It’s time to enjoy what travellers from around the world came to the Kootenay Rockies 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 Kootenay Rockies Fall for B.C. staycation:

• Top fall drive: Silvery Slocan Circle Route, discover ghost towns and historic mines, heritage buildings and museums, hot springs and caves.
• Take Pride in BC Parks! Enjoy Boundary Creek Provincial Park. There’s no charge as parking is free in all provincial parks.
• Enjoy the Farmers Market, Oct. 17 & 31, Creston.
• Be a part of the Thanksgiving Celebration, Oct. 11, Fort Steele.
• Have a haunting time at the Trail Market Halloween Spooktacular, Oct. 31, downtown Trail.
• Tour the Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre at St. Eugene Resort, Cranbrook.
• Enjoy the Live Kicks concerts and performances, October – April, Golden.
• Take in the fall colours canoeing on Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park.
• Visit a real ghost town for Halloween, Sandon (near New Denver), Fisherview (East of Fort Steele) and Corbin (SE B.C.).

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."

Bill Bennett, Kootenay East MLA – “The Kootenay Rockies region has a wide variety of fall attractions for locals and visitors alike. There is so much to see and do right here at home that there is no need to leave Beautiful B.C. to get the most from your vacation dollar.”

Learn More at:

• For more info on Kootenay Rockies tourism visit: http://www.hellobc.com/kootenay-rockies.aspx