As visitors to Vancouver enjoy samples of more than 300 unique craft beers and ciders during the popular ninth-annual Vancouver Craft Beer Week, the Province is providing funding to help promote it, in order to draw more visitors to the region.

The festival celebrates local breweries and cideries. It coincides with BC Tourism Week, May 27 through June 2, which spotlights the many brands of tourism, including tourism geared for travellers who want to explore unique foods and beverages. The province is providing $29,000 for this BuyBC festival through the Tourism Event Program, to support promotion and attendance.

“We’re pleased to support an event that introduces so many to the truly remarkable food and beverage culture we have here in B.C.,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “The Vancouver Craft Beer Week promotes B.C. businesses and their innovative staff, and also contributes to Vancouver’s reputation as a world-class destination for beer enthusiasts from across the country and around the globe. I encourage everyone to explore these great products made right here in B.C.” 

Vancouver Craft Beer Week runs from May 25 through June 3, 2018, and is expected to attract more than 20,000 participants to downtown Vancouver. It will inject $4 million into the local economy. The event features multiple venues, throughout the city, where people can sample B.C.’s best craft beer and cider. The event culminates with a two-day festival at the Pacific National Exhibition fairgrounds that will showcase hundreds of beers and ciders, food trucks, live music and art installations.

“We were thrilled to receive the government’s support to help us grow our annual celebration of B.C.’s thriving craft-beer culture,” said Leah Heneghan, Vancouver Craft Beer Week co-founder and festival director. “In addition to increasing our advertising and promotions, we are using the funds to bring in breweries that don’t normally have the opportunity to showcase their products in the Lower Mainland. Our festival provides great exposure in a major market, and helps raise the profile of B.C. as an internationally recognized craft-beer destination.”

The Tourism Events Program supports events that raise national and international awareness of B.C.’s tourism experiences, and inspire people from around the world to visit the province. These events also generate tourism and economic activities in communities and regions throughout the province.

Quick Facts:

• Over 100 craft breweries and cideries will pour more than 300 beverage varieties.
• Vancouver Craft Beer Week started in 2010 at a small venue, hosting about 100 beer aficionados and 15 breweries.
• Visitors to British Columbia spend on average 25% of their travel budget on food and beverages, and 65% of that spending is recirculated into the local economy.
• Tourism is an economic driver for B.C., generating more than $17 billion in revenues in 2016.
• Tourism is one of the province’s biggest employers. More than 133,000 people work in this industry.
• Tourism is growing in importance for B.C’s economy. In 2016, the industry contributed $7.9 billion in added value to the province’s GDP. This is an increase of over 5.6% over the previous year.
• The government of British Columbia invests over $113 million in the tourism sector annually.
• In 2017, 5.7 million international visitors came to B.C. — a 3.3% increase (181,700 more visitors) over 2016.

Learn More:

For more information about the Vancouver Beer Craft Festival, visit: https://vancouvercraftbeerweek.com/

For more information on the Tourism Events Program, visit: www.destinationbc.ca/BC-Tourism-Industry/Municipal-and-Regional-District-Tax-Program/Tourism-Events-Program.aspx