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Directions: News from Destination BC
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Taking advantage of warm spring weather at Tatlayoko Lake. (Cariboo Chicoltin Coast/6ix Sigma)
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Rebecca Wilson-Mah, Destination BC Board of Directors.
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Welcoming Rebecca Wilson-Mah to Destination BC's Board of Directors
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Rebecca is an associate professor in the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management and program head for the MA in Tourism Management at Royal Roads University. Prior to joining Royal Roads University, she held leadership roles at Tourism BC, The Fairmont Empress Hotel and Camosun College. These experiences in tourism, hospitality and education amplify her commitment to applied, accessible and authentic education at all stages of life and career.
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2024 BC Tourism Industry Conference Highlights
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Our team recently attended the 2024 BC Tourism Industry Conference (TIC) in Victoria, marking another successful year under the theme "Shaping Our Future Together." The conference hosted hundreds of delegates, industry leaders, and speakers in a diverse and thoughtful lineup, focusing on the growth and future of BC's tourism industry while offering a valuable platform for conversation, learning, networking, and collaboration. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC), delegates, speakers, sponsors, organizers, and the Victoria Conference Centre and catering staff for their exceptional care.
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TIABC’s CEO, Walt Judas, with our Executive team, including Alison McKay, Maya Lange, and Richard Porges.
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Reflecting on this year's conference, it's clear there's a bright future for BC's tourism industry, filled with opportunities for growth, innovation, and sustainability. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with industry partners to grow sustainable social, cultural, environmental, and economic benefits for all people living in BC.
Download our 2024 TIC presentations on Linktree and watch the video recording of our keynote presentation on YouTube.
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Kathleen Harvey, Destination BC’s Manager of Visitor Services, presented the Inclusive & Accessible Tourism Experience Award to Vancouver Aquarium representatives Linda Lavergne and Anthony Pratt, along with MLA Brittny Anderson, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism.
(Arkitek Creative)
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Congratulations to the 2024 Winners and Finalists of the BC Tourism Industry Awards!
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The Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia announced the winners of the 2024 BC Tourism Industry Awards during the 2024 BC Tourism Industry Conference Awards Gala, presented by Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC), on March 7. Ten awards were given out to recognize and celebrate the excellence, leadership, and innovation of operators and employees, showcasing the province’s most exceptional tourism industry leaders and positive change-makers.
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We were proud to once again sponsor the Inclusive & Accessible Tourism Experience award this year, recognizing an individual, organization, or consortium that has made a significant contribution towards creating inclusive and welcoming experiences for everyone. The finalists for this award category were the Vancouver Aquarium, Tourism Mission, and Reel North Adventures, with the Vancouver Aquarium honoured as the winner. We commend and celebrate all these deserving organizations for their dedication to advancing accessible tourism in BC.
Congratulations to all the 2024 winners and finalists on your outstanding achievements and valuable contributions to BC’s tourism industry!
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Re:BC and Destination BC Support Regenerative Tourism
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Online travel resource Re:BC, in partnership with Destination BC, is inviting travellers to embark on regenerative tourism, which focuses on actively building better communities. In participating destinations Revelstoke, Parksville Qualicum Beach, and Squamish, Re:BC encourages travellers to make a difference in the communities, with actions such as donating leftover food, reducing their ecological footprint, and learning about Indigenous history.
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Re:BC’s mission is to inspire and incentivize people to become more conscientious and engaged travellers.
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Submit your RFQ for Destination BC's DEIA Strategy today. (Tourism Fernie/Vince Mo)
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Call for Experts to Support Destination BC’s DEIA Strategy
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Destination BC has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to support our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Strategy.
We are seeking individuals or companies with expertise in:
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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Audits/Assessments
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Human Resources/Employee Relations
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Organizational Learning, Training, and Development as it relates to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
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Download Today: Developing and Designing Research Studies – Examining Resident Perceptions of Tourism in BC Toolkit
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This free resource, available for destination management organizations throughout BC, is designed to equip communities and the tourism industry with a framework that provides a consistent, credible, and robust measure of resident perceptions of tourism. It includes a step-by-step guide to help tourism partners conduct this type of research, including details to consider, how to determine the most suitable resident sentiment sampling methodology, which survey administrative tools to use, how to develop a survey, and recommended data analysis and reporting.
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As tourism becomes an increasingly complex industry that impacts many aspects of residents’ lives, having a comprehensive understanding of resident perceptions is essential for ensuring engaging and effective destination management.
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BC Vineyards and Orchards Get Help to Replant for a Changing Climate
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A new and enhanced replant program from the provincial government will provide as much as $70 million to help BC farmers replace damaged, diseased and low-producing vines, plants and trees with climate-resilient varieties. The new funding builds on the $15-million Perennial Crop Renewal Program introduced in spring 2023, which has helped more than 200 producers remove diseased and unproductive plants and replace them with higher quality crops. Application information will be made available as soon as the guidelines are established.
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Up to $70 million is available for BC farmers. (Destination BC/@vancouverfoodie)
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Share your thoughts on Great Bear Rainforest conservation. (Destination BC/Yuri Choufour)
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Have Your Say on the Proposed Great Bear Rainforest Conservation Area
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BC residents are invited to share feedback on a proposal to add a Special Forest Management Area (SFMA) supporting regenerative forestry and conservation in the Great Bear Rainforest. The proposed area includes 7,865 hectares of forested land that would transition from commercial harvesting to a focus on conservation and regenerative forestry. Public comment will be accepted until April 5 and will allow the Province and Kwiakah First Nation to consider public input into decisions and implementation.
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Province Seeks Public Input on Proposed Clayoquot Sound Conservancies
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As part of ongoing land-use discussions with the Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, forestry operators, communities and the public, the Province and the Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations are proposing to establish 77,000 hectares of new conservancies in the Clayoquot Sound area under the Park Act. Have your say on the proposed conservancies by visiting the link below.
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Have your say on proposed new conservancies in Clayoquot Sound. (Jordan Dyck)
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The new Belleville Terminal will be completed in time for the 2028 tourism season. (Province of BC website)
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Construction Moves Forward on Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project
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People travelling between Victoria and Washington state by ferry will soon experience secure and modern pre-clearance as construction moves forward for the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project. The upgrade will streamline travel by allowing passengers to complete the customs and immigration process in Victoria prior to disembarking in the U.S. The project is expected to be completed in time for the 2028 tourism season, with a budget of $303.9 million and a $41.6-million federal contribution.
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New Legislation will Expand BC's Parks
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New legislation will expand BC's parks and protected areas, improve biodiversity conservation, and provide more opportunities for people to access outdoor recreation. The additions, proposed through legislative amendments to the Protected Areas of British Columbia (PABC) Act, add 189 hectares to six provincial parks and one conservancy. In addition to these expansions, Cardiff Mountain Ecological Reserve will be renamed to Tŝi ʔEẑɨsh (pronounced Tsy-ezoish) Ecological Reserve to better reflect the First Nations place name for the area.
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Muncho Lake Provincial Park is one of six provincial parks that will benefit from new legislation.
(Northern BC Tourism/Andrew Strain)
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