Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

‘This grant is a welcome relief’, says Tourism Kamloops CEO Beverly DeSantis on news of $10 million grant to tourism industry

Dozens of BC community destination marketing organizations (DMOs) severely impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions), including Tourism Kamloops, will be supported with a $10-million grant from the Province.

BC’s community DMOs are not-for-profit organizations that promote tourism to their regions. They rely on funds generated by the municipal and regional district tax (MRDT), which is charged to visitors by hotels and other types of accommodation. Without this relief funding, community DMOs would be unable to operate and support economic recovery efforts in the tourism sector.

“The tourism industry is a major economic engine and job creator for people in BC, but the impacts of COVID 19 have left the industry struggling,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “We are supporting the tourism industry today to make sure we can welcome visitors to explore Super, Natural British Columbia when it is safe to do so.”

Community DMOs play an important role connecting visitors to BC’s communities, representing both large metropolitan centres and towns of a few hundred residents. Investments in the tourism sector’s recovery now will help create jobs and spur economic growth throughout the province.


70 Mile House in the Cariboo region of BC

Speaking earlier today Tourism Kamloops CEO Beverley DeSantis, stated, “In Kamloops, we’ve realized nearly 90% in revenue loss to date. This grant is a welcome relief and Tourism Kamloops applauds Minister Lisa Beare and the provincial government in recognizing the important role that community destination organizations play connecting visitors to BC communities.”

This funding will help MRDT-supported community DMOs retain crucial staff positions and offset fixed expenses from May to October 2020 – a fact echoed by Tourism Kamloops Board Chair Steve Earl:

“This funding injection helps Tourism Kamloops to retain our marketing team in preparation to welcome visitors back to our city as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Earl continued, “Inspirational marketing campaigns will speak to the hearts and minds of our potential guests, positioning Kamloops as a safe, welcoming, and desired vacation destination. We are keen, yet cautious, as we look towards re-opening and re-starting our visitor economy.”

There are over 19,000 tourism businesses operating in British Columbia, employing over 160 thousand people – and tourism will continue to be a vital part of the BC economy as we move out of the COVID-19 shutdown of the provincial economy.

Powell River, BC

Said Marsha Walden, president and CEO, Destination BC. “We’re here to help restart the tourism industry as we slowly begin opening our doors again.”




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The NDP is destroying BC's softwood industry as 100 Mile House mill shuts down and jobs vanish

No more than a few days after the province hosted its much-touted summit to discuss the continuing impact of U.S. softwood tariffs, and with Statistics Canada reporting another decline in BC’s softwood production, the axe has fallen on West Fraser Timber’s 100 Mile House mill. Lorne Doerkson, MLA for Cariboo–Chilcotin , says the devastation now hitting the South Cariboo is what happens when government ignores every warning sign coming from the forest sector. “One hundred and sixty-five people in 100 Mile House just lost their jobs,” said Doerkson. “That’s 165 families wondering how they’ll pay their bills and whether they can stay in their own community. The ripple effect will hit every business on main street, from the gas stations and restaurants to the grocery stores.” “The Minister’s thoughts and prayers aren’t enough for those families facing unimaginable hardship. It’s time this minister did his job and not another photo op,” said Doerkson. “The Minister thinks the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Premier’s Office Acknowledges Richmond Residents Affected by Cowichan Land Claim Face Issues on “Mortgages, Property Sales”

“The Premier’s Office is secretly sending letters to my constituents behind my back. If the NDP were truly committed to transparency and supporting residents, they would have proactively engaged with owners years ago, not rushed out last-minute letters to cover their tracks.” ~~ Steve Kooner, Conservative MLA for Richmond-Queensborough and Opposition Critic for Attorney General Steve Kooner, Conservative MLA for Richmond-Queensborough and Opposition Critic for Attorney General, is criticising Premier David Eby and the NDP provincial government for secretly delivering non-committal, last-minute letters to Richmond residents affected by the Cowichan Tribes land claim. For over six years the NDP misled British Columbians on the implications of indigenous land claims. Premier Eby is now quietly sending staff to conduct damage control following public fallout from his 2019 strategic directive for government lawyers not to argue extinguishment of aboriginal title, even over p...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kamloops woman’s cancer test cancelled due to Interior Health mandates for OB/GYNs (iNFO News)

A Kamloops woman’s cancer screening appointment was considered urgent by her doctors and scheduled within weeks, but it was postponed indefinitely when Interior Health ordered her gynecologist take that day’s on-call shift. Troylana Manson now waits with the mystery of whether she might have cancer amid a staffing crisis for women’s health care specialists in Kamloops. “I was happy to have that appointment in December so we could rule this out, but now it’s thrown in the air again. People in Kamloops, certainly people in positions of power, need to realize what Interior Health is doing”  ... CLICK HERE for the full story
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more