Provincial parks in BC won't be allowing non-residents to book campsites this Summer.

It's an attempt to discourage unnecessary cross-border travel between the provinces amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

BC officials say it's also a way to give its own residents first dibs on camping spots in provincial parks since people are being asked to stay in their home provinces and that campers will need to show identification upon arrival.

Any non-BC resident who currently has a reservation in a provincial campground is advised to contact BC Parks before June 15 to cancel and receive a refund. Out of province campers are warned that if they make a reservation after bookings open back up on Monday, May 25, their reservation will be immediately cancelled without refund.

While there is no restriction on travelling between provinces, officials across Canada continue to discourage non-essential travel.

Alberta Parks already announced a similar resident-only camping policy last week and Saskatchewan will be implementing the same starting June 1.

Camping in national parks isn't expected to open until at least June 21.

 

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