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Directions: News from Destination BC |
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Three friends enjoying a rest and the scenic view during their hike along the Flowering Springs Trail in Stone Mountain Park in the Northern Rockies. Credit: Northern BC Tourism/Grant Harder. |
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Richard Porges to Step Down as President and CEO of Destination BC |
Richard Porges will step down as President and CEO of Destination BC on November 6, 2026, following a 27-year career with Tourism BC, Destination BC, and the provincial government. During his tenure, he led the organization through the pandemic and recovery, while advancing major initiatives including Destination BC’s corporate strategies, Iconics program, accessibility and inclusion framework, and commitments to Truth and Reconciliation. |
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Destination BC’s Board of Directors has formed a CEO Recruitment Committee and hired Boyden Canada to lead a global search for the organization’s next President and CEO. |
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Destination BC also shared research, planning resources, and examples of how tourism partnerships can help communities attract investment and strengthen local economies. |
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Destination BC at the 2026 UBCM Convention: What Local Governments Told Us About Tourism |
Destination BC connected with local government leaders from across BC at the 2026 UBCM Convention to discuss tourism’s role in supporting community services, local businesses, and economic development. Conversations highlighted varying levels of tourism readiness, growing municipal budget pressures, and a need for greater awareness of available support programs.
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Destination BC Launches Wildfire Recovery Marketing Campaign to Support Impacted Communities |
Destination BC has launched 'BC is Open. Explore BC this Fall.', a tourism recovery marketing campaign built to immediately support the communities and businesses affected by the 2026 wildfires. The campaign invites British Columbia and Alberta residents to plan a multi-day fall getaway in BC, helping to keep local spending circulating and supporting a strong, resilient visitor economy across the province. The integrated campaign will reach travellers across paid, owned, and earned channels, in market from September 3 to October 24, 2026. |
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The campaign focuses on impacted and neighbouring areas that are open, welcoming, and ready for visitors right now, including the Thompson Okanagan, Kootenay Rockies, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, and the Fraser Canyon. These communities are open for business this fall and eager to host guests. |
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Spanning the Cariboo and Chilcotin, North Thompson and Nicola Valleys, and the Fraser Canyon, Nature’s Heartland is a rugged, soul-stirring landscape where layers of nature and living history meet hands-on adventure. |
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Destination BC Releases New Destination Development Strategy for Nature’s Heartland |
Destination BC has released the Nature’s Heartland Destination Development Strategy, a collaborative roadmap that will help guide the future of tourism development in BC’s Central Interior. Developed as part of Destination BC’s Invest in Iconics approach, the strategy supports BC’s long-term goal of growing tourism in more places and in all seasons. It outlines opportunities to strengthen visitor experiences, build destination awareness, and create meaningful connections between travellers and the communities they visit. |
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Applications for the Co-op Program Are Now Open |
Applications for the FY2027/28 Co-op Program are now open and due on November 1, 2026. Application forms for sectors and community consortiums are now available to download, in addition to new program guidelines for 2027/2028. |
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Applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. PT on November 1, 2026. |
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Travel media relations is an essential marketing channel to tell our brand story, build awareness, and encourage travellers to visit BC. |
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Travel Media Coverage: June 2026 |
We have a well-developed program to work with travel media – journalists or outlets who specialize in telling travel and lifestyle stories – to create exposure for BC as a destination of choice. In June, the New York Post focused on food in the Okanagan, Men's Journal featured Vancouver Island, and broadcast television in Australia shared locations across BC as part of FIFA World Cup coverage. |
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Destination BC Tourism Marketing Committee: Call for Applications 2027-2029 Term |
Destination BC is seeking five representatives for its Tourism Marketing Committee (TMC). The TMC provides strategic advice to Destination BC’s Board and executive team on tourism marketing and destination management priorities in British Columbia. Beginning January 1, 2027, the TMC requires representatives from the following tourism regions: one representative from the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast tourism region, one representative from the Northern BC tourism region, one representative from the Thompson Okanagan tourism region, and two representatives from the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains tourism region. |
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Applications are to be submitted in electronic form and must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. PT on September 29, 2026. |
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The International Visitor Arrivals Report summarizes customs entries to BC and Canada from key markets, providing monthly and year-to-date data, with percentage changes compared to last year. |
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Increased International Visitation in July 2026 International Visitor Arrivals Report |
The July 2026 International Visitor Arrivals report is now available on our website. July saw increasing visitation with monthly growth of 7.9% from Europe, 13.2% from the US, and 5.1% from Mexico. |
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Province and Surrey Advance Planning for Museum Honouring Canadians of South Asian Heritages |
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The Province of British Columbia and the City of Surrey are taking the next step toward advancing a provincial museum honouring Canadians of South Asian heritages through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The MOU sets out how the Province and the city will work together on the next phase of planning. This includes exploring options for the museum, identifying potential sites, spaces and support mechanisms, further engaging with communities and developing implementation plans. |
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2027 BC Tourism Industry Conference |
Save the date for the 2027 conference, happening February 24 to 26, 2027, at the Victoria Conference Centre, in Victoria, BC. |
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