Health advisories against non-essential travel have prompted Big White Ski Resort to cancel more than $7.3 million in accommodation and lift ticket reservations since November.

That number, current as of Jan. 21, doesn香蕉视频直播檛 take into account lost opportunities for other revenue departments on the mountain, such as lessons, food services, equipment rental, retail and events, nor the financial impact on the other businesses that operate on the mountain.

香蕉视频直播淎s challenging as it has been, we know that we are doing the right thing to bend the curve. And this has been confirmed by many of our local season pass holders and those who wish to visit but cancelled on their own,香蕉视频直播� said Peter Plimmer, president and CEO of Big White Ski Resort.

Hundreds of people have reached out to the resort expressing disappointment with the decision to cancel reservations for those who don香蕉视频直播檛 live nearby, which has been the case since early December. Plimmer said the subject is 香蕉视频直播渘ot debatable香蕉视频直播� given provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry香蕉视频直播檚 clear message to avoid non-essential travel, even if it means a substantial financial hit for the resort.

香蕉视频直播淚t will always snow at Big White, and eventually, COVID-19 will be gone. But, while it香蕉视频直播檚 here, our focus is day-to-day.香蕉视频直播�

On Jan. 21, 2020, the resort香蕉视频直播檚 occupancy was at 87.5 per cent. On the same day this year, the resort saw just 14.7 per cent occupancy. Mid-week skier visits are down by 84 per cent, classes by 96 per cent, and other businesses are down more than 80 per cent.

Adding to these struggles, Big White has been the location of a COVID-19 cluster, with more than 200 cases identified. Health officials said the spread on the mountain has not been easy to control.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 difficult for us to control because it香蕉视频直播檚 mostly in younger people living and working on the hill. There are some other cases as well, but that香蕉视频直播檚 probably the bulk of it,香蕉视频直播� said Interior Health香蕉视频直播檚 chief medical health officer Albert de Villiers on Jan. 20.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e trying to keep up with it. If everybody follows the rules, and everybody does what they香蕉视频直播檙e supposed to be doing, we should be able to control it. But it香蕉视频直播檚 not an easy one.香蕉视频直播�

READ MORE: 28 more cases of COVID-19 linked to Big White cluster

READ MORE: COVID-19 moving out of southern Interior and into the north: IH

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com

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