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Directions: News from Destination BC
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Northern Lights in the Selkirk Mountains. Goat Range Provincial Park near Kaslo. Photo credit: Destination BC/Ashley Voykin.
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New itineraries share potential routes taking travellers from sea to sky by road, rail, or trail. Photo credit: Destination BC.
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Destination BC Launches First Iconic Brand, Rainforest to Rockies
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The first Iconic brand to launch from the Invest in Iconics strategy, Rainforest to Rockies, takes visitors from Vancouver on the Pacific Coast to the Canadian Rockies. It’s an iconic Canadian journey along ever-changing landscapes, inspiring travellers to visit more places in the province.
Find 12 itineraries showcasing the diversity of routes and the many ways to explore the southern part of the province and much more by visiting HelloBC.com/Rainforest-to-Rockies.
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Destination BC and Indigenous Tourism BC Provide Funding for Community-Based
Indigenous Learning & Projects to BC's Visitor Centres
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Destination BC, in partnership with Indigenous Tourism BC, is providing over $350,000 in funding to 33 community Visitor Centres across British Columbia through the Indigenous Learning & Projects Grant for Visitor Services. This application-based funding continues to support Visitor Centre staff in communities across BC to strengthen relationships and create opportunities for partners to collaborate and work together on impactful Indigenous focused projects, engaging activities, and training. These collective efforts will contribute to greater understanding of Indigenous culture, history, and the rich tapestry of Indigenous tourism offerings and experiences available in BC.
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In an average year, community Visitor Centres throughout the province collectively assist over 2.9 million visitors, at their physical locations, virtually, and across the community. Photo credit: Destination BC/Jordan Dyck
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As BC is the province with the most Virtuoso-preferred suppliers and luxury products and experiences in Canada, there were multiple inquiries for information on luxury hotels, resorts, and ski resources, during the show. Photo credit: Jodie Hu/Destination BC.
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Luxury Travel Agency Virtuoso on Tour in Beijing with BC's Overseas Team
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Jodie Hu, our overseas China representative, alongside in-market Team Canada partners including Destination Canada, Destination Ontario, and Tourism Northwest Territories, wrapped up a successful show with Virtuoso on Tour in Beijing in early November. Virtuoso is the leading global network of agencies specializing in luxury and experiential travel, with more than 20,000 advisors.
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Vogue Magazine Features West Coast of Vancouver Island
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As part of a Destination BC-led group press trip, a Vogue journalist travelled to Tofino and Ucelulet in Februrary 2023. The resulting article, “Why Vancouver Island, Canada is the Next Great Wellness Destination”, features accommodation, restaurants, and spa and wellness businesses. The press trip was coordinated in partnership with 4VI, Tourism Ucluelet, Tourism Tofino, and other industry partners.
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Cultivating relationships with travel media across the country and around the world, Destination BC's Travel Media team and our partners create proactive opportunities to showcase BC’s tourism stories. Photo credit: Vogue magazine.
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Facilitated by Lexi Keeler and Leona Zheng, the training focused on Jonview's promotion of a vast array of BC tourism products in overseas markets, with each presenter showcasing their destination to Jonview's staff. Photo credit: Destination BC.
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BC Virtual Training for Receptive Tour Operator Jonview
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Jonview Canada, one of Canada's largest receptive tour operators, approached our Market Development team to conduct a virtual training session for their nationwide staff on November 21 and 23, 2023. Jonview's primary markets are in Europe, the South Pacific, and Japan, making them a valuable gateway to these regions through their travel trade distribution channels. To optimize the training's impact and support connections between industry partners and Jonview, Destination BC collaborated with Indigenous Tourism BC, all six tourism regions, Destination Vancouver, Tourism Richmond, Tourism Whistler, Destination Greater Victoria, Tourism Kamloops, and Tourism Kelowna, creating Team BC.
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The new museum will build on both the Punjabi Canadian Legacy Project and South Asian Canadian Legacy Project, which showcased the past and present contributions of South Asians in BC with more than $1.2 million in government support. Photo credit: Government of BC.
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Public Engagement Begins for New South Asian Canadian Museum
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A new website from the provincial government will provide British Columbians with opportunities to share their vision for a new museum to highlight the history, culture and contributions to BC from Canadians of diverse South Asian heritages.
The public engagement process will provide multiple and different opportunities for participation informed by Simon Fraser University’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue and the ministerial advisory committee. Community-designed workshops and an online public survey will begin in early 2024.
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Legislative Changes Will Bring Fairness to App-Based Gig Workers
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App-based ride-hailing and food-delivery gig workers will soon have better working conditions, thanks to new legislation that was recently introduced. The changes address the priority concerns workers have raised such as low and unpredictable wages, being cut off from the job without warning and a lack of workers’ compensation coverage if injured on the job.
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Twenty-one ride-hailing companies are licensed to operate in BC, including multi-national companies such as Uber and Lyft, and locally operated companies such as Coastal Rides and Whistle! Photo credit: Government of BC.
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'The Clean Coast, Clean Waters initiative is an innovative plan to support the tourism sector, while preserving the natural beauty that brings people to BC.” Leigh Nelson, Vice-President, Campbell River Association of Tour Operators. Photo credit: Government of BC.
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New Coastline Cleanup Projects Underway Across BC
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Coastal communities and First Nations are busy with a new round of beach cleanup projects with new funding from the Province’s Clean Coast, Clean Waters initiative. The Clean Coast, Clean Waters (CCCW) initiative partners with organizations to clean the province’s coastline. This year, eight projects were selected that are expected to clean more than 1,400 kilometres of shoreline and remove at least 70 derelict vessels, creating 630 new jobs in the process.
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Government of Canada Launches New Tourism Growth Program
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On November 20, the Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism, launched the new Tourism Growth Program (TGP). With $108 million in federal funding, this program will invest in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, small businesses, and not-for-profits, helping them grow and positioning Canada as a destination of choice.
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Indigenous tourism creates jobs and opportunities in communities across the country, which is why the Government of Canada is working with First Nations, Inuit and Métis to encourage its growth. Photo credit: Government of Canada
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Planes landing at the Vancouver International Airport. Photo credit: Tourism Richmond
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Funding Announced to Reduce Vancouver International Airport’s Environmental Footprint
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The Vancouver International Airport will improve its main terminal’s building performance and reduce its overall emissions, thanks to a combined investment of more than $3.5 million from the governments of Canada and British Columbia. It will reduce the main terminal building's emissions by switching from natural gas to electricity for domestic water heating. The project will also decarbonize three domestic hot water loops through the installation of air-source heat pumps.
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Langley Receives over $260,000 from the Government of Canada to Revitalize the Downtown Core and Willoughby Community Park
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On November 17, John Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale – Langley City announced more than $260,000 in PacifiCan funding through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund for two public space projects in Langley. The Township of Langley is receiving $230,000 to create a new plaza at Willoughby Community Park. Project work includes site design and construction, installation of walkways, lighting, seating, and public art. The Downtown Langley Business Association is receiving $31,320 to install picnic tables and planters in Langley's downtown core to provide visitors with a place to sit outdoors while shopping in the area.
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Projects like these help communities and businesses in British Columbia welcome visitors from near and far, improve community wellbeing, create jobs, and grow the local economy. Photo credit: Government of Canada.
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The funding will also give $99,999 to Grouse Mountain Management Inc. to build a new chair lift at the resort. Photo credit: Government of Canada.
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Vancouver’s North Shore Communities Receive Over $2.7 million to Revitalize Public Spaces and Enhance Tourism Experiences
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On November 9, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for North Vancouver, announced over $2.7 million in PacifiCan funding for seven projects throughout Vancouver’s North Shore. This includes over $2.6 million for six projects funded through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund and $99,999 for one project funded through the Tourism Relief Fund.
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Visit our Research webpage for data on resident perceptions of tourism, industry performance, market research, and more.
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International Visitor Arrivals
The monthly International Visitor Arrivals publication summarizes customs entries data to BC and Canada from selected markets of origin. This publication includes information for both the particular month and year-to-date, and includes percentage changes over the same period of the previous year. In August 2023, BC saw 831,105 visitors from the USA, up 37% over August 2022.
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Our Learning Centre provides access to resources and tools, best practices, workshops, and training programs for BC’s tourism industry.
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The accessible attributes checklist was developed by Destination BC in 2019 after a review and evaluation of work done by a number of other organizations and jurisdictions.
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How Accessible Is Your Business?
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Information about accessible services and programs is key to providing good customer service and helping guests determine if your business meets their individual needs. Accessibility attributes indicate whether your business’ parking, entrance, public spaces, elevator, services, and programs are accessible for people with mobility needs, visual and/or hearing requirements, or for people with diverse cognitive or sensory abilities. Use this accessible attributes checklist, and update your Tourism Business Portal listing on HelloBC.com with your accessibility features.
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Destination BC’s UK overseas team, Vicky Brabin and David Ezra, were delighted to attend the Wanderlust Travel Media awards at the British Museum and accept the award on behalf of Destiantion BC. Photo credit: Wanderlust.
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British Columbia Crowned Most Desirable Region in the World at Wanderlust Travel Awards in the UK
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In early November, hundreds of the world’s foremost travel leaders convened at the British Museum for the UK’s 22nd Wanderlust Travel Awards. Wanderlust announced the reader-voted awards across 20 categories. Over 91,000 votes were cast by Wanderlust readers which saw British Columbia crowned as the most desirable region. British Columbia jumped from last year’s Bronze position to this year’s Gold winner, and Vancouver achieved fourth place as the most desirable city worldwide.
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Securing Small Business Rebate
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Recognizing the increased costs to businesses due to property crime and vandalism in rural and urban communities across the province, the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation has launched its $10.5 million Securing Small Business Rebate Program, which will provide small businesses with funds for eligible commercial property crime and vandalism repairs, or to implement eligible preventative measures. The BC Chamber of Commerce is administering the rebate program. The program’s application portal opened on November 22, 2023 and will remain open until January 31, 2025.
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Rebate applications are retroactive to January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2024, and are being reviewed on a first-come-first-served basis.
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This annual event converges hundreds of tourism industry delegates and leaders.
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BC Tourism Industry Conference 2024
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The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) proudly presents the 2024 BC Tourism Industry Conference to engage tourism partners and to provide tools for growth and development in the BC tourism sector. The conference will run March 6-7, 2024 at the Victoria Conference Centre in Victoria, BC.
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