Destination B.C. a Plus for Northern B.C.
Prince George, B.C. – This week, the B.C. Government announced it had established a Crown Corporation that is dedicated to marketing B.C. as a tourism destination. “Destination B.C.” as it will be known, will be industry led, formula-funded and will work collaboratively with tourism stakeholders across the province.
Northern B.C. Tourism’s CEO Anthony Everett is still waiting to see all the details, but says this is exactly what the industry has been calling for.
The immediate benefit is that Northern B.C. will have input on the marketing strategy for the whole province “That’s been something that has been lacking since the Crown Corporation was rolled into government in 2009” says Everett “We will have direct access to helping plan those things, so that is a big benefit for Northern B.C.” Everett says this will help shape Northern B.C.’s part of the tourism business in the Province because it is different than other regions.
“People don’t realize just how important tourism is in Northern B.C.” says Everett, “It is responsible for generating $1 billion dollars into the economy each year.”
He says the Crown Corporation will make it easier to plan ahead and react to market changes in a more timely fashion than has been the case when dealing with government. He also says the Crown Corporation will make it easier to develop multi year contracts which provide a level of certainty to funding and budget development.
There is still some information to filter through, such as what percentage of the PST will be earmarked for tourism and how the decision making will work. “There is now a marketing committee which didn’t exist before, so that’s good, there’s a smaller Board of 9 people but there are some unknowns. We have to name the CEO, we have to name a board and how the decision making will work between the committee, the Board and the CEO. So from Northern British Columbia’s perspective, how does our contract work with this new entity? These are all details I am looking forward to hearing.”
One thing is certain, Everett is confident this new organization will be a positive for growing tourism in Northern B.C. “We have to compete with all those other destinations, our businesses tell us all the time to keep that at top of mind, but what I would like to see, with the Canada Winter Games coming, I want more people in our province to be aware of what is happening in Northern British Columbia.”
Comments
We better hurry up and build a new visitors Center for all the tourists that are going to come here!
The plan for a visitors centre is probably to redo the Playhouse for it at a huge cost after we get the PAC rammed down our throats.
Instead of marketing they need to enhance and organize the various opportunities so that there is actually something for people to come to, other than the great outdoors. Lots of places have the great outdoors.
“People donât realize just how important tourism is in Northern B.C.â says Everett, âIt is responsible for generating $1 billion dollars into the economy each year.â
If we assume that number is true (and who knows if it is), the vast majority of that income is generated in the Lower Mainland. And I suspect that money would be generated whether there was a government tourism dept. or not.
I thought the news reports said Adrian Dix was going to re-instate Tourism BC if he became premier….and now this news. Makes a person think.
If they want to attract tourists they need to reduce, or eliminate, consumption taxes so BC is competitive with our neighbors. A tourists budget goes further where they don’t pay provincial sales taxes and inflated fuel prices.
Gofaster: “But Ms. Clark you keep ingoring emails from BC residents “
I always laugh at these kinds of statements. How many hundreds of thousands of e-mails do you think the BC Gov’t gets every day? Some people truly believe the world revolves around them, I guess.
Some nice people at least use an auto response to let you know they got your mail. MLAs have staff to deal with most contacts, they will ignore you if your name shows up on a NDP supporter list. :-(.
Go buy a Liberal membership….that is how it works. :-)
Jim: “Some nice people at least use an auto response to let you know they got your mail.”
I would say an auto response is the same as no response, both ultimately unsatisfying, but maybe that’s just me.
“they will ignore you if your name shows up on a NDP supporter list.”
Yes, they have a full support staff that sits and checks emails and cross references them to voting lists to decide whether or not to answer
hahahahaha
Like it’s something new and exciting. Take it away and bring it back after the opposition suggests it.
“the vast majority of that income is generated in the Lower Mainland”
The total income from tourism is in the $12 to 14 billion per year range. The $1 billion is the money generated in the northern part of the province.
That is what the article says clearly where it is generated. I gather you did not know that tourism generates that much in all of BC.
I we had more things to do in this part of the provice and north from here there could be a lot more spent on tourism. But, one has to invest.
http://www.tiabc.ca/tourism-facts-industry-stats
Some data from 2009 from the industry.
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“If they want to attract tourists they need to reduce, or eliminate, consumption taxes so BC is competitive with our neighbors.”
If a visitor has spent $200+ while in Canada, they can get refunds for accommodation plus non consumable items they purchase while here — tourist gifts, clothes, etc. but not gasolione, restaurant food, etc.
Some provinces refund HST ….
That is similar to most countries.
http://www.blueflag.ca/reports/rc4031-06e.pdf
The problem with this model is that a few influential tourism operators get to call the shots and use the government funding to their advantage over other equally deserving aspects of the tourism industry.
Anthony was a liberal lobbyist in Victoria prior to his job at Northern BC Tourism, so no doubt he will be able to spin to get the most government spending possible.
“”If a visitor has spent $200+ while in Canada, they can get refunds for accommodation plus non consumable items they purchase while here — tourist gifts, clothes, etc. but not gasolione, restaurant food, etc.
Some provinces refund HST ….
That is similar to most countries.””
Don’t forget…not all tourists come from outside of Canada. Where is it less expensive to go on a road holiday? Somewhere that gasoline is $1.02 or somewhere that gasoline is $1.23? {alta vs BC}…and alta only has gst…
Prince George and region receives tens of thousands of tourists every year, whether they are local, national, or international. A common thread in their visiting is in our location, and yes, what we have to offer as a community, and we do in fact have much to offer. So, why not make their stay as enjoyable as possible by first enhancing what already exists, and in turn increasing the draw through this additional beautification. When a guest visits your house, I am sure everyone would want them to remember your hospitality (which includes what your house looks like, and what is offered to them) because that is what they will talk about when they go home.
gus: “The total income from tourism is in the $12 to 14 billion per year range. The $1 billion is the money generated in the northern part of the province.”
North of Hope? ;)
“Prince George and region receives tens of thousands of tourists every year, whether they are local, national, or international.”
We are a gas stop (and maybe an overnight in the Walmart parking lot) on the way to Alaska.
JohnnyBelt it is really unfortunate that you are short sighted, and either can not or do not see the value in the north, and more specifically in your community (if you are from Prince George). Even if guests are her by happenstance, their experience as they pass through should be possitive. Many visitors who do pass through Prince George on their way to Alaska, stop and explore the historical/cultural sites, and like I said previously, Prince George and region does have much to offer. We are deffinitely more than simply a “gas stop”. It is too bad that you do not see that.
I see the value here, but let’s be real, I doubt the vast majority of travellers who pass through do.
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