As staff at the Abbotsford Visitor Centre will advise, B.C.'s driving routes are a great way to explore the province. The self-guided Abbotsford Circle Farm Tour leads visitors to heritage-venue eateries, a unique eco-dairy, a trout hatchery, garden nurseries and a winery.

There are also numerous events in and around Abbotsford this summer including the Abbotsford Agrifair and Rodeo, featuring livestock, agricultural displays and a midway from July 28 to Aug. 1, and the Abbotsford International Air Show, which features on-the-ground exhibits and spectacular aerial displays, from Aug. 12 to 14.

Visitor centre staff can also help with provincewide trip planning. Each location is stocked with a variety of Tourism BC's publications, including the Circle Routes Scenic Driving Guide, the Outdoor Adventure Guide and the BC Vacation Planner.

Identified by their distinctive blue-and-yellow "i" logo and located on driving routes throughout the province, B.C.'s 109 community visitor centres provide a wide range of trip-planning services, including visitor guides, activity suggestions, travel tips and accommodation reservations.

Why It Matters:

More than ever, British Columbians are choosing to stay close to home, taking vacations right here in B.C. In 2009, residents were the single-largest group of travellers in the province, representing roughly 52 per cent of all travellers.

Quick Facts:

• Community visitor centres are owned, operated and funded by a sponsor organization such as a local chamber of commerce, a destination marketing organization or a municipality.
• The Province supports community visitor centres by providing uniforms, training and 'fee for service' funding - which has increased from less than $1 million in 2001 to nearly $1.7 million today.
• Tourism contributes over $12.7 billion (2009) in revenue, a 48 per cent increase since 1999, and provides employment for nearly 129,000 British Columbians in every region of the province- roughly one out of every 14 workers.

Learn More:

The Abbotsford Visitor Centre is located at 34561 Delair Rd. near shopping, restaurants, services and a variety of accommodation options.

Community visitor centres in the Vancouver Coast Mountains region are also located in Chilliwack, Delta, Gibsons, Hope, Langley, Lytton, Mission, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pemberton, Pitt Meadows, Powell River, Richmond, Sechelt, Squamish, Surrey, Vancouver, Whistler and White Rock.

For more information about British Columbia's visitor centres, please visit: http://www.hellobc.com/en-CA/AboutBC/VisitorCentres/BritishColumbia.htm

For information about B.C.'s scenic driving routes, please visit:

http://www.hellobc.com/en-CA/RegionsCities/CircleRoutes/British-Columbia.htm

Media Contact:

Marisa Adair
Communications Director
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 920-8500