Cariboo-Chilcotin Happy With Olympic Exposure

Sunday, February 21, 2010 04:18 AM

Richmond, B.C. - The Cariboo Regional District is thrilled with the exposure the region is receiving at its 'Cariboo Chilcotin Coast' pavilion down at BC Street in the Richmond O-Zone...

Communications spokesperson, Shelly Burich, says the CRD and Cariboo Coast Tourism Association booth has been averaging 7,500 visitors a day from around the world. Just a sampling of the guests: a group of German athletes, a large crowd of sports fans from the Netherlands, and families from Japan, Switzerland and Australia.

Burich says the booth features a log home facade and visitors walk through a forest of pine, spruce, birch, cedar, and Douglas fir, while discovering the region's unique tourism and business opportunities through interactive displays. She says the team was joined by Margarete Dettlaff from the UBC Faculty of Foresty and Williams Lake resident and forestry student, Derek Burdkin this week, who spoke with passers-by about forestry and forest health issues.

Burich says it's been a greay way to share the Cariboo Chilcotin's 2010-2011 'Forest Capital of Canada' designation with the rest of the world.

In addition, the CRD spokesperson says a few visitors to the pavilion are now planning trips to the region, including a 20-person hiking group.

Tourism PG cancelled plans to have a presence on BC Street, when co-host, Northern BC Tourism, pulled out (click here for previous story), instead, the city will host a reception for business leaders down at the Games on Tuesday.

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Posted on Sunday, February 21, 2010 04:18 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: MiddleGround on February 21 2010 7:34 AM

Wow. Prince George hosts a two hour reception.

Quesnel and area got it. Spend some money and showcase yourself to the world.

Prince George?
We're where?

Posted by: Stompin Tom on February 21 2010 8:04 AM

It doesnt involve buying downtown property and putting in gardens, city council is not interested.

They feel the best way to stimulate our economy is to spend, spend, spend on stupid things. Attract outside buisness and tourism? Thats just silly.

Posted by: interceptor on February 21 2010 9:31 AM

So what exactly does Tourism PG do if they avoid attracting tourism?

Posted by: sunshine.north on February 21 2010 9:45 AM

Tourism PG does nothing. Much like the mayor and council. I've been here now for 4 years (A work Commitment) and its a great little city that could be amazing, except for the complete lack of intelligence in terms of decision making.
Is it possible when you leave the running of a city to (for the most part) uneducated, redneck boobs, there is going to be trouble?
And by the way, has Dan Rogers ever had a job that he wasn't fired from?

Posted by: Stompin Tom on February 21 2010 11:06 AM

Tourism PG, they are kind of like UFO's, do they really exist?

Posted by: Harbinger on February 21 2010 11:34 AM

The most press PG tourism ever got IMO was when the Walmart RV parking kerfuffle was front and centre a few summers ago. Some guy up the road with a RV park whined to city hall. Now he sold his park, got a million bucks or so and now he is gone. Other than that a tourist going through PG will only eat here and get gas. Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the "Caribou" stop in Quesnel, just like the train?

Posted by: Harbinger on February 21 2010 11:38 AM

As an aside, we don't even have a public campground. Way to go, you city hall chumps. Avoid anything that will attract tourists, and by the way, good job raising my taxes and fees.

Posted by: Simon on February 21 2010 11:46 AM

Ya I remember the news story about how Prince George residents attending the olympics should wear Prince George pins and promote our city. So we are supposed to do your job? What are you gettin paid for?

Posted by: hammmy on February 21 2010 12:13 PM

What happened to Friday the 19th Free for All?

Posted by: Harbinger on February 21 2010 12:51 PM

Friday the nineteenth Free for All? I suspect the topics at hand surrounding that day were too controversial and thusly predictable. No sense adding fuel to the fire and more work fer the moderators. IMO.

Posted by: Denaljo on February 21 2010 1:12 PM

PG is a just a pit stop to the back country. All a tourist needs is a gas station and a Timmys. Maybe if we had a new police station and an art centre people would stop and visit our dirty little mill town. NOT!!!!

Posted by: Harbinger on February 21 2010 3:42 PM

"gritty little mill town" please. That is a quote from someone else. Not my words.

Posted by: Eagleone on February 21 2010 4:42 PM

I think the Cariboo-Chilcotin approach to tourism was much better than the 'highway of tears' downtown march exposure that we had for the North. If I was a potential future tourist visiting the games I know where I would and would not plan my future outing.

Posted by: Free Enterprise on February 21 2010 8:22 PM

In hindsight this was a big miss for Prince George...

Posted by: detoe43 on February 21 2010 11:43 PM

Not the first time. The Vancouver Sun puts out a BC destination guide every summer
ALL of Northern & Central BC is represented
except....wait for it...Prince George.
Every year I read it, every year we're not there. Smithers, Quesnel, Williams Lake
stops on the Alaska Highway...all in there.
The only place you'll see PG is on the Provincial map.

Posted by: Eagleone on February 22 2010 2:38 AM

My comments probably weren't very appropriate.

Posted by: realitycheck on February 22 2010 8:44 AM

If PG had spent one dime doing something similar to what the Cariboo did this page would be full of negative posts about money wasted doing so.

I personally think it would have been money very well spent but becuase it didn't fill a pot hole it wouldn't rate here.

Sad but true.

Posted by: backit on February 22 2010 8:48 AM

Truely a good thing that TPG and NBCTA did not attend this portion of the Olympics. In terms of marketing the city and the region for this case you are better off spending time in media relations. If you think about it the tourists that are going through the pavillion are not likely to give you a return on investment until at least 3 years out.

Posted by: observer on February 22 2010 9:03 AM

detoe43 - I have noticed the same thing in the BCAA travel magazine that we get. There is never any mention of PG.

Posted by: Harbinger on February 22 2010 5:14 PM

PG is BCs best kept secret. Shhhh. We don't exist. Doncha know?

Posted by: detoe43 on February 22 2010 7:40 PM

Funny enough Harbinger, it's actually true. Notoriety is a double edge sword.
I ski, both backcountry & resort & hands
down this region has some of the best,
consistently stable ski conditions in North America. We have a true gem in the
Pine Pass where a person can enjoy some of the best lift access powder skiing anywhere. The McGregor Mts offer incredible
access & snow conditions (usually although
you wouldn't know this year) for everyone
who gets into the backcountry. We have
world class hunting, hiking, fishing
rock, ice & mt. climbing all on our door step. I guess the downside is that if the world really knew & understood what we have here.....Oh well, sharing has never been an issue for me, the more the merrier.