It’s time to enjoy what travellers from around the world came to the Thompson-Okanagan for this summer: B.C.’s incredible tourism experiences. Fall for B.C. by enjoying the full range of fun fall staycation activities right in your backyard.

Staycations give British Columbians a chance to enjoy the province’s world-class travel experiences first-hand. Staycations are also a good way to keep your vacation dollars circulating in B.C.’s economy. By visiting regional events and venues, you’re not only supporting local businesses, you're also helping sustain important jobs in the tourism sector.

B.C.’s tourism sector is strong and growing and a key sector in the BC Jobs Plan. As an economic driver in the province, it employs 132,000 British Columbians, almost one in every 15 jobs in B.C. in 2013. The sector also has more than 19,200 tourism-related businesses and paid out $4.5 billion in wages and salaries to tourism workers in 2013 – an increase of 3.8% over the year before.

More and more people are coming to our province. In 2014, 4.65 million international travellers came to B.C. That is a 5.3% increase, and nearly a quarter million more visitors than we welcomed in 2013. As well, so far in 2015 year-to-date visitors are up 8.8% over the same period last year.

Here are some activities for your Thompson Okanagan Fall for B.C. staycation:

• Top fall drive: Armstrong Drive circle route. Enjoy fall colours, farms and amazing scenery.
• Take Pride in BC Parks! Cathedral Provincial Park. There’s no charge as parking is free in all provincial parks.
• Get stomping at a grape stomping party for all ages at House of Rose Winery in Kelowna, Oct. 10.
• Drop in and see what fall looks like in the desert at the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Osoyoos.
• Enjoy a Mascot Gold Mine Tour, Hedley.
• Take in the RJ Haney Heritage Village and Museum, Salmon Arm.
• Shop and sample wines at the Vibrant Vine and Okanagan Villa Estate Winery, Kelowna.
• Enjoy the best of the harvest at all organic Farmers’ Market, through Oct. 28, Salmon Arm.
• Dig into a harvest dinner, join guest Chef and Sommelier Mark Filatow of Waterfront Wines, Oct. 10, Penticton.
• Enjoy the Four by Four, tribute to the Beach Boys, Beatles, the Bee-Gees and Motown, Nov. 2, Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.

Quotes:

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour – "It's fall, the summer crowds have gone and it's a great time to enjoy a staycation. It is an opportunity to fall for B.C. and enjoy our amazing province. I encourage British Columbians to staycation and visit one of the six diverse regions that make B.C. stand out as a world class tourism destination."

Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA – “From cycling and winery tours to beaches, camping and plush resorts, the Thompson-Okanagan has everything you could want in a vacation destination without leaving B.C. By vacationing close to home you are also strengthening our regional economies.”

Learn More at:

• For more info on Thompson Okanagan Tourism: http://www.hellobc.com/thompson-okanagan.aspx