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For The Record

TOURISM INVESTMENTS IN B.C.

April 3, 2009
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts
 
Letters to the Editor
Opinion Editorials

The Province of British Columbia has supported the development of a strong infrastructure for the tourism industry since 2001 in the following ways:

  • Since 2002, Tourism revenues in BC have increased from $9.7 billion to an estimated $13.1 billion in 2008 - an increase of 35%.
  • The Province has more than doubled Tourism BC’s annual budget, from $25 million in 2001 to a forecasted $59 million in 2008/09.
  • In March 2009 Tourism BC launched ‘Welcome the World’, an $8.3 million consumer marketing campaign designed to promote tourism in B.C. leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and beyond.
  • The B.C. government provided $25 million to the Union of B.C. Municipalities for its Community Tourism Program, for the development of local tourism services, products and marketing initiatives.
  • B.C. provided $12 million in one-time funding to B.C.'s six tourism regions to enhance their infrastructure and marketing programs.
  • The Province invested $8 million in five Provincial Gateway Visitor Centres that are strategically located across B.C. where most visitors enter the province: Peace Arch border crossing, Vancouver International Airport, Osoyoos, Golden and Mount Robson.
  • The Province provided $5 million over four years to the Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C. to implement its Aboriginal cultural tourism strategy. The Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C.’s Blueprint Strategy, launched in September 2007, provides a long-term plan for the sustainable growth and development of the province’s Aboriginal tourism industry.
  • From 2006 to 2009, the Province invested $3.6 million in capital funds to expand and replace infrastructure at 88 recreation sites and 7 trails to maintain the Province’s investment in these facilities and enable recreation sites and trails to continue to foster social, cultural, health and economic benefits to the users and communities.
  • In October 2008, the Province provided $460,000 to help create the BC Partnership for Sustainable Tourism. This partnership shows the power of collaboration between government and industry in taking action on climate change, while ensuring the future sustainability of the industry.
  • In February 2009, The Province and Tourism BC provided an additional one time boost of $400,000 for B.C.’s Visitor Centres.
  • From Kicking Horse Canyon to the new WR Bennett Bridge, the Province is making record investments into improving the safety, reliability and capacity of key transportation routes throughout the Province.
  • The Province’s Transportation Partnerships Program has provided over $65 million for improvements at 36 air and marine ports across the province since 2003.
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Letters to the Editor

January 22, 2009
Letter to the Editor
GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN ALL B.C. REGIONS
By Bill Bennett
Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts
Submitted: Kamloops Daily News
Status: Published February 09, 2009
In response to your editorial "Vancouver gains, capital forgotten" of Jan. 15th, I have to ask - was any research done at all, beyond reading last week's headlines? This government has spent the last several years investing in all of B.C.'s regions, contrary to what the editorial claims. [Read More]

January 22, 2009
Letter to the Editor
GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN ALL B.C. REGIONS
By Bill Bennett
Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts
Submitted: Victoria Times Colonist
Status: Not published 
In response to your editorial "Vancouver gains, capital forgotten" of Jan. 15th, I have to ask - was any research done at all, beyond reading last week's headlines? This government has spent the last several years investing in all of B.C.'s regions, contrary to what the editorial claims. [Read More]

Dec. 15, 2008
Letter to the Editor
BC GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS NORTHERN COMMUNITIES
By Blair Lekstrom
Minister of Community Development
Submitted: Houston Today
Status: n/a
I was pleased to hear MLA Robin Austin acknowledge the good work being done by the Northern Development Trust to assist regional economic development in northern communities (James kicks off plan for rural B.C., Dec. 10, 2008.) [Read More]

Opinion Editorials

Dec. 1, 2008
Opinion Editorial
PROVINCE FIGHTS FOR RESILIENT RURAL COMMUNITIES
By Blair Lekstrom
Minister of Community Development
Submitted: Alaska Highway News
Status: Published Dec. 4, 2008
A few years back, I had the opportunity to serve my community as the Mayor of Dawson Creek. It was the year 2000 and I was in Vancouver with the Mayor of Tumbler Ridge at that time, Mayor Clay Iles, for a meeting when I got one of those phone calls that hits you like a punch to the gut – Quintette Mines had decided they were closing, 500 jobs lost for families. [Read More]

August 11, 2008
Opinion Editorial
SERVICE BC - CONNECTING YOU TO GOVERNMENT SERVICES
By Iain Black
Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services
Submitted: Mackenzie Times
Status: Published August 26, 2008
Our government recognizes that challenges that people in Mackenzie are facing during this difficult period for the British Columbia forest industry. We believe in Mackenzie's future, and in the skills and resourcefulness of its residents. [Read More]