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Destination Development

Malahat Skywalk | Milen Kootnikoff

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Destination Development is the process of improving the long-term competitiveness of tourism destinations in alignment with community needs.

It focuses on improving the current experiences visitors have and creating new ones that reflect what makes each destination across BC unique.

While branding is key to the Invest in Iconics strategy, the destination brands will thrive when they’re backed by authentic, memorable experiences. That’s why Destination BC is working closely with partners to align destination development with branding and marketing efforts – bringing these brands to life in meaningful ways.

Great place brands are built with input from local people and businesses, capturing the true character of each community. Destination BC supports these brands through sustainable development of tourism products, experiences, infrastructure, and assets. Combining development with branding and marketing allows what makes BC unique to be celebrated and shared, helping ensure it remains a top travel choice worldwide.

Our Responsibility to Stewardship and Reconciliation

The Invest in Iconics Strategy creates compelling reasons for travellers to visit more places, stay longer, and visit at more times of the year.

Destination BC understands and embraces our responsibility to ensure that our work throughout the province is done through the lens of stewardship and reconciliation.

There is a strong interconnectedness between Destination Stewardship, Destination Development, and Destination Development within the Invest in Iconics Strategy.

Destination Stewardship
Destination Development
Iconics Destination Development

Destination Stewardship

Destination Development

Iconics Destination Development

Overarching lens on how to thoughtfully develop the economic, social, cultural, and environmental benefits of tourism to enhance the well-being and quality of life for all British Columbians:

  • Indigenous reconciliation and UNDRIP/DRIPA
  • Climate resilience
  • Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
  • Visitor management
  • Sustainability principles
  • Emergency management
  • Preservation, assets, and environment
  • Resident social license

Strategic planning and advancement of defined areas to support the evolution of desirable destinations for travellers, with a focus on the supply side of tourism:

  • Planning: destination, land use, etc.
  • Infrastructure: hotels, trails, etc.
  • Access and transportation
  • Policy development
  • Investment and funding
  • Community values
  • Business climate
  • Workforce, housing, and childcare
  • Strategic partnerships

Enhancing existing experiences and creating new experiences that elevate and deliver on the uniqueness of each Iconic Place Brand:

  • Signage and wayfinding
  • Rest stops and points of interest
  • Interpretation and storytelling
  • Experience enhancement and development: attractions, activities, encounters, etc.
  • Festivals and events
  • Visitor amenities
  • Industry training/capacity building
  • Visitor Services

Destination Development Strategies for Iconic Areas and Routes

Through engagement with tourism partners, communities and businesses, and in close partnership with Indigenous Tourism BC and the Regional Destination Management Organizations, Destination BC is creating Destination Development strategies for each Iconic area and route. The strategies are living documents that will get updates as work progresses, and new opportunities arise.

Program Guidelines icon

Rainforest to Rockies

Click here to view the Rainforest to Rockies Destination Development strategy.
Download
Program guidelines icon

The Great Wilderness

Click here to view The Great Wilderness Destination Development strategy.
Download
Program guidelines icon

Birthplace of Adventure and Valleys & Vineyards

Destination Development strategies coming soon.
Coming Soon
Program guidelines icon

Nature’s Heartland and The Infinite Coast

Engagement and strategy development work is beginning.
Development Underway

Co-creation of a Destination Development Framework and Action Plan for the Iconics

Destination BC, Indigenous Tourism BC, the Regional Destination Management Organizations, and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport worked together to create a Destination Development Framework that guides our work as part of the Invest in Iconics Strategy.

Guiding Themes from Action Plan

Three themes were identified to guide Destination Development work for the Invest in Iconics Strategy:

Place

Place is a key consideration for tourism. Place provides the context for how a traveller experiences a destination or journey and includes the identity of a place - what makes it distinctive, unique, and memorable.

People

People are a big part of tourism. Community well-being is a key goal of destination development, which needs to have the capacity to result in a quality of place that is appealing for visitors and enhance the quality of life for people living locally.

Story

Story integrates Place Branding and Destination Development. Story builds on cultural narratives drawn from local knowledge of the meaning, appeal, and appreciation of place. It’s not about creating new stories; it’s about amplifying stories that already exist and have existed for thousands of years.

Our Focus for Action

Destination Development will focus on supporting and creating experiences, encounters and touchpoints:

Experiences

Experiences have been defined as opportunities for visitors to engage, participate, interact, learn, and explore in an area to get a local understanding and broader awareness of a destination, often combining different elements (e.g. farmers market tour followed by a culinary class led by a local chef).

Encounters

Encounters are a key component of transformative travel. They facilitate interaction with local people and other visitors, present opportunities to face challenges, provide ways to really experience sense of place, can result in longer-stays, and promote post-travel reflection.

Touchpoints

Touchpoints refer to the physical manifestation of the Destination Brand on the ground such as the signage, interpretive wayfinding, and other navigational tools that help visitors find their way around. Touchpoints provide visual cues for travellers make people feel welcome, safe, and help give them a great experience.

A Supportive Environment

A key aspect of bringing Destination Development to life is the supporting environment needed:

Integration

Integration means we align efforts within the province. Adopting an integrated approach to the design and delivery of destination development activities is needed.

Partnership

Partnership is essential to deliver on destination development actions. By working collaboratively with relevant partners at the right time, it’s possible to make a real difference and achieve a much greater impact than any one organization could on its own.

Investment

Investment from both public and private streams is needed for the responsible growth of tourism, such as to transporting visitors from their point of origin to and around the destination, accommodating them during their trip, and providing entertainment and other facilities.

Experience Development

Connect with our Destination Development team to get involved in Destination Experience Development. LEARN MORE➔

Get in Touch

To find out more about the Destination Development work or to determine the best way for you to participate, contact us at [email protected]

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