B.C. Investments in Tourism

September 10 , 2007

  • Doubled Tourism B.C.'s budget to $50 million annually.
  • Provided $25 million to the Union of B.C. Municipalities for its Community Tourism Program so regions can develop local tourism marketing initiatives.
  • $12 million in one-time funding to the province's six tourism regions to enhance their infrastructure and marketing programs.
  • Supporting construction of the new $883 million expanded Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre.
  • Provided funding to the Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C. to launch their tourism strategy.
  • Supporting new summer and winter marketing campaigns and working with the tourism industry to develop a plan for increasing domestic tourism in B.C.
  • Supported the construction of B.C.-Canada Place in Torino during the 2006 Winter Olympic Games to promote B.C. as a tourism and investment destination.
  • Supporting national and international sporting events such as the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championships, the 2006 World Cup Nordic Championships, the 2005 Grey Cup, the 2005 World Curling Championships, the 2007 World Youth Soccer Championships, the 2008 North American Indigenous Games, and the 2009 World Police and Fire Games.
  • Implementing the B.C. Resort Strategy to create new and expanded all-season resorts throughout B.C.
    • Major resort expansions recently approved and underway include Revelstoke Mountain, Mt. Baldy near Osoyoos, and Saddle Mountain at Blue River.
    • 44 alpine ski resorts are projecting new capital investments of more than $1 billion over the next two to five years. These plans include everything from new lifts and runs to development of hotels, residential developments and golf courses.
  • Creating Gateway Visitor Centres at Peace Arch border crossing, Vancouver International Airport, Coquihalla (Merritt), Osoyoos, Golden and Mount Robson.
  • Invested $3.6 million to rebuild the Myra Canyon Trestles destroyed in the 2003 wildfires - an important tourist attraction for the Okanagan.
  • Investing $5 million (matched by the City of Vancouver) towards the planning and development of a cultural precinct in Vancouver that will encompass a new provincial Asia-Pacific Museum of Trade and Culture and a new National Gallery of Aboriginal Art.
  • Implementing the Pacific Gateway Strategy to improve transportation infrastructure, border crossings and create stronger links with the Asia-Pacific region.
  • Created three Regional Development Initiatives - for the Southern Interior, North Island-Coast, and the North - to help local communities identify and develop economic opportunities.
  • Providing $265,000 to support a comprehensive strategy to expand sport fishing in B.C.
  • Investing in world-class outdoor recreation infrastructure, including $1.3 million in capital funds to upgrade 13 recreation sites as part of a multi-year plan to upgrade a total of 39 sites.