More than 180 communities across the province can do more to support and promote tourism as a result of provincial funding.

This year one million dollars is being shared among 300 grassroots projects through the Community Tourism Opportunities (CTO) program, now in its third year of operation. Growing in popularity, applications to the program have increased 13 per cent this year.

The Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation program assists communities to implement their own tourism initiatives with the Province acting as a funding partner by providing matching monies upon the completion of eligible projects. Individual communities are eligible for up to $9,200 from the Province. In instances where clusters of communities have collaborated on a proposal, the maximum available funding is $23,000.

Both marketing and development projects are eligible under the program. Some examples of initiatives supported include advertising, tourist-related signage, audio walking tours, online activities, tourism brochures and research.

The CTO program is co-ordinated by the Province's six regional destination marketing organizations which receive the funding from the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation.

Quick Facts:

* The regional destination marketing organizations administering the program include:

Tourism Vancouver Island, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism Region, Kootenay Rockies Tourism and the Northern British Columbia Tourism Association.

* Participating communities must find matching funds for projects and they receive their CTO funding after successful completion of their projects.

Learn More:

To learn more about the Community Tourism Opportunities program, please visit: http://www.jti.gov.bc.ca/industryprograms/BuildingAndGrowingYourBusiness/Community_Tourism_Programs/CommunityTourismOpportunities.htm

A backgrounder follows:

Contact:

Marisa Adair

Communications Director

Ministry Jobs, Tourism and Innovation

250 920-8500

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

BACKGROUNDER

For Immediate Release

2011JTI0075-000708

June 15, 2011 Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation

Regions and communities benefiting from funding by Community Tourism Opportunities

Total funding for Vancouver Island and Saltspring Island communities: $180,700

Alberni Valley, Campbell River, Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo, North Vancouver Island, Oceanside, Pender Island, Quadra Island, Saltspring Island, Sooke-Port Renfrew, Tofino-Ucluelet.

Total funding for Vancouver, Coast & Mountains communities: $184,500

Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Fraser Canyon, Fraser Valley Circle Farm Tour, Harrison Hot Springs, Hope, Langley, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows, Mission, New Westminster, Pemberton, Scenic 7 , Squamish, Sunshine Coast, Surrey, Vancouver's North Shore, and White Rock. *Scenic 7 communities are: Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Mission, Kent, Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs, Hope.

Total funding for Thompson Okanagan communities: $250,100

Armstrong, Blue River, Boundary Alliance, Clearwater-Wells Gray, Enderby, Gold Country, Lake Country, Lumby, Merritt, Naramata, North Thompson Valley, Okanagan Falls (Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen), Oliver, Osoyoos, Peachland , Penticton, Princeton, Shuswap, Summerland , Valemount, Vernon, West Kelowna.

Total funding for Kootenay Rockies communities: $127,100

Castlegar, Cranbrook, Creston, Elkford, Fernie, Golden, Invermere, Kaslo, Kimberley, Nakusp, Nelson Kootenay Lake, Radium Hot Springs, Revelstoke, Rossland, Sparwood, Trail.

Total Funding for Cariboo Chilcotin Coast communities: $144,200

Wells-Barkerville, Bella Coola, Bridge River, Cariboo Regional District, Clinton, Horsefly, Likely, Lillooet, Quesnel, Soda Creek Band, South Cariboo-100 Mile House, West Chilcotin, Williams Lake, Xeni Gwet'in.

Total funding for Northern B.C. communities: $169,600

Burns Lake, Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, Haida Gwaii, Hazelton, Highway 37, Houston, Hudson's Hope, Kitimat, Port Edward, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Smithers, Taylor, Terrace, Tumbler Ridge, Vanderhoof.

Contact:

Marisa Adair

Communications Director

Ministry Jobs, Tourism and Innovation

250 920-8500

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect