Here's how funding is being used to revive BC's tourism sector

For the past two months, provincial health officials have guided residents to stay close to home to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve. And with Phase 2 of BC’s Restart plan in full swing, the province is now looking at ways to boost domestic tourism.

While there is still no word on when international or intra-provincial tourism can begin, a new partnership between Destination BC and Destination Canada has been formed that will increase funding for domestic marketing programs to support the recovery of communities across the country.

The impact of COVID-19 on the BC tourism sector and the current closure of international borders allowed for the partnership to create a national model that encourages domestic tourism.

Destination BC will receive $6 million from the program to distribute to local marketing and tourism organizations.

According to a press release from Destination BC, it is during Phase 3 of BC’s Restart Plan, when communities are able to receive visitors and intra-provincial travel is permitted, that the $6 million Explore BC domestic marketing campaign is set to begin.

“When you support tourism, you support the people behind the small businesses that make up the foundation of our province,” said BC Tourism Minister Lisa Beare in a statement.

“This new partnership between Destination Canada and Destination BC will play a vital role in re-starting British Columbia’s tourism economy, supporting businesses across the province, helping residents to explore BC once it is safe to do so,” said Beare.

• See also:
  • BC announces $10M funding to support tourism industry
  • Tofino prepares to welcome back tourists as pandemic restrictions ease
  • Dr. Henry can’t give “exact date” for when Phase 3 of BC’s reopening will begin

Additionally, each year BC Parks provides $240,000 in funding for volunteer and community-led projects that support conservation and recreation through the Park Enhancement Fund (PEF).

Funding has been previously granted to projects that include building huts, docks, and trails, controlling invasive species, gathering conservation data, and installing interpretive signage.

Here’s how the funding across initiatives will look:

• BC Parks
  • Volunteers and community groups can apply for up to $5,000 per project
  • Each of the six BC Parks Regions (West Coast, South Coast, Thompson Cariboo, Kootenay Okanagan, North – Omineca Peace and North – Skeena North Coast) will receive $20,000 for conservation projects
  •  Each of the six BC Parks Regions will receive $20,000 for recreation projects

• Destination Canada
  • $4.5 million will be allocated to BC’s largest City/Community Destination Marketing Organizations (CDMOs), which generate 74% of industry revenues and employment. These include Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops, Tofino/Ucluelet, Richmond and Prince George.
• Destination BC x Destination Canada
  • $3 million: Destination Canada has allocated $1.5 million to BC’s 47 Community Consortia (covering over 140 communities across BC) and 15 tourism experience Sectors who are participating in Destination BC’s Co-Op Marketing Partnerships program for 2020/21. Destination BC will also match the $1.5 million from Destination Canada.
• Destination BC
  • $4.76 million is already allocated for Destination BC’s Co-op Marketing program for smaller communities

This means a total of $7.76 million is going to the smaller communities around BC, and $4.5 million is going to the larger communities that generate the most employment and revenue in the industry for the province.

Destination BC has a long relationship with Destination Canada and has worked with their team for over a month on ideas and suggestions for the most effective opportunities for a domestic tourism marketing partnership, said Marsha Walden, CEO, Destination BC, in a statement.

“We’re thrilled to see that they’re moving forward on this initiative and providing much-needed funding to BC’s tourism communities,” said Walden.