The government of British Columbia is investing over $10 million in 14 resort-oriented municipalities throughout British Columbia this year to support and promote local tourism economies.

Since 2007, the Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) has invested $61.7 million to support the unique challenges and opportunities faced by smaller resort-oriented municipalities. Communities will use this funding to enhance services and infrastructure crucial to growing the tourism sector that drives their local economies, including trail and boardwalk improvements, venue development and tourist information services. Without this funding, resort communities would not have the means to provide key community assets to advance their primary industry - tourism.

The 14 municipalities that participate in the RMI program are Fernie, Golden, Harrison Hot Springs, Invermere, Kimberley, Osoyoos, Radium Hot Springs, Revelstoke, Rossland, Sun Peaks, Tofino, Ucluelet, Valemount and Whistler.

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 Winter Games and international marketing campaigns.

Quotes:

Minister of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour Pat Bell -

"Our government recognizes how important a role resort municipalities play in the economic prosperity of our province. This initiative provides local governments with the financial certainty to facilitate a great visitor experience and ensure visitors will return."

Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Bill Bennett -

"Families, and the communities they live in, are at the heart of the economic and social health of our province. Working with local governments, this initiative provides the tools and support needed to strengthen communities and help make them vibrant, sustainable and economically resilient."

Mayor Al Raine of Sun Peaks -

"The RMI program is clearly one of the most innovative tourism programs ever. The ability of resort municipalities to receive a portion of the accommodation taxes generated in their communities and reinvest these tax dollars into tourism infrastructure and events has significantly helped increase tourism activities in the Province. Overnight visits to Sun Peaks increased 25 per cent this past summer, something that we could not have accomplished without this program."

Quick Facts:

• Since 2007, over $61.7 million dollars has been invested in tourism infrastructure and programs to support local and regional tourism economies.
• Budget 2012-13 continued commitment to funding for resort municipalities and maintains the same level as the previous year.
• 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 program, please visit: http://www.ruralbc.gov.bc.ca/about/RMI/RMI_Index.html

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 Skills Training
250 356-8177

BACKGROUNDER

Communities benefiting from funding through Resort Municipality Initiative

Resort Municipality Initiative funding 2012 

Municipality Amount 

FERNIE $ 439,042
GOLDEN $ 529,534
HARRISON HOT SPRINGS $ 310,802
INVERMERE $ 186,410
KIMBERLEY $ 87,876
OSOYOOS $ 282,900
RADIUM HOT SPRINGS $ 115,532
REVELSTOKE $ 511,906
ROSSLAND $ 24,168
SUN PEAKS $ 298,921*
TOFINO $ 657,350
UCLUELET $ 174,796
VALEMOUNT $ 56,566
WHISTLER $ 6,357,779

Includes funds announced and provided to Sun Peaks in January of 2012 at an event to celebrate the resort's 50th anniversary.

Contact:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
250 356-8177