Tourism BC Release:

While we have benefitted from the use of VANOC’s Team 2010 Training workshop in connecting with key stakeholders and expanding the WorldHost brand, our clients are informing us that they want more customer service skills training but cannot commit, for the most part, to a full day of Fundamentals. They also have expressed interest in our other workshops, but cannot make the time commitments for their staff to attend.

We feel we have an excellent alternative.

WorldHost has developed a 3.5 hour workshop that will focus on the core elements of Fundamentals, and also introduce key service principles from Customers with Disabilities. There will be some Olympics related information as well. The workshop name is “WorldHost Fundamentals Plus”. For the meantime, it is a workshop intended as part of our 2010 Ready strategy. Pending feedback and uptake, we will evaluate if it is to be continued post Games.

The workshop will be offered to industry from now until Games-time at a rate of $30 per participant. 10 dates, 20 sessions will  be offered to start with.

No workbook or certificate will be created for this workshop, rather, we will provide participants with a handout of the power point, an earth ball and a WHTS gold pin.

Click here for more information.

Tourism BC has updated its "Value of Tourism" study.  The report provides updated information on the size and composition of the B.C. tourism industry, which is now considered the province's largest primary industry sector, with a GDP of $6.6 billion and gross revenues of $13.8 billion (2008).  Click here to review the report.

The Council of Tourism Association's Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) report is now available online.

Click here to read the full report.

On December 3, 2009, Prime Minister Stephen Harpnced that the Government of China has granted Canada Approved Destination Status, a designation that makes it easier for Chinese nationals to visit Canada.

Click here to read more.

The Council of Tourism Associations of B.C. has rejected the provincial Tourism Ministry's new tourism advisory committee that will replace the former board of Tourism BC.
 
Click here to read the full story from the Vancouver Sun
 

The Council of Tourism Associations (COTA) is pleased to release its report focused on tourism diversification in the southern interior of B.C. responding to the threats of the mountain pine beetle.  The report, entitled “A Tourism Industry Strategy in Response to the Mountain Pine Beetle” sets forth a vision and strategies for supporting economic diversification through tourism development in regions impacted by the mountain pine beetle.

The report findings stem from eight half-day community consultations throughout the southern interior, hundreds of surveys and questionnaires, and analysis by a series of tourism industry experts on potential development themes, opportunities, and constraints.

“British Columbia is a world leader in tourism in part because of the diversity of our natural land base as well as our people and culture,” said Steve Regan, president and CEO of COTA.  “This report highlights some of the regional strengths that can be built upon and strategies for capitalizing on these strengths.”

Key to the report is the proposal that tourism development requires enhanced focus and resources at the community and regional level.  The report encourages greater resources and coordination for tourism development at the community/regional level, and identifies key themes for ensuring that tourism opportunities in the southern interior are capitalized upon. 

Included in the report are key transportation and infrastructure priorities, land and resource recommendations for managing tourism’s environmental values, and other important development considerations.

Click here to read the full report.

Click here to read the Executive Summary.

Click here to read Chapter 1: Introduction - COTA SIR Tourism Sector Strategy.

Click here to read Chapter 2: Understanding the Tourism Industry in the Southern Interior Region.

Click here to read Chapter 3: Analysis of Opportunities and Challenges to Tourism Growth in the Southern Interior Region.

Click here to read Chapter 4: A Tourism Sector Strategy for the Southern Interior in Response to the Mountain Pine Beetle.

Click here to read the Appendices.

The Pat Corbett Bursary is an award of $3,000 made to a student studying in British Columbia. Qualifying students will have completed (or currently be finishing) one or two full-time year(s) of instruction in a tourism/travel/hospitality program in a public university, college or institute or through a private institution accredited through the Private Post Secondary Education Commission.

Click here for more information.

TIC Survey - Your Input is Encouraged!

Specific elements and topics for the 2010 conference are being designed around a survey COTA is currently conducting, plus suggestions provided by a committee comprising industry leaders.

To participate in the survey, please click here. Deadline for submissions is September 15, 2009.

Visit http://www.bctourismindustryconference.ca/ for more information.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Victoria, B.C. – The Council of Tourism Associations (COTA) describes the provincial budget update 2009 as a “bitter pill” to swallow for the B.C. tourism industry. 

The B.C. tourism industry has been shocked by a number of recent provincial government announcements, including the introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) and the decision to dissolve Tourism BC and fold the independent Crown Corporation within government. 

Click here to read the full media release.

Climate Smart is a comprehensive, hands on training program that takes small to medium size businesses and organizations through the process of creating a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and developing a reduction strategy with a focus on cost savings and brand lift. It is designed to train key staff with the tools needed to become more competitive in an era of carbon regulation, volatile energy prices, and during a time when tourism clients are becoming increasingly aware of and concerned about issues affecting sustainability.

Click here for more information.

The Council of Tourism Associations (COTA) held an emergency meeting of its members early Tuesday morning, August 18 to discuss the surprise announcement by the Government of British Columbia to dissolve Tourism British Columbia.

Click here to read the full media release.

On Wednesday, August 5 COTA coordinated a meeting between tourism representatives of the HST Working Group and B.C.’s Minister of Finance, Colin Hansen to discus the impacts of the HST on the tourism industry.  The delegation impressed upon the Minister the following:

-Tourism is a significant creator of jobs in every part of the province (over 126,000), many of which are high paying and cover a diversity of skill sets.
-Many businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry are gravely suffering as a result of the global economic recession and they do not yet see light at the end of the tunnel.
-The proposed tax shift comes at the most difficult time for price-sensitive travelers and small businesses struggling with shrinking markets and increasingly tight margins.
-The industry is telling COTA, and through COTA the provincial government, that the impacts of the HST could be catastrophic on many sectors and ruinous to individual businesses.

The meeting with the Finance Minister was preceded by a meeting between the HST Working Group and the B.C. Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Kevin Krueger.  The Minister committed to be the industry’s champion.  COTA is working with the Minister’s staff in an effort to achieve a positive outcome on the HST issue for the B.C. tourism industry.

COTA’s Analysis – Updated August 7, 2009

COTA is working to enhance its understanding of the potential impacts of the HST on the B.C. tourism industry.  At present COTA’s perspective on the HST is as follows:

• The HST will have a devastating impact on most tourism-related products and services.  We are working with members and sectors to understand more fully these impacts.   
• Proposed Input Tax Credits (ITCs) will provide little compensation for tourism businesses, which are primarily labour intensive and have relatively low capital (replacement) costs.
• B.C.’s regional competitiveness will suffer, as our regional competitors (Alberta, Washington State, California, etc.) do not have a similar tax.  The recession makes regional uncompetitiveness more serious, with short-haul travel increasing as consumers become more price conscious.  The Canadian dollar’s recent inflation further exacerbates our regional uncompetitiveness. 
• Businesses with fixed-price contracts already in place beyond July 1, 2010 will be forced to absorb the additional 7%.  For many sectors with a high proportion of long-term bookings (e.g., meetings and conventions, high-yield adventure tourism such as heli-skiing, guide outfitting, among others) this 7% will come directly off the bottom line.
• For the highly competitive and integrated tour operator sector, wholesalers and tour packagers may stop selling B.C.-based products, similar to the European tour operator “revolt” over the federal government’s cancellation of the GST Visitor Rebate Program in 2007.
• B.C. residents constitute more than half of tourism revenues in B.C.  The domestic (B.C.) market will be more strongly impacted by the HST, as they will be more aware of price increases, and will have to pay the HST on other products and services (decreasing their disposable income for travel).

Blaine, WA – The strong relationship between B.C. and Washington State is greatly assisting both Canada and the United States to avoid potential impacts of border delays on the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations Naomi Yamamoto said today.

“Through our government’s work with Governor Christine Gregoire and our leadership together in promoting cross-border action on our priorities, we have been successful in taking positive steps to reduce border delays and ensure smooth and safe flow of legitimate trade and travel,” Yamamoto said.

Click here to read the full news release.

British Columbia intends to harmonize its provincial sales tax with the federal Goods and Services Tax effective July 1, 2010, to boost new business investment, improve productivity, enhance economic growth and create jobs, Premier Gordon Campbell and Finance Minister Colin Hansen announced today.

Click here to read the full news release.

On July 15, 2009, The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia–Pacific Gateway, on behalf of Canada’s Transport Minister, John Baird, announced the successful conclusion of a Blue Sky air transport agreement with the Republic of Korea.

The new agreement allows any number of air carriers from either country to operate scheduled passenger and all-cargo air services as frequently as desired, to and from any point in either country's territory. Air carriers will also be able to pick up traffic in each other's territory and continue to a third country as part of a service to or from their home territory.

Click here to read the full news release.

On July 14, 2009, Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced that effective immediately there is a visa requirement for both Czech and Mexican citizens travelling to Canada.

Click here to read the full news release concerning Mexican travellers.

Click here to read the full news release concerning Czech travellers.

The Government of Canada is reminding Canadian citizens that as of Monday, June 1, they are required under U.S. law to present a valid passport or another approved secure document when entering the United States.

Starting June 1, 2009, Canadian citizens are required to present one of the following valid documents when seeking to enter the United States by land or water:

• Passport;
• NEXUS card;
• Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card;
• Enhanced driver's licence/enhanced identification card (available in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec); or
• Secure Certificate of Indian Status (when this certificate is available and approved by the United States).

The U.S. document requirements for air travel require Canadian citizens flying to, through or from the United States to present a valid passport of valid NEXUS card.

Click here to visit the Canada Border Services Agency's website for more information about U.S. document requirements for Canadian citizens and how to apply for an approved document.

Should we stay or should we go?

This is a debate that causes the Canadian tourism industry to collectively shudder and recall 2003, when it seemed the forces of nature conspired to keep everyone at home. SARS. Mad cow. West Nile virus. Fires. Floods. Even a hydro failure.

International tourism arrivals to Canada dropped that year for the first time in nearly a decade. A comparison with the numbers in 2001 suggests fear of illness trumps fear of terrorism. But it is a tribute to this resilient industry that by the end of 2004 it had resumed its relentless growth path, dampened only in the 2008 fourth quarter when it started to feel the effects of a weakening economy.

Click here to read the full Vancouver Sun story.

Would you dish out $500,000 a year if someone would then send you $33 million?

No, it's not a pyramid scheme. It's the basic math behind the proposal for a second, daily passenger train from Seattle to Vancouver, part of a plan by Amtrak to expand rail traffic up and down the West Coast. It's a winner of a financial deal and, more importantly, deepens Vancouver's rail ties into the U.S. Pacific Northwest, that growing regional economy sometimes called Cascadia.

Click here to read the full Vancouver Sun story.

The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of Public Safety, has announced that the Government of Canada is investing money in expanding publicly funded services provided by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at airports across the country. 

“Today’s announcement is the result of much hard work done by our government with air industry stakeholders and clearly demonstrates our commitment to the economic prosperity of Canada,” said Minister Van Loan. “As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is expanding its publicly funded international passenger clearance services at strategic airports across the country.”

Click here to view the full news release from Public Safety Canada.

British Columbians can start applying for B.C.'s Enhanced Driver's Licence (EDL) – a driver's licence that also allows the cardholder to cross into the United States at land or water ports of entry between Canada and the United States with a single piece of identification. B.C. is also offering an Enhanced Identification Card (EIC) for persons who do not drive and for young adults over the age of 12 years.

The announcement of full implementation for the EDL/EIC program was made today jointly by B.C. Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations Joan McIntyre and Russ Hiebert, Member of Parliament for South Surrey, White Rock and Cloverdale, on behalf of the Honourable Peter Van Loan, the federal Minister of Public Safety.

Click here to read the full news release from the Canada Border Services Agency.

On April 7th, Premier Gordon Campbell announced that the Province of B.C. will be reducing the Small Business Income Tax. By April 1, 2012, it will be the lowest in Canada, to be paid for by revenues from the Carbon Tax. The Province will also be raising the small business income threshold.

“B.C.’s small businesses employ more than one million people in every corner of the province, and since 2001 small businesses in B.C. have created close to 160,000 jobs,” said Premier Campbell. “We are going to do everything we can to secure those jobs and make sure British Columbia is ahead of Canada and North America when it comes to creating a strong, competitive economy. Reducing this tax and raising the threshold will make more businesses eligible for what will be the lowest tax rate in the country.”

Click here to read the full news release.

COTA has partnered with the Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition (SIBAC) and the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition (OBAC) on two strategies to ensure that the BC tourism industry is prepared for the effects of the Mountain Pine Beetle, one of the biggest threats to the natural landscape in the province. 

Tourism will be impacted significantly by the beetle in two ways. First, the beetle will destroy mature pine forests in the interior, and second, in efforts to derive maximum value from these forests before the wood is no longer commercially viable, we have increased the rate at which we are harvesting our forests. Biodiversity, scenic areas and recreation areas will all be compromised.

Working groups have been established in each region, and background reports completed including regional overviews and identifying major tourism opportunities in these areas. Regional meetings have been organized in the Southern Interior in Lillooet, Kamloops, Cranbrook and Merritt.

Please continue to visit www.cotabc.com for updates concerning this project.

British Columbians can start applying for B.C.’s Enhanced Driver’s Licence (EDL) – a driver’s licence that also allows the cardholder to cross into the United States at land or water ports of entry between Canada and the United States with a single piece of identification. B.C. is also offering an Enhanced Identification Card (EIC) for persons who do not drive and for young adults over the age of 12 years.

Click here to read the full news release by the Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat.

The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), today launched the Marquee Tourism Events Program, a program to help fund festivals and tourism events across Canada. This federal investment will help protect and create jobs across the country and stimulate the visitor economy. It will also help Canada to become an even more vigorous player in the competitive global tourism industry.

Click here to read the full news release from Industry Canada.

An investment of over $240 million for highway improvements throughout British Columbia was announced today. "The B.C. government has been working with the Government of Canada to get these dollars flowing into communities across the province. These initiatives will improve travel and safety conditions and increase transportation efficiency on a number of highways across B.C.,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Kevin Falcon. “They’re expected to create over 1,500 direct jobs, at a time when the jobs will be most appreciated.”

Click here to read the full news release and backgrounder document.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) has released the first phase of its games-time transportation strategy. The plan has been developed in order to transport athletes, officials, and Games participants while also giving consideration to the transportation needs of residents, businesses and visitors.

Click here to read the full news release.

The Government of Canada has issued a news release and backgrounder on the U.S. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, reminding Canadian citizens to prepare now for any travel plans to the United States by applying for accepted documents.

The WHTI is a U.S. law that requires all travellers, including Canadian and American citizens, to present a valid passport or other approved document when entering the United States from within the western hemisphere.

To read the full news release, click here.

The annual Pat Corbett Bursary was awarded at the BC Tourism Industry Conference held February 11-13, 2009. Lesley Braby, a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Tourism Management Program at Royal Roads University, was awarded the 2009 Bursary. 

Click here to read the full story from LinkBC, the tourism & hospitality education network.

On Thursday, February 27, 2009, Prime Minister Harper and Premier Campbell announced that the Federal Government will match the commitments by the province and Translink to invest in the construction of the Evergreen Line. This new Skytrain route will link Burnaby and Coquitlam, and will begin construction at the end of 2010, to be concluded in 2014. This project will alleviate transportation problems through this area and help to lower carbon emissions, assisting B.C. with the infrastructure needs to be promoted as a sustainable, first-rate destination.

Click here to read the BC Chamber of Commerce news release.

TIAC announced today the members of the newly-formed Canadian Sustainable Tourism Advisory Council (CSTAC). The committee will provide input, advice and guidance on upcoming sustainable tourism initiatives, including the establishment of accreditation programs and the Canadian Charter for Sustainable Tourism.

"We are thrilled by the depth of knowledge and the variety of backgrounds of the participants on the Advisory Council," said TIAC President and CEO Randy Williams. "Ensuring that Canada preserves its natural heritage and lives up to its reputation as a green destination is a top priority for the tourism industry, and this group of experts will unquestionably help us move towards attaining this goal." 

Stephen Regan, President and CEO of COTA is one of the members of the Canadian Sustainable Tourism Advisory Council.

COTA has awarded its Foresight Sustainability Award to the Delta Sun Peaks Resort and Residence.  This award recognizes a tourism operator that has excelled in running a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable tourism operation in the past three years. This property has excelled in instituting a number of successful environmental sustainability practices, including working to lower its carbon emissions, conserve water and electricity, reduce waste, and provide other “green” services for its guests.  The Delta Sun Peaks also demonstrates social awareness and community support through a number of partnerships and by supporting local charities.

Click here to read more about the Delta Sun Peaks' sustainability practices.

Picture BC, a partnership between the Province of BC, the Union of BC Municipalities and the Knowledge Network Corporation, was launched on Friday, February 13 at the BC Tourism Industry Conference. This website will offer photos, videos and stories from around the province, and will provide an interactive venue for visitors to explore BC's communities.

Click here to read the full media release.

Click here to visit Picture BC.

The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC) invites you to attend the premier HR event for the tourism sector - the Annual Tourism HR Forum. The Forum will give you new insight into the tourism sector, with a clearer focus on sharing ideas and solutions amongst your peers. Take advantage of the national event that concentrates on critical issues related to recruitment, retention and staff development. Topics addressing Aboriginal employment, immigration and foreign credential recognition will provide insight into meeting challenges around labour shortages.

Dates: November 23-25, 2009
Location: Delta Centre-Ville in Montreal, Quebec
Contact: Monique Robert

website: http://cthrc.ca/en/tourism_hr_forum.aspx
email: hrforum@cthrc.ca.

It was a busy year for COTA and the BC tourism industry. COTA engaged with the industry on a number of initiatives, including the following:

• Relationship building with key partners,
• Federal policy development and advocacy, including COTA's top policy priority, air transportation,
• Provincial policy development and advocacy, including land and resources,
• Embarking on the mountain pine beetle project,
• Jointly announcing the BC Partnership for Sustainable Tourism, and
• Membership engagement

Click here to read COTA's annual report.

Effective June 1, 2009, Canadian citizens will need to present a WHTI-compliant document to enter the U.S. by land or water. The WHTI is a U.S. law that requires all travellers through the U.S. to present a valid passport or other approved secure document.

The BC Government intends to release a new and improved driver’s license card in addition to the Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDLs) issued in 2008.  Please note that the improved standard driver’s licenses for B.C. will NOT be border-compliant at this time, but may in the near future be considered border-compliant, meaning that all driver’s licenses issued in B.C. will satisfy border documentation requirements.

COTA will keep members apprised of new developments.

For more information on the Canada Border Services Agency and to learn how you can prepare for WHTI implementation, click here.

1. Interest in working with government on the development of a tourism industry framework for sustainability, including a climate change strategy, via the BC Partnership for Sustainable Tourism.
2. The need for a comprehensive tourism industry strategy that mitigates the impacts of the mountain pine beetle and associated forestry/land-use practices on tourism's land values and interests.
3. A request for government to confirm its commitments to developing a comprehensive off-road vehicle strategy that supports the responsible growth of motorized recreation in the province.
   

On Saturday, January 24, 2009, the Government of Canada announced an investment of over $1 million towards two projects to help communities affected by the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation.

The City of Merritt will receive an investment of more than $925,000 toward their City Centre Gateway Project which will include the development of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.

Click here to read the full news release.

Premier Gordon Campbell today announced the appointment of Blair Lekstrom as Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources and the appointment of Kevin Krueger as the new Minister of Community Development. The provincial cabinet has also been realigned, creating a new Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development to be led by Minister Ida Chong.

“We are going through a period of unprecedented economic change, and government is not immune to that change,” said Premier Campbell. “Today is another part of our ongoing response to those shifts – both by ensuring we continue to have strong leadership in our economic ministries, and also by reducing the size of cabinet.”

To read the full news release, click here.

The WHTI is a U.S. law that requires all travelers to present a valid passport or other approved secure document when traveling to, through, or from the U.S. The new WHTI document requirements to enter the U.S. via land and water will take effect on June 1, 2009. Air travel requirements have been in effect since January 2007.The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) website has recently been updated to provide information about WHTI and the requirements, including the new enhanced driver’s license program. More detailed information, including background about this law and how Canadian citizens can prepare for its implementation is available at the CBSA website.

Click here to view the CBSA website.

On November 3, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), Parks Canada, and the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) jointly released ‘Green Your Business: A Toolkit for Tourism Operators.’ This document was announced at TIAC’s annual industry conference, Canada’s Tourism Leadership Summit. The Toolkit was developed for small to medium-sized tourism businesses, and provides tips and guidance in a best practices guide for greening their operations.

Click here to link to TIAC’s website and download the press release and the ‘Green Your Business: A Toolkit for Tourism Operators’ document.

Canada’s national brand has been ranked the second most respected country brand by FutureBrand’s Country Brand Index. The brand was developed four years ago by the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) in conjunction with the tourism industry across the country. The CTC was present at the official announcement of the rankings, made on November 11 in London, England.

To read the full CTC media release, click here.

To read the FutureBrand announcement, click here.

For Immediate Release -- October 23, 2008

B.C. TOURISM INDUSTRY SUPPORTIVE OF PREMIER’S ECONOMIC PLAN

Vancouver, BC – The Council of Tourism Associations (COTA) applauds Premier Gordon Campbell’s response to the present financial instability gripping our economy, and urges other levels of government to take similarly concrete actions to support business health and consumer confidence in this uncertain time.

“The Premier’s actions once again demonstrate his commitment to the economic welfare of our province, and many of these measures are welcome by our tourism industry,” stated COTA Chair, Jim Storie.  “Of particular importance to our sector are the reductions in small business taxes and personal income taxes, ferry fare reductions, and tax processing subsidies,” he continued.

Even before the current banking and financial crisis hit, many tourism industry representatives had anticipated a challenging time for the B.C. tourism industry in 2008 and 2009.  The industry was already being hit by external factors such as our high exchange rate and fuel prices – both of which have now moderated – as well as with increased competition from emerging tourism destinations.  When coupled with factors such as new travel documentation requirements for U.S. citizens and burdensome federal regulations in the air transportation sector, the industry became particularly concerned about its future prospects.  The present economic uncertainty has caused many industry representatives to declare the industry in a state of ‘crisis.’

“In order to address these challenges both industry and governments at all levels will need to work together to enhance our competitiveness,” said Stephen Regan, President and CEO of COTA.  “These steps include addressing access issues at our border, reducing cumbersome air transportation fees and regulations, removing disincentives to business growth, and ensuring that we have an integrated long-term plan for our industry’s sustainable future.”

In February 2008 COTA released a suite of recommendations to the Government of Canada to address tourism’s competitiveness challenges.  This was accompanied by a report by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), COTA’s national affiliate, outlining several areas requiring urgent attention, including border management air transportation improvements. 

Despite all of these challenges, the B.C. tourism industry remains relatively well situated to weather the current financial storm.  Product and market diversification over the past several years have resulted in a resilient and robust sector.  With the continued strong support of the province and ongoing industry collaboration COTA is hopeful that sustained growth will continue in the short and long-term. 

The Council of Tourism Associations is the recognized “Voice of the BC Tourism Industry,” representing B.C.'s major tourism organizations and businesses.  Tourism contributes over $10 billion annually to the B.C. economy, and directly employs over 130,000 workers. 

-30-

Media Contact:
Peter Larose, Director, Policy and Corporate Communications

Council of Tourism Associations (COTA)
604.685-5996
plarose@cotabc.com

'Cranbrook's Canadian Rockies International Airport will bring more visitors to resorts and tourism opportunities in the Kootenays and Rockies,' Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Bill Bennett announced today at the grand opening of the expanded airport.

Click here to read the full article.

COTA has made a submission to the B.C. Ministry of Finance regarding tourism industry spending priorities for fiscal year 2009/10.  The issues priorities identified were established by industry representatives as part of COTA’s Tourism Day at the Legislature in May 2008. 

Click here to see the submission to the B.C. Ministry of Finance

For more information contact Peter Larose, Director of Policy and Corporate Communications, at plarose@cotabc.com.

The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) just updated the status report on Phase 2 of the Community Tourism Program.

Please click here to see full report.

The U.S. economic downturn is expected to result in a 15-per-cent drop in the number of American tourists to Whistler this winter, according to a Tourism Whistler spokesman.

Please click here to read article published in The Vancouver Sun.

Tourism industry representatives from across Canada are raising the volume for the Oct. 14 federal election, to ensure that all federal political parties and candidates understand the value of tourism, and commit to creating a supportive environment for the industry's health and stability in these challenging economic times.  

Canada's Political Parties Respond to Tourism Election Questionnaire

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) has received replies from four of Canada’s five main federal political parties in response to six vital issues put to them by the tourism sector at the outset of the general election. TIAC undertook this initiative in order to provide further depth of information to Canada’s tourism sector on the positions of each of the parties as they pertain to six essential public policy areas for tourism.

Click here to go to TIAC's website for more information.

COTA's Federal Election Toolkit

COTA has prepared the following materials to assist the tourism industry in B.C. with spreading the message that Tourism Matters in British Columbia.

Background Documents

• Federal Issues Progress Report
• Tourism Factsheet
• Tourism Questions for Candidates
• COTA’s Federal Issues Book - Updated "Election Edition"
  

What Can I Do?

1. Commit.  Decide for yourself that tourism matters enough to you to get involved in the political process.
   
2. Be Informed. Make use of the materials provided by COTA www.cotabc.com and TIAC www.tiac.travel in our respective Federal Election Toolkits. The above ‘Tourism Matters’ fact sheet is a quick guide to the numbers.
3. Take Action. Introduce yourself to candidates as a tourism professional. Share any part of this kit with those campaigning in your community.  Contact candidates’ offices with the “Tourism Matters” fact sheet. Make your views known to your local media (print, radio, television) and utilize new media (i.e., Internet blogs, email lists, etc.). Encourage your tourism colleagues to communicate our “Tourism Matters” message.
   

Cyclists throughout British Columbia will benefit from new, safe and high-quality cycling trails, bike lanes, bike lockers and more, thanks to Bike BC, a $31-million program for cycling infrastructure, Premier Gordon Campbell announced.

Please click here for more information.

Non-profit groups have been selected to provide homeless outreach services in Mission, Hope, Cranbrook and Revelstoke, Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman announced.

Please click here for more information.

Nominate an Outstanding Tourism Business Today!

Tourism British Columbia and the Council of Tourism Associations (COTA) are calling for nominations for the 2009 BC Tourism Industry Awards, which will take place on February 12, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. 

For further details click here.

Americans travelling to Canada still a big revenue generator; meetings and convention visitors mark a growing niche.

Despite border challenges, high gas prices and the strongest loonie in decades, Canada continues to be a major destination for travellers from south of the border, Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) research shows. Americans make up 75% of all international visitors to Canada each year, and Canadians welcomed more than 13 million American visitors in 2007, according to CTC Research.
 
While overnight leisure trips from Americans driving into Canada have decreased in recent years, the number of Americans flying in and staying overnight in Canada increased by 4% in 2007.
 
One big, bright spot is the US meeting and conference travel niche. Revenue from American leisure and business travellers has significantly jumped—from $3.9 billion to $7.1 billion since 1996; an increase partly due to a growing market for meetings, conventions and incentive travel (MC&IT) in Canada. US MC&IT visitors to Canada spend an average of $260 per night, well over double what the average leisure visitor spends ($116 a night).

Skidegate, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia – After 15 years of planning and development, the people of Skidegate fulfilled their dream and officially opened the Haida Heritage Centre at Kaay Llnagaay on Saturday, August 23rd.  The Centre sits on land that had been set aside for this purpose for over 30 years, on the site of the old Haida seaside village of Kaay Llnagaay.  The Centre has been operational since July of 2007, but this official Grand Opening Ceremony marks the full completion of the facility, including new exhibits on Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site.

Please click here for complete release.

The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) just updated the status report on Phase 2 of the Community Tourism Program. Please click here to see full report.

Vancouver International Airport remains the most efficient and cost-competitive airport in Canada and the ninth best in North America, despite a rising Canadian dollar that gives a competitive advantage to U.S. airports.

Please click here to read more.

Are you experiencing difficulties recruiting locally/in Canada?
Are you seeking employees eligible for the Working Holiday Program?
Do you currently have, or are in the process of obtaining, an approved LMO or E-LMO?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, here is an opportunity to participate in/recurit at job fairs in South Korea and Europe coming up this year.

Please click here to find out more.

For Immediate Release
July 23, 2008

VANCOUVER – At a press conference in Vancouver on July 22, 2008 representatives from the business community and government in the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) called on the Governments of Canada and the United States to take immediate action to improve the management of the Canada-US border. 

The PNWER members recommended more than a dozen areas in which both federal governments need to work in order to address mounting issues of border lineups and delays, as well as increasing confusion around documentation requirements and general border policies and procedures.

COTA was one of ten signatories of the “PNWER Border Charter,” which will see the creation of a “Border Solutions Coordination Council” – a group tasked with gauging progress made on the various recommendations.  The Council will also release an annual Border Report Card to assess this progress. 

The PNWER recommendations mirror those made by the Canadian and US Chambers of Commerce in their joint February 2008 report, entitled “Finding the Balance: Reducing Border Costs While Strengthening Security.” 

The new PNWER Border Charter places particular emphasis on the need for the two federal governments to ensure a convenient and welcoming border crossing experience for travellers prior to, and during the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

To review the Border Charter, click here.

"The border is often the first experience travellers have of a country, and the more we can do to make this experience positive for them, the more likely we are as a region to encourage travel and see long-term benefits from major events like the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Stephen Regan, President and CEO of COTA.

Some of the specific recommendations adopted by PNWER include:

• Ensure a secure, convenient and welcoming border crossing experience for 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including an integrated and tested plan for handling peak flow traffic at border crossings and a pre-clearance program, designated special lanes and information for Olympics border crossers; 

• Reduce congestion and streamline flows of legitimate trade and travel, including increased staffing levels and traffic capacity, more use of technology for pre-clearance and processing prior to physical arrival at the border and improved signage directing traffic towards less congested border crossings and lanes, and improved procedures for frequent business travellers; 

• Increase outreach and expansion of frequent border crossing programs to improve security by focusing resources on higher-risk traffic through increased use of Nexus cards, designated flexible lanes, and improved public communication on document requirements in partnership with the tourism industry, border communities and regional organizations. 

"The 2009 World Police and Fire Games and the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are just two of the region's next major tourism opportunities. But congestion and delay at the border could sour their benefits if we don't act now to streamline and improve day-to-day travel and trade in advance of these events," said John van Dongen, BC’s Solicitor General.

The 18th PNWER Annual Summit is in Vancouver, B.C., and continues through July 24, 2008.

The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER), with its network of private and government officials, is a best practice in organized regional cross-border cooperation.  Members come from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

For more information about the Border Charter or COTA’s other activities relating to border issues, contact Peter Larose, COTA’s Director of Policy and Planning at 604.685.5996.

Victoria - To help celebrate Parks Day this weekend, Environment Minister Barry Penner announced the B.C. government is investing close to $11 million this year on upgrades to BC Parks infrastructure to improve the camping and day-use experience for park visitors. Read more...

An industry-government framework for action (click here to read) was presented by COTA Board Member David Butler at the Green Tourism Forum (GTF II) held April 22nd and again to COTA Council members during Tourism Day at the Legislature on May 5th, 2008.

A Letter of Understanding (click here to read) was signed between the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, COTA and Tourism British Columbia to establish and guide a stand-alone agency that will have a specific mandate to achieve results that enhance B.C.’s reputation as a world leader in sustainable tourism practices.

The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) just released a status report on Phase 2 of its Community Tourism Program. Please click here to see full report.

go2 - BC's tourism industry human resource association - is pleased to announce their 2008-09 Board of Directors.

Three new directors were elected, four existing directors were reappointed and six directors continue into the second year of their two-year terms.

New Directors
Susan Barcham - Director of Business Development, Oak Bay Marine Group
Greg Lee - President, Capilano University
Ian Powell - Managing Director, Paul's Restaurants Ltd. & GM, Inn at Laurel Point

Reappointed Directors
Kate Dodd - Director of Finance, Mount Washington Alpine Resort
Rob Fussey - Director of Operations, Western Canada, A&W Food Service of Canada Ltd.
Walt Judas - Vice President, Marketing, Communications & 2010 Strategies, Tourism Vancouver
Rusty Noble - Director, Guest Experience and Resort Operations, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

Continuing Directors
Kirby Brown - President and COO, Panorama Mountain Village
Simon Evans - CEO, BC Human Resources Management Association
Kimberly Haakstad - Executive Director, Alliance of Beverage Licensees
Rick Lemon - Vice President, Visitor Experiences, Tourism BC
Heather Schroeter - General Manager, Manteo Resort
Mark von Schellwitz - Vice President, Western Canada, Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association

go2 is also pleased to announce the Officers of the Board for 2008-09:
Chair: Rob Fussey
Vice Chair: Ian Powell
Past Chair: Mark von Schellwitz

The go2 board represents a cross-section of BC's tourism industry including tourism operators, industry associations and educational institutions from a variety of regions of the province. The board provides leadership to support go2's mandate of assisting BC's tourism industry with the labour shortage and other HR issues. 
  
Author: Kimiko Nomura
Organization: go2
E-mail: knomura@go2hr.ca 

Scott Deveau,  Financial Post 

TORONTO -- Age-old restrictions on the Canadian airline industry could be lifted if the federal government decides to act on the recommendations of the Canadian Competition Review Panel, which also opened the door to the possibility of increased competition in the domestic market in the years ahead.

In perhaps what would be the biggest shake-up to the industry, the panel suggested that Ottawa seek public input and issue a policy statement by December 2009 on whether it would allow a foreign-controlled company to establish a domestic-only airline in Canada using facilities and labour here.

So-called "right of establishment" carriers already are allowed in countries like Australia and New Zealand, but they would almost certainly increase competition in the Canadian market and would likely also break up the comfortable duopoly currently enjoyed by Air Canada and WestJet Airlines Ltd. here.

The panel also recommended that Ottawa fast-track its ongoing Open Skies discussions with the European Union, and that it also lift its foreign ownership limits on Canadian airlines from 25% to 49% of voting shares for countries with which it has existing bilateral agreements.

"The legacy of flag air carriers has contributed to industry overcapacity," the panel said in its report, noting that there are more than 1000 airlines globally. "Industry experts predict a wave of consolidation in the large US and EU markets.... Maintaining the existing 25 percent foreign ownership restriction could exclude Canadian air carriers from future consolidation transactions that would result in global carriers."

The Minister of Transport was not immediately available for comment on the report, but sources in Ottawa confirmed to the Financial Post earlier this year that the federal government was already interested in raising the foreign ownership cap to 49%, but was waiting for the panel to release its recommendations.

Lifting the restrictions to just short of a controlling interest, however, is not likely to be too well received by the International Air Transport Association, which has been encouraging governments to lift ownership restrictions entirely to allow for broader consolidation in the industry.

"The panel was presented with no evidence that foreign-controlled airlines would be any more or less inclined than Canadian firms in servicing Canadian routes; airline capacity typically matches the economic opportunities available in a community whether they are large or small," the report states.

British Columbia's first Green Tourism Forum (GTF I) was co-hosted in October 2007 by the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, the Council of Tourism Associations (COTA) and the BC Sustainable Tourism Collective. The forum brought together 41 sector and government leaders who began laying the foundation for the establishment of a made-in-BC Green Tourism Strategy for Sustainability.  The report detailing proceedings from the meeting, Green Tourism Forum: Charting BC's Sustainable Direction Report, was released on January 7, 2008.

Following GTF I, a joint Sustainable Tourism Working Group (STWG) was established to develop a practical course of action by which to proceed. Under the leadership of COTA Board member, Dave Butler, the STWG developed a Framework and Plan for Action.   The Action Plan lays the framework for further enhancing BC’s reputation as a world leader in sustainable tourism, through the development of strategic actions to enhance tourism's environmental, economic and social sustainability here in BC.

To implement the Action Plan, a dedicated joint venture agency – the BC Partnership for Sustainable Tourism - will be established to focus resources on specific initiatives that will achieve clear sustainable tourism goals. The agency will be financed by tourism industry partners, Tourism BC, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, and will initially be housed within the auspices of COTA.

The Action Plan was released on April 22, 2008 (Earth Day), during the second Green Tourism Forum.  At the forum, 51 tourism and sustainability leaders provided valuable insights and feedback that will help shape the implementation of the Action Plan and inform the development of strategic actions to enhance tourism's environmental, economic and social sustainability here in BC. The Green Tourism II Forum: Report was released on June 18, 2008.

For more information about COTA’s involvement in developing a sustainable tourism strategy for the BC tourism industry, the BC Partnership for Sustainable Tourism, or how to get more involved, please contact Stephen Regan, COTA’s President and CEO, at 604.685.5910.

With less than a year away until the official opening of the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre's (VCEC) new expansion, the VCEC has added and welcomed back a key member to its leadership team.

Bringing over 20 years of experience, Claire Smith, CMP, has been appointed Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, where she is responsible for strategic business development, leading and directing the VCEC sales department, as well as positioning the facility in the global marketplace.

"It is certainly a pleasure for us to welcome back Claire to the VCEC, "says Warren Buckley, President and CEO, PavCo, the crown corporation which manages both the VCEC and BC Place Stadium.

"As our former Director of Sales & Client Services, Claire played an integral role, managing sales, marketing and event services. She has strong industry ties with an extensive global network and will be a great asset as we advance our marketing initiatives to attract business to our new facility," added Buckley.

For the last three years, Claire has been the principal of her own consulting firm where she provided business development strategies for convention venues, bureaus, associations and event management companies. She has worked with convention centres around the world and until her appointment at the VCEC, worked with Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the industry's largest association with 24,000 meeting professionals worldwide, as their VP, Marketplace Performance.

Claire is a recognized expert in her field and has been a featured speaker and session facilitator at ASAE, MPI and PCMA. She was Meeting Professionals International (MPI) British Columbia Chapter President in 1996/97 and has actively participated on various International committees and Advisory Boards.
 
Author: Deborah Carty
Organization: Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre
E-mail: dcarty@vcec.ca 

Tourism Day at the Legislature was held on May 5th, 2008.  In total 46 delegates, divided into six ‘teams’, participated in nine (9) meetings with key Cabinet Ministers, seven (7) meetings with senior government staff and hosted a breakfast with Opposition MLAs and an evening reception with government MLAs and staff.  Our overarching agenda was simply to communicate to government that the tourism and hospitality ‘industry’ in B.C. is cohesive, professional and well organized.  Feedback on this score has been positive.

In addition, we set out to engage government on a range of issues such as transportation infrastructure, taxation and regulation, land use and planning, crime and public disorder, and strengthening commitments to cooperate on addressing federal issues. 

During the Tourism Day activities, COTA members met with the following Ministers:

Minister Bell, Minister of Agriculture and Lands
Minister Falcon, Minister of Transportation
Minister Hagen, Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts
Minister Hansen, Minister of Economic Development and the Olympics
Minister de Jong, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
Minister Oppal, Attorney General of BC
Minister Penner, Minister of Environment
Minister Thorpe, Minister of Small Business and Revenue
Minister Van Dongen, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations

Progress on EU Open Skies Spells Promise for Canada

Click here to read more.

Destination Osoyoos has unveiled a major new three-year Tourism Market Development Plan for 2008 that sets bold new goals designed to increase tourism and make Osoyoos an even more popular year-round resort area for visitors from across Canada and around the world. Read more...

A new satellite visitor centre, which was recently opened by Tourism Vancouver in the downtown Vancouver Art Gallery plaza, is the first of 12 that will be ready in time for the 2010 Olympics and Paralympic Games, reports the Vancouver Sun's Bruce Constantineau. These centres are expected to help hundreds of thousands of tourists in the 12 months surrounding the 2010 Games.

The 2.4-metre-by-3.7-metre structure provides travel information and is equipped to sell tourism products currently available at Tourism Vancouver's permanent visitor centre, Constantineau says.

The permanent centre normally serves about 300,000 tourists a year, but the addition of the satellite centres is expected to boost that total to about one million visitors.

Tourism BC is funding the $500,000 capital cost of the project -- with each structure worth about $40,000 -- while Tourism Vancouver will cover the operating costs.

Tourism Vancouver vice-president Janet Carson said the second satellite centre will open at the Pacific Coliseum for the ISU Four Continents figure skating championships in February 2009.

The others will open near Games venues like Hillcrest Arena, GM Place and the UBC sports centre between late 2009 and early 2010. Carson said tourism officials will also work with the City of Vancouver to identify any high-traffic pedestrian corridors that could benefit from a visitor centre during the games.

The centres will be staffed by about 300 volunteers and 50 employees during the Games. About 30 staff members will be co-op students on paid internships from Capilano College's tourism management program.

After the games are over, the visitor centres will be redeployed to communities throughout B.C. for use as seasonal visitor centres.
 
Author: TOURISM staff
Organization: Canadian Tourism Commission
E-mail: tourism@ctc-cct.ca 

(CBC News) - The number of foreign visitors to Canada in March was the lowest since record-keeping began in 1972, Statistics Canada said Tuesday.
About 2.26 million visits to this country were recorded that month, down 12.6 per cent from the same month a year earlier.

A big drop in American visitors was behind the decline. Only 730,000 same-day car trips were made by U.S. motorists in March. That was down 2.5 per cent from the month before and a 24 per cent plunge from a year ago as the price of gas, a high Canadian dollar and a weak U.S. economy kept Americans close to home.

The number of overseas visits fell by three per cent to 384,000.

"Travel declined in eight of Canada's top 12 overseas markets, with the strongest decreases in travel from Mexico, Germany and Hong Kong," said Statistics Canada.

Canadians, on the other hand, were showing no reluctance to travel, as the number of out-of-country trips rose in every category.

Canadians made 2.1 million same-day car trips to the U.S. in March, up 1.5 per cent from February and an increase of 9.5 per cent from year-ago levels.

The total number of trips to the U.S. rose to 3.8 million.

"The level of Canadian travel to the United States observed in the past six months has been the highest since 1998," Statistics Canada reported.

Overnight plane trips to the U.S. hit a new record high for the fourth month in a row.

Travel by Canadians to countries other than the U.S. also hit a record high.

Tourism offers the only sustainable development opportunity for many developing and least developed countries, and should be part of mainstream government policy, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said at a recent United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), according to the International Travel Daily News.

Tourism is one of the top exports for many countries. Last year, international tourism arrivals topped the 900-million mark and generated US$730 billion. Since 2000, developing countries have led international tourism growth and reached a current market share of 40%: In that time, tourism to the 50 least developed countries grew by 110%, and by 20% in developed countries.

UNWTO recommends that government work with local communities and other stakeholders to develop tourism, and that sustainable tourism be incorporated into broader development policy.
 
Author: TOURISM staff
Organization: Canadian Tourism Commission
E-mail: tourism@ctc-cct.ca