather than any meaningful enforcement.​

A BC Ferries vessel is seen arriving at Horseshoe Bay near West Vancouver on March 16, 2020. (Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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Parts Of BC Are Under A Travel Ban & Here's What You Need To Know About Heading West

Canadian airlines have adopted some flexible travel policies.

A wildfire in British Columbia

Wildfires have been raging across parts of Canada in the last few weeks leading to evacuations across parts of B.C.

As a result of the wildfires, the Province of B.C. issued an emergency order asking visitors to avoid all non-essential travel to central interior and southeast B.C. on Saturday, August 19, 2023.

The order also restricted the "non-essential use" of temporary accommodation such as hotels, motels, hostels, RV parks and campgrounds in cities around the Okanagan, including Kelowna and West Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon.

On Friday, August 18, Kelowna Airport also announced that airspace surrounding the airport had been shut down to "allow aerial fire-fighting activity."

"Transport Canada is allowing temporary exceptions so flights can operate from 9 p.m. on August 20, until 6 a.m. on August 21," the airport said in a statement.

It added that it expects flights to be cancelled on Monday, August 21 until 9 p.m. and urged passengers to check with their airlines for the most up-to-date flight information.

Canadian airlines have also been updating their policies for passengers who were due to fly in or out of Kelowna Airport over the coming days.

In a press release , Air Canada said it had implemented a "flexible rebooking policy" on flights impacted by the wildfires between August 17 and September 4, 2023.

Passengers that have booked a flight to Kelowna, Penticton or Kamloops Airports, no later than August 20, 2023, are able to change their flight free of charge by September 30, 2023.

If travellers choose to cancel their flight, they will receive a full refund.

Flair Airlines customers that are due to travel to Kelowna between August 18 to 25, 2023, are able to change their bookings without change fees, though fare differences or cancellation fees may apply.

In a travel advisory , WestJet said it has adopted flexible change or cancellation policies for flights purchased on or before August 18, 2023 for travel between August 18 and September 4, 2023.

Meanwhile, in its own travel advisory , Swoop said impacted passengers would receive an email outlining re-accommodation options or the chance to receive a refund on their flights to Kelowna.

Passengers with flights booked before August 19 that were due to travel between August 20 and August 25, 2023, will be able to change their flights at no extra cost.

• It's Wildfire Season In BC & Here's What You Need To Know If You're Visiting The Province ›
• The CRA Is Offering A Grace Period On 2022 Tax Return Penalties & Here's Who Is Eligible - Narcity ›

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Travel ban in parts of B.C. disrupting tourism as raging wildfires burn

The central Okanagan is facing weeks without tourism during its peak season after British Columbia's premier imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones.

Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of BC, says the travel restrictions mean many tourism operators in the region are “taking a hit,” though it's too early to quantify the damages.

“If you look at the entire 12 months of the year, August is typically the busiest month for visitors,” he said.

The ban, which was introduced Saturday under the provincial state of emergency, will be in place until Sept. 4 for hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, RV parks and campgrounds in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon.

Premier David Eby has said the decision was made to ensure accommodation is available for crews and the 30,000 people who were forced from their homes across B.C.

Realtor Raymun Khunkhun, who has lived in Kelowna for about three decades, said the ban has left streets usually teeming with visitors eerily bare.

“There's not a lot of people walking around,” he said in an interview Saturday.

“It's almost like a ghost town now out here.”

Nearby wildfires have forced the evacuation of thousands in the city and watercraft rental businesses to close their doors, leaving boats and jet skis sitting idle, bobbing on the water.

The Kelowna International Airport has also been cancelling flights since Friday to ensure aerial firefighting efforts go uninterrupted.

Khunkhun said there's not much that can be done now other than “pray for better days.”

“These streets are usually packed, like it's hard single-file walking when you're on the sidewalks, and now it's almost a little scary that it's just empty,” he said.

“Hopefully this doesn't turn into anything worse than it already is.”

• In pictures: B.C. declares state of emergency amid intense wildfires
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

Lisanne Ballantyne, CEO of Tourism Kelowna, said in a statement Sunday that the ban will impact the tourism sector, but the current focus remains on the wildfire response effort.

She encouraged people to listen to evacuation orders and avoid impeding firefighting efforts.

“When able, we will move forward to recovery planning,” she said. “We have faced challenging situations before, and while none are the same, we will work through this together, rebuild and also focus on long-term resiliency.”

Judas agreed, adding the ban comes at a time when businesses were already reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating floods in 2021, and were finally expecting to bounce back.

“Many businesses are still not fully up to speed and operational after COVID. Many are still carrying a lot of debt and and don't have a full complement of staff,” he said. “The industry is taking a big hit once again.”

He added that projections showed the tourism industry's revenue was on track to be comparable with the 2019 season.

“To what degree this will affect overall tourism revenues is difficult to say,” he said.

In the meantime, Judas said the focus should remain on protecting guests, residents, the community and businesses.

The province said the travel ban does not impact other regions, but is asking people to avoid non-essential travel to the central Interior and southeast to keep roads clear for emergency-response operations and other potential evacuations.

- With files from Darryl Greer in Kelowna.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2023.

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B.C. orders fire-zone travel bans as evacuations soar

KELOWNA - British Columbia imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones on Saturday after evacuee numbers doubled to 30,000 or more, marking another day of dramatic developments in the province's desperate battle against hundreds of blazes.

The epicentre of the fight is the Okanagan in the southern Interior, where fire chiefs hailed the efforts of an “army” of firefighters trying to hold off fires looming over the lakeside communities of West Kelowna and Kelowna.

West Kelowna fire chief Jason Brolund painted a vivid picture of what his fire crews were facing on Saturday, including multiple simultaneous housefires and a “street full” of homes ablaze.

Yet he said the situation represented a reprieve compared to the pitched battles being fought the day before, something he described as “mind-boggling.”

B.C. Premier David Eby said the sheer scale of the evacuations prompted the government to issue an order restricting travel to fire-affected areas to ensure accommodation was available for evacuees and emergency personnel.

He told a news briefing the order restricts non-essential travel for the purpose of staying in temporary accommodation such as a hotel, motel or campground.

Eby put evacuee numbers at 35,000, although Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma said it was 30,000, with a further 36,000 on evacuation alert.

Evacuee numbers stood at 15,000 late Friday when Eby announced a provincewide state of emergency in response to the fires.

Ma said the latest order, effective immediately until Sept. 4, restricted travel for anyone planning to stay in temporary accommodation in Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon.

“Let me be clear. Temporary accommodation in the areas I have listed are no longer available for non-essential visits,” she said, adding would-be tourists need to “change your plans.”

People already in accommodations were being asked to check out early, she said. The order excludes travel for medical reasons, funerals and a range of other activities.

Eby also said Solicitor General Mike Farnworth had authorized emergency provisions to allow municipal RCMP resources to be deployed to evacuated areas and secure empty properties.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office issued a statement on Saturday saying he convened the incident response group - made up of ministers and senior officials - to discuss the wildfire situation in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.

The group agreed on the importance of making additional resources available to both jurisdictions and “working closely with all orders of government in order to support Canadians,” the statement read.

Trudeau also discussed the provincial situation with Eby, his office said in a separate release, noting he pledged to provide all necessary aid from the federal government.

In the Okanagan, West Kelowna fire chief Brolund said firefighters continued to face multiple structure fires.

But he said the previous night's battle got a boost from calmer and cooler conditions.

He said there were “real successes” overnight thanks to the efforts of about 200 firefighters battling the destructive McDougall Creek wildfire.

“We were still fighting tens, multiple structure fires at the same time in the community. So to call that a reprieve, it just boggles my mind,” he said at the morning news conference.

He said he was sad to report multiple structures were lost again Friday.

“Today the fire fight is on again out there,” he said.

“Normally when we fight a house fire it's contained to one structure … but these things are all wrapped up in one and it's an entire street full of houses that's on fire being faced by these firefighters.”

“That's the type of things we are facing today. Multiple structures and all of the contamination that comes along with it.”

Kelowna fire chief Travis Whiting also confirmed structural losses in his city, adding he couldn't confirm specific numbers until after homeowners had been informed.

Claire Blaker came down to the Kelowna waterfront to look across the lake, wondering if her house in the West Kelowna Estates was still standing.

Blaker, a city resident for 13 years, first visited her insurance broker to print out important policy papers, hopeful that she's covered in case of the worst.

She worried about her sister, who lives less than half a kilometre from her, and her elderly neighbours.

“You could see a number of houses on my street just kind of candling up, one house, then the next house and the next house, so I'm not sure how far down (the fire got),” she said, describing what she saw Friday night.

“It's just like, what can you do? And, I don't usually get too emotional but I definitely got some tears welling up at the evacuation centre, and you're just in shock.”

The extent of the destruction in the Okanagan was underscored by Ross Kotscherofski, chief of the North Westside Fire Rescue service.

He said some of his firefighters had seen their own homes go up in flames.

“Even though some of these members have lost their homes, they still remain dedicated to the community and they show up every single day,” he said.

Fires deemed out of control now burn on both sides of Lake Okanagan, including the devastating McDougall Creek fire that the BC Wildfire Service says covers 105 square kilometres.

Threatening Kelowna on the east side of the lake is the so-called Clifton-McKinley fire, comprised of several blazes.

But conditions were calmer than during Thursday and Friday's desperate battle against flames that consumed numerous homes and other properties, including the Lake Okanagan Resort.

Jerrad Schroeder of the BC Wildfire Service described Okanagan firefighting conditions Saturday as “subdued compared to the previous night.”

“Today would be characterized as a good firefighting day. It's a day where we can roll equipment and crews,” he said.

The last new evacuation order in the central Okanagan was issued at 9:18 p.m. on Friday, in contrast to earlier that day and late Thursday when orders poured in.

At least one evacuation order for part of the Westbank First Nation was also downgraded to an alert around midnight.

Saturday dawned cool and calm in Kelowna, with a blue sky visible through the smoky haze.

Chris Durkee and Danielle Mogdam and their five kids just returned to their Kelowna home from a trip to Alberta and thought they were safe from the fire across the lake, only to be awoken by a neighbour banging on their door to tell them a mountainside visible from their yard was on fire.

But Durkee, who has lived in Kelowna for 30 years, said they aren't panicking just yet - but they have a trailer packed and ready to go should the flames get too close.

Caution persisted among authorities too.

Interior Health recommended that 715 elderly residents be evacuated from seven care homes in West Kelowna and Kelowna. The health authority said it was up to individual operators to arrange the evacuations.

Elsewhere, a series of evacuation orders were issued for residents of the southern Interior Shuswap area Friday night, threatened by the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire and the Bush Creek fire.

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District and area Indigenous nations issued evacuation orders for the Scotch Creek, Lee Creek, Celista, Magna Bay and Little River areas.

The Scotch Creek and Takana Bay bridges were closed and Scotch Creek residents were told to evacuate by boat.

The wildfire service said the lightning-triggered Lower East Adams fire on the east side of the lake had grown to 100 square kilometres, while the Bush Creek fire to the west is now 33 square kilometres.

The service said areas under evacuation alert due to the Bush Creek fire “may receive an evacuation order today” due to severe weather.

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District said Friday was an “unprecedented and profoundly challenging day” as it fought the most devastating fires in its history.

A fire in the Lytton area, meanwhile, forced the evacuations of numerous properties Friday, including the closure of the Trans-Canada Highway, while the Downton Creek fire in the Gun Lake area near Lillooet destroyed homes.

There are about 380 wildfires burning across the province, including 158 that are out of control and 16 wildfires of note that are highly visible or a threat to people or properties.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2023.

Smoke from the McDougall Creek wildfire fills the air and nearly blocks out the sun as people take in the view of Okanagan Lake from Tugboat Beach, in Kelowna, B.C., Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

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Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, has released the following statement about travel restrictions for the purpose of staying in temporary accommodation:

“In recent days, B.C. experienced some of the most devastating wildfires in our history. We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who cancelled their plans to travel to the Interior in recent days, as well as to our partners in the tourism industry for their support and understanding. 

“The emergency order we put in place on Saturday has had the effect we required and thousands of hotel rooms were made available for people forced from their homes, as well as the many firefighters and emergency crews who are protecting us during the worst wildfire season in our history. Working with local governments and First Nations, we will continue to place people in the accommodations that are now available. 

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

“Non-essential travel to West Kelowna continues to be prohibited for the purpose of staying in temporary accommodation, including hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, RV parks, and campgrounds, to ensure accommodation is available for those who may need it.

“If you are planning on travelling in B.C., please do so safely and avoid fire-affected communities. Know before you go and be prepared. Many communities continue to be impacted by wildfires and continue to face challenges. Listen to the direction of local communities. Respect emergency orders and alerts. While many communities in the Interior are looking forward to welcoming people, others, like Lake Country and the Shuswap, are advising that now is not a good time to visit. 

“We’re asking anyone who’s travelling to monitor information from the BC Wildfire Service, EmergencyInfoBC and DriveBC. Highway 1 between Chase and Sorrento remains closed. 

“We want to thank everyone for their empathy and willingness to change their plans to support their fellow British Columbians who are impacted by these devastating wildfires. The situation remains dynamic. We will continue to assess the situation, work with local governments and First Nations, and adapt our response as needed to.”

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Travel ban in parts of B.C. disrupting tourism as raging wildfires burn

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The central Okanagan is facing weeks without tourism during its peak season after British Columbia's premier imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones.

Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of BC, says the travel restrictions mean many tourism operators in the region are "taking a hit," though it's too early to quantify the damages.

"If you look at the entire 12 months of the year, August is typically the busiest month for visitors," he said.

The ban, which was introduced Saturday under the provincial state of emergency, will be in place until Sept. 4 for hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, RV parks and campgrounds in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon.

Premier David Eby has said the decision was made to ensure accommodation is available for crews and the 30,000 people who were forced from their homes across B.C.

Realtor Raymun Khunkhun, who has lived in Kelowna for about three decades, said the ban has left streets usually teeming with visitors eerily bare.

“There’s not a lot of people walking around," he said in an interview Saturday. 

"It’s almost like a ghost town now out here." 

Nearby wildfires have forced the evacuation of thousands in the city and watercraft rental businesses to close their doors, leaving boats and jet skis sitting idle, bobbing on the water.

The Kelowna International Airport has also been cancelling flights since Friday to ensure aerial firefighting efforts go uninterrupted.

Khunkhun said there’s not much that can be done now other than "pray for better days."

"These streets are usually packed, like it’s hard single-file walking when you’re on the sidewalks, and now it’s almost a little scary that it’s just empty," he said.

"Hopefully this doesn’t turn into anything worse than it already is."

Lisanne Ballantyne, CEO of Tourism Kelowna, said in a statement Sunday that the ban will impact the tourism sector, but the current focus remains on the wildfire response effort.

She encouraged people to listen to evacuation orders and avoid impeding firefighting efforts.

"When able, we will move forward to recovery planning," she said. "We have faced challenging situations before, and while none are the same, we will work through this together, rebuild and also focus on long-term resiliency."

Judas agreed, adding the ban comes at a time when businesses were already reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating floods in 2021, and were finally expecting to bounce back.

"Many businesses are still not fully up to speed and operational after COVID. Many are still carrying a lot of debt and and don't have a full complement of staff," he said. "The industry is taking a big hit once again."

He added that projections showed the tourism industry's revenue was on track to be comparable with the 2019 season. 

"To what degree this will affect overall tourism revenues is difficult to say," he said.

In the meantime, Judas said the focus should remain on protecting guests, residents, the community and businesses.

The province said the travel ban does not impact other regions, but is asking people to avoid non-essential travel to the central Interior and southeast to keep roads clear for emergency-response operations and other potential evacuations.

— With files from Darryl Greer in Kelowna.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2023.

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press

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US imposes travel bans on Georgian officials over new law that critics say will curb media freedom

The Biden administration is imposing sanctions on dozens of Georgian officials and law enforcement authorities

WASHINGTON — The United States imposed sanctions Thursday on dozens of Georgian officials in response to the enactment of a law that drew weeks of protests by critics who say it will curb media freedom and jeopardize the country’s chances of joining the European Union.

The move to impose travel bans on the officials, members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, law enforcement officers, lawmakers, private citizens and family members came three days after Georgia’s parliament speaker signed the measure into law following lawmakers’ override of a presidential veto.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller did not identify those targeted, due to visa confidentiality laws, but said “a few dozen” people were cited for anti-democratic activity.

“These actions risk derailing Georgia’s European future and run counter to the Georgian Constitution and the wishes of its people,” Miller said. He said the sanctions were first step and more penalties would be coming unless Georgia changed course.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken had warned about such a move after parliament’s initial passage of the bill last month. He also said the U.S. was reviewing all its assistance to Georgia, which has amounted to $390 million over the past several years.

On Monday, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili signed the legislation sealing the override of a veto of the bill by President Salome Zourabichvili .

T he measure requires media, nongovernmental organizations and other nonprofit groups to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad.

The government argued the law is needed to stem what it deems to be harmful foreign actors trying to destabilize the South Caucasus nation of 3.7 million. Many journalists and activists say its true goal is to stigmatize them and restrict debate before parliamentary elections scheduled for October.

Opponents have denounced it as “the Russian law” because it resembles measures pushed through by the Kremlin to crack down on independent news media, nonprofits and activists. They say the measure may have been driven by Moscow to thwart Georgia’s chances of further integration with the West.

B.C. to lift most wildfire-related travel restrictions in southern Interior

Order to remain in west kelowna, however; people urged to avoid travel to lake country, shuswap areas.

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If the power or data on your device is low, you can get wildfire updates on  CBC Lite,  our low-bandwidth, text-only website.

A wildfire-related travel ban  to hotels or campgrounds in many communities in the southern Interior will be lifted at midnight, according to B.C.'s Minister of Emergency Management.

The order was implemented Saturday and restricted travel for the purpose of staying in temporary accommodations to Kelowna and West Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon.

It was designed to make space for the thousands of evacuees ordered out of their homes due to hundreds of wildfires burning around the province, as well as first responders and support staff.

However, non-essential travel to West Kelowna continues to be prohibited and people are being urged to stay away from the Lake Country and Shuswap areas.

At a Wednesday news conference, part of an official tour of wildfire-ravaged areas , B.C.'s Minister of Emergency Management Bowinn Ma said the order has had its intended effect of freeing up hotel rooms for those who needed it most.

"[We are] extremely grateful to the support of the tourism sector for their compassion and their understanding," she said. "We know that these kinds of travel orders have an effect on their work and their livelihoods."

• B.C. restricts travel in southern Interior as wildfires force 30,000 out of homes
• Kelowna tourism operator fled 2 wildfires in 8 years. He now fears for future of business

Ma said the province will continue to place evacuees in the accommodations that are now available, working with local governments and First Nations.

She said anyone planning on travelling in B.C., should avoid fire-affected communities and respect evacuation orders and alerts .

"Check DriveBC before you go, have an emergency kit and let compassion and common sense lead you."

The rescinding of the order comes as tourism operators  say their businesses have taken a nosedive, even in communities where the travel restrictions did not apply.

At the same news conference, B.C. Premier David Eby said the province was starting to look toward rebuilding and recovery, with "heroic" efforts by firefighters helping calm aggressive blazes.

"The work and the discussions and the efforts and partnership with the federal government, with First Nations and others on recovery has started already," he said.

Ma said the West Kelowna travel ban is set to stay in place until Sept. 4, but may be lifted earlier if conditions allow it.

With files from The Canadian Press

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