The Government of British Columbia is growing tourism economies by providing $10.5 million under the Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) to 14 designated communities to support programs or projects which add amenities, provide a better tourism experience for visitors and help to increase the tourism component of the local economy.

RMI supports the BC Jobs Plan and Gaining the Edge: BC’s Tourism Strategy by helping resort-based municipalities address the unique challenges they face as seasonally dependent economies to grow their tourism offerings. 

B.C.’s tourism sector is one of the eight key sectors identified in the BC Jobs Plan creating more than 125,000 jobs and over $13.5 billion in revenues in the province. Since 2006, over $87.6 million has been invested in tourism infrastructure and programs to support local and regional tourism economies in the 14 communities.

Participating municipalities undertake programs or projects which will encourage visitors to stay longer and visit more often. Projects range from building pedestrian and mountain biking trails, boat launches, and beach improvements to holding festivals and events.

Municipalities participating 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.

The RMI program objective is to increase the number of visitors and their length of stay, to broaden resort activities to help expand the length of the tourist season and increase employment, and to diversify the local tax base. Through local stakeholder consultation, each resort municipality develops a five-year plan that sets out the broad direction and desired outcomes to guide their future tourism development and promotion.

Quotes:

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour - 

“We want to see our resort communities thriving. The Resort Municipality Initiative is designed to help improve and strengthen the economies of these tourism hot spots. It also means more jobs and ensuring visitors return to the communities for years to come.”

Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State Tourism and Small Business - 

“Tourism is a key economic driver throughout the province. We’re pleased to be able to provide this additional funding. It’s an investment in 14 resort communities to support further growth in tourism.”

Quick Facts:

• Since 2006, through RMI, more than $87.6 million has been invested in tourism infrastructure and programs to support local and regional tourism economies.
• Tourism is one of the largest industries in the Province. In the last decade, tourism revenue in B.C. increased by 42.9%. B.C. continues to grow its tourism sector throughout the province, in part by using the 'Gaining the Edge' tourism strategy. It focuses on developing key tourism products such as touring vacations, city experiences, skiing and snowboarding, Aboriginal tourism, conventions and meetings, as well as outdoor adventure/eco-tourism.
• Total tourism wages and salaries were $4.3 billion in 2012, an increase of 4% since 2011. In 2012, the tourism sector employed 127,300 British Columbians. That is almost one in every 15 jobs in B.C. and an increase of 0.6% from 2011.

Learn More:

BC Jobs Plan: http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/

To learn more about the program, please visit: http://www.ruralbc.gov.bc.ca/about/RMI/RMI_Index.html

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
250 387-2799

BACKGROUNDER

Projects benefiting from Resort Municipality Initiative Funding

Resort municipalities and project examples

Fernie:
Trail maintenance and development, tourism events and festivals, Fernie museum and info centre improvements, winter evening shuttle, boat launch and tourism signage.

Golden:
Increased signage and welcoming highway aesthetics, a visitor hub, community square, green spaces, public art program, tourism shuttle and snowmobile trails.

Harrison Hot Springs:
Streetscape improvements, beach improvements, trail development, and events and festivals.

Invermere:
Beach improvements, enhancing public gathering spaces, shuttle service, and improving directional/interpretational signage.

Kimberley:
Mountain bike trails, trail kiosks, festivals and events, signage and a winter ski shuttle.

Osoyoos:
Waterfront facility enhancement, waterfront safety, boat trailer parking, trail systems, marina facility enhancement and interpretive wetland area development.

Radium Hot Springs:
Adventure Radium youth camp, hot pool connector paths, events and festivals and downtown beautification.

Revelstoke:
Snowmobile and mountain bike trails, visitor info centre, signage, resort shuttle bus, boat launch, museum upgrades and public art projects.

Rossland:
Improved signage, visitor centre enhancements and seasonal shuttle service.

Sun Peaks:
Three large music events, outdoor ice area and recreation infrastructure.

Tofino:
Special events, trails and paths, beach access and improvements, downtown revitalization and civic centre upgrades.

Ucluelet:
Development of the Wild Pacific Trail, boat launch, beach improvements, wharf improvements and signage.

Valemount:
Trail development and planning special events for winter and spring.

Whistler:
Festivals, events and animation program, Olympic Plaza improvements, village services, public art program, visitor amenity hub, village square and mall rejuvenation, trail development and conference centre improvements.

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
250 387-2799