About 10 per cent of tourists in Kelowna are cancelling their accommodation, with about 10 per cent of the occupied hotel rooms taken by wildfire evacuees. Tourism Kelowna says the city has more to offer than outdoor recreation, but last-minute cancellations are linked to smoky skies.
Wildfire season is increasingly impacting tourism season in the Interior — leading to event cancellations
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Tourism season is a major economic driver for communities across B.C., but the season of spending and travel overlaps with wildfire season.
This summer, numerous events across the B.C. Interior have been altered or cancelled due to smoke and fire.
The tourism industry says the economic and social impacts of a summer of smoke has left a lasting mark on communities.
"I've heard the word devastation thrown out by some of our organizers. It's very disappointing," said Jonathan Arkle, the president of the Apple Race Series Society, after announcing the cancellation of the Triathlon National Championships which were to be hosted in Kelowna on Aug. 9.
He said the call to cancel the Argus Apple triathlon was made in response to concerns about the health impacts of heavy smoke in the air.
Environment Canada issued an air quality alert for B.C.'s south and central Interior earlier this week, and warns exposure to high smoke levels can pose a threat to health.
"We have second-hand heartbreak for all the athletes who had planned their weekend and are traveling from out of town to come,” said Arkle.
More than 700 athletes were registered for the national triathlon championships event in Kelowna, and more were prepared to volunteer.
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Similarly, the Fat Dog 120 trail race, which was scheduled to begin on Aug. 7 was also cancelled — just over a week before more than 1,000 people were set to converge on Manning Park in the Cascade Mountains.
“We didn't feel the conditions were safe,” said race director Erik Bird about the remote 193-km (120-mile) race after wildfires crossed into Canada from Washington state.
Bird said registrants will receive a 50 per cent race credit refund, but his team is still in the process of learning the full extent of the financial implications of cancelling the race.
He said staff, vendors, local shops and athletes will be impacted directly — but noted the cancellation of one of Canada's largest trail races also has a widespread trickle-down effect.
“People have been very understanding. Obviously there's disappointment, but, I think when you are a racer of this type of distance, in this kind of caliber of event, you are a problem-solver and you're a person of a positive mindset,” said Bird.
He said he looks forward to hosting the race next year.
In response to wildfire conditions in the Okanagan, the Bush Babes Trail Running organization announced it has purchased event cancellation insurance for its upcoming races.
In a statement, race director Dawna Jodoin said this means all registrants will receive a full refund if an event is cancelled.
Tourists wary, association president says
Cassandra Zerebeski, the president of Tourism Kelowna, said that despite event cancellations and smoke, tourists are still coming to town — but they are increasingly wary.
“We are seeing some fall-off from the air quality and concerns, with people calling in to push back their holidays,” said Zerebeski.
She said potential tourists have also been calling more frequently than before with questions about conditions.
On Friday, Zerebeski said about 10 per cent of tourists in Kelowna were cancelling their accommodation, with approximately 10 per cent of the occupied hotel rooms taken by wildfire evacuees.
She said Tourism Kelowna is working to highlight indoor recreation options — like wine tasting, shopping and spas — and combat a reputation of instability that was sparked by a travel ban imposed during the 2023 wildfires.
While some other events have also been cancelled, including a concert series in Vernon and a swim in Penticton, the Kamloops Rib Festival is moving ahead this weekend.
Its chefs say they are trying to embrace the smoky conditions.
“We are only gonna add to [the smoke] a little bit, and it will be the nice smelling BBQ glaze kind of smoke,” said rib cook Nicole Diavolitsis.
“We're really hoping Kamloops will come out and support, even though it's smoky out."
The dragon boat races that were set to run alongside the Kamloops Rib Festival, however, were cancelled due to health risks.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jacqueline Gelineau is a journalist with CBC News based in Salmon Arm, B.C. She can be reached at jacqueline.gelineau@cbc.ca.
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