As Tourism Kamloops continues to try and attract people from others parts of British Columbia to visit this summer, its says their top priority remains the safety of Kamloopsians.

“I think with the opening of Phase 3, and travel throughout the province, it definitely opens up the risk for spreading contact,” Director of Industry Relations, Monica Dickinson, said. I think our businesses have done a remarkable job putting in safety procedures and protocols to keep patrons safe, and visitors safe, and our residents safe.”

Dickinson notes its important that visitors to the Tournament Capital bring their travel manners with them to prevent an outbreak like what happened in Kelowna around Canada Day.

“It really is a two way street. I think if everybody does their part, we do our best to really mitigate the risk that comes with enhanced people movement,” she added.

“From our perspective, we continue to communicate the importance that people respect the protocols, you know, doing their best to ensure that they are doing their part to ensure that everybody is safe.”

Health officials have said they expected to see an increase in cases as more people travel with restrictions eased. While speaking on the NL Morning News, the Chief Medical Health Officer at Interior Health, Dr. Sue Pollock, noted she is ‘worried’ by the spike in cases in the Okanagan linked to Kelowna parties.

Dickinson previously told NL News that the cancellation of the Rocky Mountaineer’s 2020 season is a big blow to Kamloops tourism and the businesses that rely on the visitors from the train in the summer months.

However, she says all is not lost this season.

“We’ve always been very well positioned when it comes to communicating and marketing our destination in the province, and so, its more of reconnecting with some of our audience out of the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan, and across the province to position Kamloops as a desirable getaway for this summer,” Dickinson added.

(Photo via Hike Kamloops)