One year ago, the Peace Region was in the global spotlight when the Tumbler Ridge Geopark was given an official UNESCO Geopark designation.

This prestigious declaration has led to a surge in visitors to the Tumbler Ridge Museum and Dinosaur Discovery Gallery and the rest of the Peace region, and it’s a big reason to celebrate a memorable tourism year.

The Peace Region is capping off 2016 with a range of fun holiday activities. Here are some holiday options to enjoy as 2016 comes to a close:

• Shop Locally during the holidays, Dawson Creek, starting Nov. 30: http://www.tourismdawsoncreek.com/calendar/110/1661-Shop-Locally
• Ice climbing in Tumbler Ridge: http://tumblerridge.ca/discover/cid/22/ice-climbing
• A Farmers Market Christmas, Fort St. John, Dec 1-3: http://townwall.ca/event/1/7273
• Kris Kringle Christmas Market, Dawson Creek, Dec. 3: http://www.tourismdawsoncreek.com/calendar/74/1339-Kris-Kringle-Christmas-Market
• 18 Days of Christmas, Chetwynd, Dec. 1-18: http://www.chetwyndchamber.ca/

This year is shaping up to be one of the busiest years for tourism in British Columbia. Year-to-date figures show an 11.9% increase in international visitors over the same time period last year (January to September). That represents more than four million total overnight international visitors (4,564,070) that came to B.C. during the first nine months of this year.

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism & Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, is encouraging British Columbians to make this year an even more memorable one for the province’s tourism industry by supporting local holiday activities through a staycation.

Staycations are a good way to #exploreBC and 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.

Quotes:

Mike Bernier, MLA, Peace River South –

“The UNESCO Geo Park designation in Tumbler Ridge at the end of last year set the stage for an amazing 2016 for tourism in the Peace Region. Get out and celebrate what we have to offer by supporting the local economy, shopping locally and enjoying events in our backyard. Make sure you Explore BC over the holidays!”

Marsha Walden, CEO, Destination British Columbia –

“The holiday buzz is officially here! People from around the world are choosing to visit destinations across B.C. and participating in celebrations that speak to them at a personal level. With no shortage of events, this is a great opportunity for travellers to authentically experience what life is like in our communities. Regardless of budget, there’s something happening somewhere that will help make this an unforgettable holiday season.”

Quick Facts:

• British Columbians are encouraged to tag their favourite winter staycation activities on social media with: #StaycationBC and #exploreBC.
• The tourism industry is helping fuel the provincial economy, which is expected to lead the country in economic growth in 2016 and 2017.
• Tourism supports nearly 19,000 businesses and 127,500 employees in B.C. and is a key sector in the BC Jobs Plan.
• The Province supports the sector with a $98 million annual investment across every region of B.C.
• In 2015, 4.9 million international visitors came to B.C. – about an 8% increase compared to 2014.

Learn More:

For more info about Northern B.C. tourism: http://www.hellobc.com/northern-british-columbia.aspx

For info about Dawson Creek visit: http://www.tourismdawsoncreek.com/

Find BC trip ideas, travel tips and deals to help you #exploreBC: http://www.explorebc.ca/

Watch British Columbia’s brand anthem video, The Wild Within:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNFrZNjs2ng