As whale watching companies cautiously count down to a possible re-opening July 1, many are saying the economic damage from the pandemic shutdown has already been severe — and possibly fatal for some.
“It’s devastating,” said Jennifer Steven, who owns the Whale Centre in Tofino. “We’ve already lost April, May and half of June. We’ve lost about 60 per cent of our international bookings for the summer.
“It’s hard to sleep at night.”
Steven has already trimmed her fleet in half, to three vessels, and hasn’t recalled any of her 15 staff. With the province closing all natural hot springs to visitors, that’s also cancelled a popular and lucrative daily trip.
And while the whales are plentiful and bear and eagle sightings are common for her wildlife tours, the industry remains at a standstill.
The federal government is expected to lift its ban on marine vessels with a capacity of more than 12 passengers on June 30, but the industry will still need the clearance to start from the provincial government.
“We are hopeful. We need this approval,” said Ian McPhee, chief accountant for Prince of Whales, the largest whale watching company in the Pacific Northwest.
“Our bread and butter for the entire year is operating over four months. We are already into that [time period] and we are all at zero revenue,” said McPhee, who is also chairman of Tourism Vancouver Island.
He said it’s hopeful that federal and provincial subsidies will continue or many in the tourism sector, particularly whale watching, “won’t make it through the winter.”
Steven echoed that sentiment, saying “the province has been alluding to a bailout for tourism … it would be nice to know what that is.”
She fears many of her staff won’t get enough working hours this summer to qualify for employment insurance over the winter. “As a business, your most valuable assets are your staff,” said Steven. “There’s not a lot of work in Tofino during the winter, so losing staff would be very hard.”
The Pacific Whale Watching Association has put together a COVID-19 plan for reopening, including reduced seating to 50, the use of masks and strict clean protocols.
Sound Watch, part of the Whale Museum in Friday Harbour, Washington, said the whale watching fleet in Washington and British Columbia totalled 138 vessels, which carried about 500,000 customers in 2019.
McPhee said Prince of Whales has 15 vessels in its fleet, including a pair of Salish Sea-class catamarans, each 80 feet long with 200-passenger capacities. The latest boat, built for $4 million, was delivered March 28 at the height of the pandemic shutdown.
“Those will allow us to space passengers safely,” said McPhee.
The industry is counting heavily on U.S. and other international visitors that may not arrive because the border remains closed to non-essential U.S. travel.
For Prince of Whales, 60 per cent of its customers are from the U.S. and other countries. About 30 per cent hail from Alberta and other Canadian provinces while the remaining 10 per cent are B.C. residents.
While some companies are considering discounted prices, McPhee said Prince of Whales won’t raise fees or lower them. A typical three- to four-hour tour costs a passenger $130.
“We’re not doubling our prices to make up the money at half capacity,” he said.
Nathan Bird, general manager at Eagle Wing Tours, said the company operating out of Fisherman’s Wharf will offer discounts to Victorians and other British Columbians to start the season.
Eagle Wing is also planning special tours for front-line health workers and first responders.
He said the company will operate 26- and 50-passenger vessels, but only at half capacity.
Face coverings will be offered and be mandatory. Floater suits won’t be provided; they are mandatory on Zodiac-style vessels, but the company won’t be using those boats. It will provide wind breakers, pants and life preservers that are easily laundered.
