Destination British Columbia, together with the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Kootenay Rockies Tourism, has designed a new Destination Development program to support BC and its regions in remaining relevant and compelling in an increasingly competitive global context through strategic planning assistance.
Held on July 13 in Castlegar, the kick-off to the planning process began in an information meeting, which will guide the long-term growth of tourism experiences and revenues for the West Kootenay area and Revelstoke — the first planning area in the Kootenay Rockies tourism region.
More than sixty regional stakeholders attended this information meeting, including representatives from local governments and regional districts, tourism business operators, local Chambers of Commerce, local destination management organizations, the provincial government, non-profit organizations and other community groups, as well as local and regional economic development bodies.
The destination development team at Destination BC, led by Grant Mackay, Vice President of Destination and Industry Development, presented on the importance of destination development planning and identified the desired outcomes from the planning process as well as the opportunities and benefits of participating.
Kathy Cooper, CEO of Kootenay Rockies Tourism, presented Kootenay Rockies’ role and priorities with regards to destination development and reiterated the huge opportunity the new program presents for the region.
As a next step, stakeholders are invited to participate in two workshops, which will take place in different locations around the West Kootenay area in September and November 2016.
The planning process for the eastern portion of the Kootenay Rockies region will take place in 2017, once the plan for the first planning area is complete.
For more information on the destination development program, contact Emilie Cayer-Huard, Industry & Destination Development Specialist at Emilie@KootenayRockies.com.
For more information on Destination BC’s program, please click here.
