The Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation is partnering with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and Shuswap Tourism on an "Open for Business" marketing campaign to promote tourism opportunities in the region.

The District of Sicamous has made great progress in the recovery effort from floods that hit the region at the end of June, and wants to ensure that people know local tourism sites and attractions have been restored and are open for business.

The B.C. government, TOTA and Shuswap Tourism/Columbia Shuswap Regional District are each investing $20,000 in the marketing campaign, which consists of a series of online, print, radio and television advertisements.

TOTA's investment comes from an existing funding program, the Tourism Partners Program, which exists between the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation and each tourism region.

The $20,000 B.C. government investment follows $23,000 in provincial funding for Shuswap Tourism as part of the Community Tourism Opportunities (CTO) program. The CTO program helps fund various projects that grow tourism, and is administered by regional destination marketing organizations. TOTA is responsible for administering the CTO program in partnership with communities throughout the Thompson Okanagan tourism region, including the Shuswap area.

Quotes:

Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation -

"Shuswap is a beautiful area and is making great strides in recovering from the floods earlier this month. I'm confident that this investment will help bring both new and returning visitors to Shuswap to experience all it has to offer."

George Abbott, MLA Shuswap -

Mayor Darrell Trouton, District of Sicamous -

"This funding is instrumental to us. This is a great marketing campaign which will promote tourism and the District of Sicamous. We are open for business and are looking forward to getting know all our visitors."

Robyn Cyr, economic development officer, Shuswap Tourism -

"Sicamous and the Shuswap are open for business, having made a remarkable recovery from the flooding and mud slides that happened this June. We have great communities in the Shuswap with great people that are resilient and are very proud of the place they call home."

Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association -

"The Shuswap region is a critical part of the Thompson-Okanagan and we are proud to be a part of the recovery effort and making sure that people are aware that the Shuswap region is open for business."

"To be successful, all parts of the region need to successful. Being a part of this process to really let people know about the Shuswap and its attributes is important, because it ensures the region's long-term success and our success as well."

Quick Facts:

• The Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation works with the B.C.'s six regional destination marketing organizations (RDMOs) and communities throughout the province on tourism-development initiatives.
• Two community-based programs, Community Tourism Foundations and CTO, work closely with groups looking to develop tourism in their area for both the long and short-term:

• The Community Tourism Foundations program assists communities to develop a comprehensive multi-year tourism plan. By providing a range of tools, proven resources and customized destination and market development assistance, the program can accommodate the needs of communities in various stages of tourism development.
• CTO is a provincewide program that provides co-operative funding for eligible tourism activities in communities throughout B.C. The program is designed to assist communities that are in a position to implement their own tourism building initiatives.

Contact:

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