When he’s not whipping up a delicious meal at the Four Seasons Hotel or sharing tips on how to cook on television, celebrity chef Ned Bell says heading home to Kelowna during the holidays is a priority. His favourite activities centre around food and family.

While Thompson Okanagan residents enjoy local holiday activities, they are contributing to B.C.’s economy by spending their vacation dollars nearby. By visiting regional events and venues, they’re not only supporting local businesses but also helping to sustain jobs in the tourism sector.

The Province’s tourism sector is strong and growing and a key sector in the BC Jobs Plan. The solid growth in the tourism sector can be linked to a number of factors including provincial tourism marketing efforts, lower fuel prices and direct flights to B.C. Compared to the rest of Canada, in 2014 B.C. was number one in absolute visitor volume growth and had the highest growth rate in total international visitation.

To find out why visitors are making B.C. their destination of choice, experience tourism offerings in your backyard. Here are some activities for your Thompson Okanagan staycation:

• 9th Annual Artisan Christmas Faire, Grand Forks, historic courthouse, Dec. 4-5
• Winter in Wine Country Festival, Osoyoos, Dec. 4-6
• Downtown Kelowna, Light-up 2015, Dec. 5
• Christmas in the Village at the Naramata Heritage Inn and Spa, Penticton/Naramata, Dec. 6
• Countdown to Christmas Sale, Kamloops, St. Andrew’s on the Square, Dec. 5
• Merritt Christmas Bird Count, Nicola Naturalist Society, Dec. 13
• CP Holiday Train in Revelstoke, Sicamous, Salmon Arm and Notch Hill, Dec. 16
• Enjoy cross-country skiing or snowshoeing at Jackman Flats or Camp Creek in Valemount

British Columbians are urged to spread the news about their fun holiday activities by tweeting about them using #StaycationBC #ExploreBC or #SnowBetterPlace.

Quotes:

Ned Bell, celebrity chef –

“Kelowna at Christmas is crisp, bright and full of sunshine, like so many of the delicious wines grown in the valley. I enjoy a stroll through an East Kelowna apple orchard, some spiced warm apple cider, a meal at Waterfront Wines or Raudz, a Rockets game, and the famous Okanagan Valley hospitality. My Kelowna Christmas isn’t complete without at least taking a few dozen runs down the hill at Big White. My sons Max, Jet, my wife Kate and I love to take a long walk along the Mission Greenway before or after a homemade family brunch!”

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

“Ned Bell really highlights the range of holiday activities in the Thompson Okanagan region. It’s an enjoyable place to be at this time of year. It’s been an amazing year for tourism in British Columbia. We’ve seen growth in visitor numbers from around the world. However, success also includes British Columbians enjoying a staycation and experiencing the world class tourism offerings in their own province. Whether it’s a local restaurant or market or attraction, I encourage everyone to take in a holiday activity coming up.”

Norm Letnick, MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country –

“Whether you’re a local or a visitor spending Christmas in Kelowna, I encourage you to think about serving up some locally-produced products at your holiday meal. From the delicious produce on your dinner plate, to the award-winning wine in your glass—our Okanagan farm families and vintners have a lot to offer to your celebrations.”

Quick Facts:

• The Province invests more than $90 million annually in the tourism sector in every region in the province.
• Tourism builds communities, promotes culture and creates year-round jobs in every region of our province.
• Staycations help boost domestic tourism revenues and local economies and support over 19,000 businesses and 132,000 jobs in the tourism sector in B.C.
• The BC Jobs Plan builds on the strengths of our key sectors and our educated and skilled workforce, keeping our province diverse, strong and growing.

Learn More:

For trip planning ideas in the Thompson Okanagan region and around B.C.: http://www.hellobc.com/british-columbia/trip-ideas.aspx

Destination BC: www.DestinationBC.ca

Four Seasons Hotel, Chef Ned Bell: http://www.fourseasons.com/vancouver/dining/chef_bio/

Info about tourism in Kelowna: http://www.tourismkelowna.com/

BC Jobs Plan: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcjobsplan/