The small communities of Ucluelet and Quadra Island have joined Tofino in discouraging visitors during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Most businesses in Ucluelet have taken the precautionary measure of closing for the coming weeks, says a notice posted on the district’s website.
“If you have plans to come to Ucluelet in the near future, we recommend you delay your holidays until further notice. Businesses have adjusted their operations and we recommend you contact your accommodation and activity providers to better understand the measures they have taken for their business to keep their guests and staff safe,” says the notice.
Ucluelet’s immediate priority is the safety of its residents and staff, it says.
The town of 1,700 closed its community centres, athletic halls and library earlier in the week, but had not asked people to postpone their visits.
Now the district is encouraging people to share their memories of Ucluelet on Facebook and Instagram @TourismUcluelet.
“For those in self-isolation, let us be your virtual stress-free zone. The community of Ucluelet will be here to welcome you when the time is right for travel again.”
On Friday, community leaders on Quadra Island issued a news release asking visitors to defer their travel plans to Quadra Island until further notice.
The request to stop non-essential visits until the virus outbreak abates came from regional district representative Jim Abram, the Discovery Islands Chamber of Commerce and the We Wai Kai First Nation.
“Quadra Island is a small community with limited resources and its share of vulnerable residents,” said Abram. “Like other small destinations, we are at special risk of exposure from people who may unknowingly travel with the infection. We all know now that isolation and limiting travel are key strategies in fighting this epidemic. Our community is asking anyone thinking of visiting Quadra, for discretionary reasons, reconsider and make plans to come at a safer time, when we look forward to welcoming our visitors back.”
The District of Tofino, Tourism Tofino and the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce have asked visitors to stay away for several weeks. Visitors already in town were asked to make plans to return home.
Shane Richards, chairman of Tourism Tofino, said the move was necessary to ensure the limited medical resources in the community are not overwhelmed.
The town counts has about 1,900 permanent residents, but sees about 750,000 visitors in a year.
