FILE PHOTO - Channel tubing operator Coyote Cruises expects to start this year's season on June 27.

(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be floating on Penticton's river channel this summer.

Coyote Cruises tour operator Mike Campol says they are planning to begin floating operations on June 27.

The company has been making steady progress making its operating plans for this year while taking COVID-19 restrictions into consideration.

“We’ll have more information in the coming weeks as we work through the changes,” he says.

Bus seating will be reduced to meet COVID-19 distancing requirements, and there will be limits on the type and size of floats available.

“One big change is we want to establish a contact point for all customers going through the business to ensure we can provide guidelines for those using the channel. It’s a big focus for us,” Campol says.

He says the company expects revenues to be down and costs up, but isn’t complaining about it.

“That’s the reality for just about everyone. We are anticipating it,” he says.

Coyote Cruises and the City of Penticton are still in discussions over a new lease agreement, as well as talks about how to provide stewardship for all channel users.

So far the company has been concerning itself with only its own operations on the channel, but it is willing to assist in ensuring others using the channel follow COVID-19 protocols.

Members of the public will still be able to float the channel on their own, and there may be other float operations operating as well.

“We’re continuing to make improvements to our business. We’re anxious to get back in operation and we want to do a good job. Hopefully next year things will be more normal,” Campol says.

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