The Government of British Columbia is growing tourism economies by providing $10.5 million this year to 14 resort municipalities throughout the province. Ucluelet is receiving $133,861 to support local tourism.

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

The resort municipality of Ucluelet has received over $1,082,724 since qualifying for funding in 2008 and will use the most recent instalment for planned activities including further development of the Wild Pacific Trail, boat launch and parking and signage.

RMI funding has allowed Ucluelet to build on its natural assets to attract visitors. Extensions to the Wild Pacific Trail and beach improvements to Big Beach, Little Beach and Terrace Beach have been completed and provide visitors with enhanced opportunities to experience the physical environment surrounding the community.

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 that 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.”

Mayor Bill Irving, District of Ucluelet - 

“The District of Ucluelet is so appreciative of the strategic and practical investment the Ministry has made in our community. We’re committed to our tourism industry and the funds will help us produce positive results that benefit not only Ucluelet, but the region as a whole.”

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
250 387-2799