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I read that too. And the government position is that they are told to drive straight to Alaska and if they need stop s it must be drive through...... how polite of us. Please don’t stop

i would think no driving to Alaska while the border is closed. Fly
 
I posted something similar on FB. A couple of my wise friends suggested the border people need to give travellers something they can put in their windshield to show they are travelling. This would include limited amount of time to get to their destination.
 
There are legitimate reasons to drive to Alaska. I don't have a problem with that. I imagine most people doing that are respectful.
 
Northwind said:
There are legitimate reasons to drive to Alaska. I don't have a problem with that. I imagine most people doing that are respectful.
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Although there are people we simply don't let into our borders, regardless of what reason they have. Why now make these exceptions for (mostly white I assume) Americans?
 
When I was downtown last weekend I am pretty sure I spoke to an American tourist. I gave her the washroom key I just used (then sanitized my hands again after just washing them. I was wearing a mask, she was not)... This is stereotyping but after decades of being on the west coast and living and/ or working around tourists you can tell. She was anywhere between 50-70 (made-up, possible facelift) white, held in place blond hairdo, expensively dressed, a wee bit too coordinated and gaudy...with a southern accent. I spent about an hour pondering why she was here, and how she got here, as the ships have been cancelled. She was friendly and normally I would be happy to see more like her touring our downtown, but not now.
 
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American tourists usually wear brand new expensive sneakers and walking shoes, too. Brands that are non-Athletic, like Tommy Hilfigger, Guess. And if the whole family has the same NB sneakers on - probably American. It's stereotyping, of a sit-com level...
 
And I feel bad for saying that...but I guess I noticed the absence of American tourists the two times I've been downtown in months. Absence of open shops, too - several closed indefinitely or boarded up. Last weekend, there was the protest, and several cafes were open. Downtown was busier with locals. I went to a more spacious cafe where I know there's a bathroom I can use (but have to park my scooter in the corridor). So I was noticing the absence of that stereotype - and normally seeing someone in a cafe from the US wouldn't consciously register in my brain, stereotype or otherwise.. It's not a bad or good one, just happens to be.
 
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And, when people - who look and sound to me like tourists - are dressed fancy in our little downtown, visiting during a pandemic and an anti-racism protest, it kind of feels like there's a certain amount of arrogance in that travel decision. So I guess I am judging people. Though, people could be here on essential business and do some touristy stuff while here.
 
Kimmio Laughterlove said:
And, when people - who look and sound to me like tourists - are dressed fancy in our little downtown, visiting during a pandemic and an anti-racism protest, it kind of feels like there's a certain amount of arrogance in that travel decision. So I guess I am judging people. Though, people could be here on essential business and do some touristy stuff while here.
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There are also those who are here longer term, although still temporary, plus those who have moved here permanently.
 
ChemGal said:
There are also those who are here longer term, although still temporary, plus those who have moved here permanently.
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Yeah. There’s an island vibe here, though. The ones who moved here longer term or permanently look more casual and familiar with the place, when downtown. The tourists always look out of place...it’s a spidey-sense.

It would be harder to spot US tourists in a bigger metropolitan/ cosmopolitan city, like Vancouver. Maybe only if you overhear self-explanatory questions, like, “which one is a dime?”(I used to hear so many dumb questions and comments...as though they didn’t realize Canada existed before they went to the travel agent..it could get annoying). But once people have been here awhile, they don’t usually fit the tourist stereotype I’m talking about.
 
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If you hear a tourist ask which one is a dime they are not Americans. They have dimes too, look just like ours. That would likely be tourists From Europe or somewhere else
 
And I don’t think we want to dump on tourists. We need them at most times. Businesses rely on them, particularly here you live
just not now when the border is closed and we are being told to stay close to home, not use cottages......
 
Lastpointe said:
If you hear a tourist ask which one is a dime they are not Americans. They have dimes too, look just like ours. That would likely be tourists From Europe or somewhere else
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The west coast is reliant on Tourism. As such, we get a lot of American tourists, and over time, themes emerge. Then they become stereotypes. Yes, they do ask which coins are dimes or quarters - Americans, not Europeans. Europeans make an effort and usually get it right. I have heard Americans comment on coins, ask which is what, more than once with my own ears. It’s a “cute” way of putting down our money sometimes, more than it is lack of discernment about the coins, or bills, for that matter - they act confused and as if it’s not real money, or even a real society with its own character - sometimes. I once had a US tourist give me a “tip” (in a one hour photo I worked at for a summer where we didn’t get tips) because he couldn’t figure out the change or couldn’t be bothered to count it. He just left all his change on the counter. And they have a reputation for being arrogant, brash, overconfident - because, though not everyone, enough come across that way. But...as much as they can be annoying (just like Canadians who say sorry all the time), we still want them to visit as long as there’s no pandemic.
 
I don’t want US tourists now. This town - potentially every town on the Island would be a disaster if American tourists brought covid up here. It’s a small city, downtown is small, and everybody frequents the same places. And locals have to serve them. Too risky. If they had not shut down the US ferries and cruise ships initially, we would’ve be slammed by covid.
 
We’ve been simultaneously dependent on, dumping on, and in admiration of, American tourists as long as I can remember. Because so many work in businesses that cater to tourists. It’s part of living here.

Truth be told, locals here don’t like anyone very much, who acts different from local norms. They are not very embracing of newcomers who don’t blend in. It’s xenophobic. There’s a particular vibe here that demands assimilation. That’s why I didn’t like it, and moved to Vancouver.
 
A coworker of mine who also has a cottage she rents was fortunate to have to opportunity to rent to an oil company who was looking for cottages to rent in case they have to isolate workers. She is getting a weekly rent at a reduced price ( but nobody is there) and when someone moves into the cottage they pay the regular price.
 
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