The Province is investing $66,000 to support marketing of the Southern Gulf Islands as a tourism destination announced Todd Stone, MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson, on behalf of Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour.

The investment is being made through Destination BC’s Co-op Marketing Partnerships Program and will support a number of projects on Southern Gulf Islands that will draw more visitors and contribute to the local economy. The regional marketing campaigns will leverage events like the three day Tour Des Iles Festival, where tourists experience the music, art and culture of the Gulf islands.

The funding will be delivered in partnership with the Salt Spring Island Chamber, Galiano Island Chamber, Pender Island Chamber, Mayne Island Chamber and the Saturna Island Tourism Association. The groups will use the money to generate tourism revenue by creating and promoting packages and multi island tours, marketing inter-island transportation and working toward leveraging the Super, Natural British Columbia® brand.

Tourism is one of B.C.’s largest industries, a key sector of the BC Jobs Plan, and a significant job creator. The province enjoys a competitive tourism advantage thanks to diverse and scenic landscapes, world-class tourism products, excellent infrastructure, rich culture and geographic accessibility to visitors.

Destination BC is the Province’s Crown agency for tourism marketing and is helping deliver on key actions under the provincial tourism strategy, Gaining the Edge: 2015-18. They are an industry-led Crown corporation that works collaboratively with tourism stakeholders throughout the province to co-ordinate marketing at the international, provincial, regional and local levels.

Quotes:

Todd Stone, MLA, Kamloops-South Thompson –

“This is a great example of how communities in the Southern Gulf Islands benefit from Destination BC’s Co-op Marketing Partnership Program. The funding will leverage existing marketing programs to showcase the natural beauty and organic culinary experiences of the Islands. The tourism sector helps drive the provincial economy and investments like these help showcase communities throughout B.C. to the world.”

Marsha Walden, CEO, Destination BC –

“Tourism is fundamental to the economic prosperity of the Southern Gulf Islands. This co-op marketing funding is a direct investment in the future for people who live in the region. In fact, throughout B.C., tourism currently generates the highest GDP of any natural resource industry. That’s the powerful thing about tourism – the benefits touch so many different types of businesses, from restaurants, to transportation, to wilderness adventures, to retail shops. The whole region can benefit from this investment.”

Quick Facts:

• The Province invests over $98 million annually in the tourism industry across every region to grow and market the sector.
• The latest tourism statistics show that in January 2017, there were close to 23,427 more visitors to the province over January 2016 – representing a 9.2% increase.
• In 2016, 5.5 million international visitors came to B.C. - a 12.3% increase compared to 2015.
• In 2015, the tourism industry generated $15.7 billion in revenues, $7.4 billion in GDP, and supported nearly 19,000 tourism-related businesses, with 127,700 employed in the industry.

Learn More:

Destination BC’s Co-op Marketing Partnerships Program: www.destinationbc.ca/Programs/Regions-Communities-and-Sectors/Destination-BC-Co-op-Marketing-Partnership-Program.aspx

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

B.C. Provincial Tourism Strategy, Gaining the Edge: www.jtst.gov.bc.ca/tourismstrategy/documents/GainingTheEdge_2015_2018.pdf