2021 Survival Skills for Tourism 

Small Business New Year's Resolutions During a Pandemic

We know it’s a challenge and a huge commitment to get your technical ducks in a row. We’re doing it too. And we are here to help. There is no choice. Embrace technology or die.

2021 survival skills for tourism and small businesses in Canada is best depicted in the pandemic words of 2020 like pivot, adapt, rebrand, and restructure. However, one thing is for certain, all these words add up to one bleak answer - change or die. Blunt right! Well... suck it up. These times call for blunt messaging. 

STOP The BS

I cannot speak for you or for anyone else, but I absolutely cannot stand candy coating a bad situation, making false promises and churning out spin. I prefer the tell-it-like-it-is model, no matter how much it hurts. Say it like it is please, so I can do what I need to do on my end to prepare, combat, change and/or redirect the situation.  

Take Responsibility

I believe everyone is  responsible for themselves.  I am not interested in waiting for tourism associations and Governments to fix my problems on the front line of life, and with my business. Waiting is a big waste of valuable time and a recipe for disaster. 

However...

“Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done, and why. Then do it.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

Below are ten 2021 survival skills and New Year Resolutions which I, and some of my colleagues, have shared with each other in preparation of 2021. 

(1) Snail Mail

A year ago tourism was in demand. Travellers were in abundance. Some destinations did not have to work too hard to be busy as the supply of tourists was bountiful. 2021 is different. Now everyone of those visitors is second guessing travel priorities. During the pandemic new habits have formed. Now is a time to connect on a deeper level with your database. The return of snail mail, old school or not, is a 2021 survival skill for tourism. Personal hand written notes will have a big impact on a population in isolation.

EH? Travel Talk Show November Guests

November 2020 special guests talk Mountain Biking - World Tourism Culture & Heritage - Canada's Most Prolific Traveller and Top 3 Canada

Join the Brothers of Tourism on their hit EH? Travel Talk Show every Tuesday at 7 PM (pst) on Facebook Live (@ehcanadatravel) 

What a diverse group of special guests in the month of November 2020 on the EH? Travel Talk Show. We talk mountain biking in Canada with, Ostyn Fox, a top young star prospect. The month continued with a very informative discussion with Chris Flynn of the WTACH (World Tourism Association for Culture and Heritage). Canada's most prolific traveller joins us to talk sleigh travel, toy manufacturing and the Spirit of Xmas.  We complimented our month of November with an episode on  TOP 3 Canada!

Canada Tourism -  Special Guests in November 2020

Young Stars - Mountain Biking (Ostyn Fox) Ranked #2

WATCH VIDEO

Canadian Young Star Series: Ostyn Fox, Under 15 Pacific Northwest Enduro Motocross rider, is our guest on the EH? Travel Talk Show. Ostyn sits down with Greg and Colin Girard, the Brothers of Tourism, and shares his training routine, his back country trails, sponsorship and his goals in the world of motocross racing. We wish Ostyn every success!

Chris Flynn - World Tourism Association for Culture and Heritage

Nicola Valley backcountry fishing adventures

"A lake a day for as long as you stay"

Merritt BC fishing comes easy when you have over 200+ lakes to select from in and around the Nicola Valley. If anything, Merritt, B.C., Canada and the Nicola Valley should be on every lake fisherman's bucket list. For sure it should! The tag line around here is, "A Lake A Day For As Long As You Stay". That alone should, pretty much, sum it up nicely for any of you fishing enthusiast that may have some concerns. There is fish, heck on this recent visit to Lundbom Lake, Brother Fish (aka my brother and co founding partner Colin) has caught 11 rainbow trout so far. And these are not your minnows either. Nope. They are BBQ worthy.

The Big Merritt BC Fishing Question

The big question to ask yourself when coming to the Nicola Valley is which lake are you going to explore? The Experience Nicola Valley blog and Experience Merritt website is a good place to start, HOWEVER that is right after you planned and researched on our ehCanadaTravel.com website of course.

A Lake A Day For As Long As You Stay

The Merritt BC fishing lakes are all over the map here in the Nicola Valley. Some small. Some bigger. Some "way-out" remote. Some easier to access than others. But one thing is clear. All are in the backcountry surrounded by beautiful scenery and nature. And... most likely... you may even come across a cow or two on the journey to your lake. This is ranch country too you know.

The Delayed Answer

Rambling again wasn't I? Let us get back to my original question. Basically I was asking, "... how do you select which of the Merritt BC fishing lakes to adventure with?"

I would guess the answer has a lot to do with what you are driving and what you plan on doing at the lake. In our case it is a motorhome pulling a jeep and we want camping, fishing and mountain biking. This criteria limits our options greatly because of the rig we are driving not the activities we seek. Of the hundreds of lakes, most are accessed by off roading, hiking, biking and horseback riding. Most of these lakes do not have power, sani-dumps, cell service and paved roads. There is definitely no resorts, B&Bs and McDonald"s drive thru. No these lakes are all "rough-neck" upscale with pit toilets and picnic tables. Others call it "off grid". We call it paradise.