More than 100 communities throughout British Columbia can do more to support and promote local tourism initiatives as a result of provincial funding.

This year, over $1 million is being shared among 307 grassroots projects through the Community Tourism Opportunities (CTO) program, now in its fifth year of operation. The Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation program assists communities to implement their own tourism initiatives, with our government 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 print and broadcast advertising, event promotion, interpretative maps, tourist-related signage, online activities, tourism brochures and research. The CTO program is co-ordinated by B.C.'s six regional destination marketing organizations which receive the funding from the ministry.

Tourism is one of the key economic sectors identified in 'Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan'. The Province's new tourism strategy builds on the Jobs Plan, providing a framework for government and industry to work together to attract more visitors and create jobs for British Columbians. The strategy focuses on increasing the number of visitors by building on the global awareness generated by the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Quotes:

Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism, and Innovation -

"When we launched our new Provincial Tourism Strategy last fall, we renewed our commitment to grow tourism in every region of British Columbia. This co-operative funding partnership between communities, regional tourism associations and the Province will assist in the development and implementation of local tourism initiatives, which, in turn, support economic growth, new business opportunities and job creation."

Amy Thacker, CEO, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association -

"The Community Tourism Opportunities program provides essential support to rural communities throughout the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast. These infusions, of matching monies, allow communities of every size to advance projects and tactics that would not occur otherwise. Activities are diverse, from brochures to accessible trail projects and CTO funding enables communities to continually grow and develop potential opportunities."

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. Funds are distributed upon successful completion of the project.
• In 2010, the tourism sector employed 127,000 British Columbians, generated over $13.4 billion in revenue for tourism-related businesses and contributed over $1.2 billion to provincial government revenues.
• Total tourism wages and salaries were $4.4 billion in 2010, an increase of 37 per cent since 2000.

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

For more information on B.C.'s new provincial tourism strategy, visit: http://www.jti.gov.bc.ca/tourismstrategy/documents/MJTI_TourismStrategyReport_FNL.pdf

For more information on 'Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan', visit: http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/

A backgrounder follows:

Contact:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-7104

BACKGROUNDER

Communities benefiting from funding through Community Tourism Opportunities

Total funding for the Vancouver Island Region communities: $185,700

Alberni Valley, Campbell River, Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, Denman-Hornby Islands, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island North, Oceanside, Pender Island, Quadra Island, Salt Spring Island, Sooke-Port Renfrew, Tofino-Ucluelet.

Total funding for Vancouver, Coast and Mountains communities: $188,600

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.

*Fraser Valley Circle Farm Tour communities are: Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Langley, Harrison Hot Springs, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Scenic 7 communities are: Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Mission, Kent, Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs, Hope.

Total funding for Thompson Okanagan communities: $233,700

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

Total funding for Kootenay Rockies communities: $134,300

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

Total Funding for Cariboo Chilcotin Coast communities: $146,300

Barkerville-Wells, 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: $164,120

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

Contact:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-7104