Destination BC, With Support from PacifiCan, Celebrates the Completion of New Community Tourism Plans

Destination BC, with the support of PacifiCan, is pleased to announce the completion of 11 new community tourism plans, representing mostly small and rural communities across the province, through a Community Tourism Planning initiative.

Each plan aims to ensure that tourism growth respects local culture, supports businesses, and brings benefits to residents. This approach allows for balanced and sustainable growth, where tourism enhances the community’s well-being for residents and the experience for visitors.

“Cortes Island’s new tourism plan is the result of a lot of hard work on the part of our community, and we are very pleased with the results. We value the kind of tourism that works as a force for good in our community, with recommendations supporting a regenerative approach, respecting our environment, culture, and carrying capacity,” said Kate Maddigan, Economic Development Officer, Cortes Community Economic Development Association.

“Elkford is a wilderness destination with distinctive natural mountain landscapes, stunning vistas, and abundant wildlife. This new plan identifies opportunities to enhance our tourism offerings and provides a roadmap for strategic long-term destination development, helping us attract visitors and diversify our local economy,” said Jeremy Johnston, Director of Planning and Development Services, District of Elkford.

“Our new Destination Development Strategy builds upon the District of Kitimat’s new five-year Economic Development Strategy. It focuses on projects that align with federal and provincial priorities and positions Kitimat to target a variety of funding sources. There is momentum for tourism development in Kitimat that can benefit both our residents and visitors,” said Laurel D’Andrea, Executive Director, Kitimat Chamber of Commerce.

The Community Tourism Planning initiative was designed to support communities to develop tourism in a way that works for them. The initiative assisted BC communities, particularly smaller and more rural ones, in developing a long-term vision for tourism and supporting the recovery and rebuilding of the tourism sector post-COVID. It also connected communities with experienced facilitators who led a collaborative planning process. As a result, participating communities developed comprehensive tourism plans, engaged with a wide array of local partners, and explored opportunities for sustainable economic development.

Communities that participated in the initiative and their Champion Organizations

• Clinton (Village of Clinton)
• Cortes Island (Cortes Community Economic Development Association)
• Dawson Creek (City of Dawson Creek)
• Delta (Tourism Delta/Delta Chamber of Commerce)
• Elkford (District of Elkford)
• Kitimat (Kitimat Chamber of Commerce)
• Lake Country (District of Lake Country)
• Lillooet (Lillooet Chamber of Commerce)
• Metchosin, Sooke to Port Renfrew (District of Metchosin, District of Sooke, WorkLink Employment Society)
• South Kootenays (Trail and District Chamber of Commerce)
• 100 Mile House and the South Cariboo (District of 100 Mile House)

Quotes: 

Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan)

“From breathtaking natural beauty to unique cultural experiences, British Columbia is a world-class destination. Supporting organizations like Destination BC demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to propelling economic development throughout the province. Investing in tourism plans across British Columbia will help these vibrant communities attract visitors, create jobs, and thrive well into the future.”

For more information about PacifiCan please visit: Pacific Economic Development Canada – Canada.ca

Hon. Lana Popham, BC Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport

“Small and rural communities are integral to the success of British Columbia’s tourism industry. By supporting these communities in planning, we’re ensuring that tourism growth meets the needs of local communities while also enhancing the visitor experience.”

Alison McKay, Vice President, Destination Management, Destination BC

“Thanks to the generous support of PacifiCan’s Tourism Relief Fund, Destination BC partnered with small and rural communities, supporting them in overcoming challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic. We applaud the strong local leadership and thoughtful tourism plans created by these communities, developed with valuable input from residents and businesses. Partnerships like these are important for building a strong and resilient tourism industry, and we look forward to seeing the positive impacts for communities and the province as a whole.”

About Destination BC:

Destination British Columbia (Destination BC) is a Provincially funded, industry-led Crown corporation that supports a strong and competitive future for BC’s tourism industry through a combination of global marketing, destination development, industry learning, cooperative community-based programs, and visitor servicing. Destination BC’s programs help to improve the visitor experience, support businesses and communities across the province, and strengthen BC’s worldwide reputation as a destination of choice. For more information about Destination BC’s programs and services, please visit: http://www.DestinationBC.ca/

For additional information, please contact:

Destination BC Media Relations

Email: [email protected]