As British Columbia experiences some of its strongest tourism growth in years, with a record number of international visitors during the first half of the year, Valemount is receiving $54,624 from the Province’s Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) to support its tourism industry.

Through the Province’s RMI, Valemount has received a total of $541,166 since 2007 in funding toward projects such as the Cranberry Marsh Trail Loop and boardwalk.

The RMI provides $10.5 million each year to help eligible resort-oriented municipalities to develop and enhance their tourism infrastructure and amenities. RMI communities include Whistler, Fernie, Kimberley, Golden, Harrison Hot Springs, Invermere, Osoyoos, Radium Hot Springs, Revelstoke, Rossland, Sun Peaks, Tofino, Ucluelet and Valemount.

Since the RMI’s inception in 2006, more than $108.6 million has been invested in tourism infrastructure and programs to support local and regional tourism economies in the 14 participating communities.

Quotes:

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

“B.C.’s tourism industry is experiencing incredible growth and it’s one of the reasons why our province has the leading economy in Canada. I was at the opening of the Cranberry Marsh Boardwalk in May and I was so proud the province could support that project through Resort Municipality Initiative funding. It’s a great example of a project that enhances the traveller experience in communities around British Columbia and draws more visitors who support local businesses, sustain jobs in our region and help keep our economy diverse, strong and growing. The new allocation of funding is good news for Valemount and will allow the work to grow the tourism sector in the region to continue."

Jeanette Townsend, mayor of Valemount –

“The Resort Municipality Initiative is an excellent program that helped Valemount in completing various strategic tourism priorities such as the Cranberry Marsh boardwalk. The RMI program is also very flexible and efficient and supports Valemount’s objectives to create great amenities that are fundamental both for visitors and residents.”

Quick Facts:

• In 2015, 4.9 million international visitors came to B.C. – a 7.9% increase compared to 2014.
• From January to June this year, 2,307,624 international visitors came to B.C., a 12.4% increase (254,935 additional visitors) over the same period in 2015.
• Tourism provides a job for roughly one out of every 15 people employed in B.C.
• RMI supports the province’s tourism strategy, Gaining the Edge, and the BC Jobs Plan.

Learn More:

A photo is available here: https://flic.kr/p/MiqsNR

To learn more about the RMI, please visit: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=30A40BDA6D8346798E15C6050063F719

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