Visiting Parksville Qualicum Beach During COVID-19

British Columbia has entered Phase 3 of its Restart Plan allowing BC residents to travel within the province. Inter-province and international travel continues to be discouraged for everyone's health and safety.

As travel restrictions begin to ease during the COVID-19 pandemic, Parksville Qualicum Beach is preparing to find the balance of welcoming visitors back to the area while keeping our communities safe. We want the summer to be enjoyable for everyone, respecting all Provincial Health Officer guidelines (especially physical distancing) while in our shops, on our trails and beaches.

Here’s what we’re doing to protect you when you visit Parksville Qualicum Beach:

• All accommodations, restaurants, and shops are implementing provincially approved guidelines for cleaning and physical distancing to keep staff and patrons safe. Find out what's open.
• All attraction and activity providers have created additional safety measures as well as implemented provincially approved guidelines for cleaning and physical distancing to keep staff and visitors safe.
• Due to limited space and modified group sizes, please call ahead to activity providers to see if there are additional items you are required to bring in advance of your trip.

Travel Only When Healthy

If you or anyone in your travelling group has been sick in the previous week or have flu like symptoms, PLEASE RESCHEDULE your trip.

Plan Ahead

Take extra time to research and plan your trip in advance, even if you've visited Parksville Qualicum Beach before. For example, you may have to book in advance for attractions or experiences where you didn’t before, and transportation schedules, like BC Ferries, may be operating at a reduced capacity. Some businesses or outdoor spaces may remain closed. Become familiar with what you might encounter ahead of time. See our COVID-19 Open and Travel Directories to start your research, and contact local visitor centres for more information.

Pack Essentials

Create a Clean Trip Kit, including hand sanitizer, soap, gloves, masks, and toilet paper. Include anything you absolutely need to enjoy your trip. While you should be able to find most things at local shops, it’s not a guarantee.

Reservations & Takeout

Make a reservation at one of our restaurants or order takeout and have it delivered. Restaurants will have limited seating. They will each have their own rules to follow.

Stay Apart, Stay Safe

Practise physical distancing and frequent handwashing hygiene to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Follow the recommendations from the BC Centre for Disease Control to learn about preventative activities, and talk to the tourism businesses you are visiting about the steps they are taking to keep you and their staff safe. WorkSafeBC now requires all businesses to post their new COVID-related health and safety protocols at their workplace for staff and visitors to see.

Be AdventureSmart

No matter what outdoor activity you are planning, you must be prepared. Remember to follow the three Ts—trip planning, training, and taking the essentials. AdventureSmart is a great resource to get informed before heading outdoors.

Be Calm, Be Patient, Be Kind

Remember, activities may take longer than usual, or places may be at capacity when you arrive. Have a Plan B researched and ready in case your first choice isn’t possible. Be calm, patient, and kind, and remember, we’re all in this together.

Support Local Businesses

Tourism businesses are eager to welcome you back this summer and your support is more crucial than ever. Remember, with the border closed, our businesses are relying on British Columbians. For now, you have the province all to yourself! Make the most of it. See what’s open to learn where you can support local businesses.