Council of Tourism Associations of British Columbia

At the 2005 Canadian Marketing Awards, Tourism BC was awarded with Gold in the categories of Leisure/Travel Products and Services, Direct Response, and Customer Management. Tourism BC’s BC Escapes program received high acclaim with this year’s results delivering over $85 million to the province - a return on investment of 14:1. Many of the new elements of the BC Escapes program were made possible after an announced increase in funding to the program from Premier Gordon Campbell. Read more.

Canada has organized a pavilion for Food and Hotel Asia 2006 during the Singapore Expo from April 25-26, 2005. Hosted every two years, Food and Hotel Asia is the largest international food and hospitality trade event in Asia. Exhibitor benefits include escorted market tourism in the area as well as meetings with potential distributors. Read more.

BC Ferries has submitted an application to the BC Ferry Commissioner requesting an additional fuel surcharge of 2.5% on major routes and 6% on all other routes. The fuel surcharge application was a result of a higher than forecasted fuel price increase. BC Ferries’ is projecting annual fuel costs to be $76 million as opposed to $50 million last year. The higher fuel prices are projected to result in a $22 million shortfall for 2005 between the existing fuel costs and revenue generated from the fuel surcharge. Read more.

COTA has released the 2nd volume in the BC Tourism Review Series entitled Fuel Factor. Fuel Factor offers a summary analysis of the impacts of higher fuel costs on the tourism industry. Sponsored by the BC and Yukon Hotels’ Association, this report's findings suggest that higher gas prices, if sustained, may result in both tourists and tourism operators adjusting their behaviour to account for increasing business costs. Vacationers availing themselves of circle tours are today spending 50% more on gasoline than they would have 4 years ago. Read more.

BC Parks is calling for a Request for Proposals for the delivery of wilderness canoe circuit management and camping services at Bowern Lake Provincial Park. The deadline for submissions is December 13th, 2005 at 2:00pm. For more information, click here.

On November 23, 2005, BC’s Solicitor General John Les announced a new Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) - Canada’s first province-wide organized crime unit. The Unit is made up of personnel from the Organized Crime Agency as well as 95 municipal and RCMP officers, whose mandate is to expose, investigate, prosecute, dismantle, and disrupt organized crime. Read more.

The Canadian Tourism Commission and the International Spa Association will be working together on research related to both the Canadian and American spa industry. The project is related to the CTC’s product development strategy for spa health and wellness tourism. The organizations hope to release preliminary information on their study in April 2006 with a full report anticipated for release by November 2005. Read more.

The Canadian tourism industry has had a difficult year - struggling with a steady decline in US visitors, a high dollar and record high gas prices. After five months of posting negative growth rates, September finally resulted in the first increase in visitors to Canada, over August 2005, of 4.4%. While this information is more than welcome, year-to-date, Canada has actually seen a decrease in US visitors of 8%. Fortunately, the total international visitation rate has only decreased by 1.5% year-to-date. On the other hand, British Columbia has been doing comparatively better than the rest of Canada. From September 2005 year-to-date, BC has only experienced a 4% decline in American visitor compared to the national average of -8%. Overall, BC's total international visitation was down only 0.8% (year-to-date) and 0% compared to the same month last year. The question then arises, what is sustaining the BC tourism industry? There could be a number of reasons extending from better marketing tactics to favourable government policies. The statistics released on November 17th from Tourism BC points at a continued strength in the American market, with BC posting about half the national average decline in US visitors. The American travel market made up 68.3% of all international overnight visitors to British Columbia in September 2005. This seems to be enough to make up the difference as BC is actually falling behind in attracting Asia/Pacific and European markets, compared to the national average. The industry can only hope that with the implementation of the new US passport regulations, that the market impact will be minimal. Read more.

COTA's Tourism News offers the latest tourism industry updates from across Canada. If you sign-up to receive our free monthly editions of Tourism News, your name will be entered to win a 2006 adult's ski pass to Mount Seymour. Located just 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver, Mount Seymour has acquired a reputation for receiving the most reliable and consistent snowfall of the three north shore mountains. This offer contest closes December 1, 2005. Subscribe today

Submission Deadline Extended! Nominate an Outstanding Tourism Business Today!
New deadline for submissions is December 16, 2005.

Do you know of a tourism business practicing industry excellence? Be sure to nominate them for one of the nine categories, including: Tourism Industry Leader of the Year, Best Tourism Marketing Campaign, Environmentally Responsible Tourism Award, Tourism Media Award, Outside of the Box Award, SuperHost Customer Service Award,Technology in Tourism Award, Employees First Award, Sport Tourism Community Legacy Award. Find award nomination forms and criteria on Tourism BC’s corporate website at www.tourismbc.com/tia. Previous nominees may resubmit as appropriate. Please visit the Tourism BC website for further information.

Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and will be honoured at the Seventh Annual British Columbia Tourism Awards held during the BC Tourism Industry Conference in Penticton. This is one of the most important events of the year for BC’s tourism industry. For more information about the BC Tourism Industry Conference, visit www.bctourismindustryconference.ca.

The European Biometrics Forum (EBF) has established an International Biometric Advisory Council to provide expert advice on issues facing biometrics globally. The Council will address a number of issues including standards, interoperability and privacy, endorsing a cohesive global approach by emphasizing international cooperation. Biometrics has been a strong component of the U.S.’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. Read more.

Tourism Vancouver is launching a Chinese language website in an effort to attract Chinese speaking visitors to Vancouver. The website’s launch will take place during Tourism Vancouver’s attendance at the China International Travel Mart (CITM) in Kunming from November 23rd to 28th. Preview of the website is available at www.tourismvancouver/china.

Communities from the Kootenay Region, including Invermere, Fernie, Golden and others, are discussing options with the provincial government on how to address the side-effects of rapid resort growth in their area. Their concern centres around the stress on local resources and infrastructure that seasonal tourism is causing for local residents. Options under discussion include re-designation as a ‘resort municipalities’. Read more.

Representatives from COTA's membership will be gathering in Victoria on November 22, 2005 to celebrate Tourism Day at the BC Legislature. This event offers members the opportunity to have face-to-face discussions on top industry issues with Ministers, Deputy Ministers and MLAs. Other Tourism Day activities include a breakfast, lunch, reception, and the opportunity to sit-in on question period. For more information, contact the COTA office at 604 685 5956.

At the 12th World Travel Awards held in London, England, on November 13th, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations of British Columbia won the award for the world’s best Travel Experience by Train. The World Travel Awards is one of the most comprehensive tourism award programs. Nominations are based on the previous year’s voting and winners are chosen by travel agents in over 200 countries. Read more.

Air Canada has introduced new Flight Passes offering savings of up to 70% for travel within Canada until March 31, 2005 and to some sun destinations until September 30, 2006. The Flight Passes are available for purchase until December 30, 2005 at www.aircanada.com. Read more.

Are you involved in e-commerce? Do you use a web site for your business? Would you like to be involved with Internet decision-making? The elected officers and members of the ICANN Business Constituency are delighted to invite you to join them at a drinks reception to discuss business Internet issues and the advantages of becoming a Business Constituency member. f you would like to join us, please RSVP by Wednesday 23 November to Gary Hills, the BC Secretariat (secretariat@bizconst.org). Thursday 1 December 2005 at 5pm, Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina, Vancouver.

On November 11, 2005, Canada’s Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre and International Trade Minister Jim Peterson announced an expanded “Open Skies” air transport agreement between U.S. and Canada. Benefits of the expanded 1995 agreement include: greater pricing flexibility for air carriers, increased opportunities for Canadian airports to attract US carriers and lower prices for consumers, increased access for Canadian airlines to a larger U.S. market from which they can serve third countries. For more information, click here.

Adventure Passport has launched a City Passport program for Whistler, BC, from November 1, 2005, to April 30, 2006. The new program offers Cougar Mountain Skyline trips, Canadian Outback's Eagles Watch Safari, Whistler Babysitting service, and more. Over 40 adventure companies and prodcuts are featured in the passport book with savings up to $1,000.00. Read more.

The Travel and Tourism Research Association has created a PHD award in recognition of the contribution Dr. Peter Williams (Director of the Centre for Tourism Policy and Research, University of Simon Fraser) has made in bringing multiple academic disciplines together in the pursuit of tourism research in Canada. The award is sponsored by Judy Rogers, Research Resolutions & Consulting Ltd. Read more.

Campbell River will be getting ready to receive cruise ships from around the world after an announcement on November 9, 2005, that the Government of Canada is investing $9 million into the development of a cruiseship terminal. The Campbell River Indian Band has been working in partnership with the community to see the deal come to a close. The terminal will feature a First Nations theme and capitalize on cultural tourism opportunities. Read more.

COTA has released a second volume in the BC Tourism Review Series. Fuel Factor offers a summary analysis of the impacts of higher fuel costs on the BC tourism industry. This second installment in the BC Tourism Review Series is sponsored by the the British Columbia and Yukon Hotels’ Association.

Fuel Factor's findings suggest that significant price increases at the gas pump, if sustained, may result in both tourists and tourism operators adjusting their behaviour to account for increasing business costs. Vacationers availing themselves of circle tours for example, are today spending 50% more on gasoline than they would have just four years ago. Tourism operators are facing fuel cost increases of more than 25 %, but for fear of becoming uncompetitive are unable to pass these increased on to their customers. Moreover, a recent study conducted at Cornell's Hotel School at the Center for Hospitality Research shows that a 1% increase in gasoline prices results in a 1.74% drop in hotel room demand. Read more.

The BC Progress Board has released a discussion paper on BC's energy sector entitled "Strategic Imperatives for BC's Energy Future". The paper reviews the province's energy situation and make a number of suggestions including: the primary focus of the oil and gas industry should continue to be natural gas development in the northeast; the provincial government should provide more detailed information on both on- and off-shore opportunities in other areas of BC, along with clear direction on environmental safeguards, actions, and time-frames to move forward; bilateral arrangements between the governments of British Columbia, Yukon, Alaska, and the Northwest Territories should be reached on potential transport, gathering, and processing of natural gas from Alaska and the Northwest Territories; and more. For more information, visit www.bcprogressboard.com

Warren Burgess, Managing Partner of The Pinnacles Suite Hotel at Silver Star Mountain Resort, was recently elected President of the BC Lodging and Campgrounds Association (BCLCA). Burgess told members at the annual meeting "At this moment two of the biggest challenges for the provincial tourism industry are the increased value of the Canadian dollar (relative to other currencies) and the belief of many Americans that they must produce passports on return to the US." Read more.

The federal and provincial governments have announced an investment of $8.1 million in safety upgrades to the Trans-Canada Highway on Vancouver Island. Federal Industry Minister David Emerson and BC Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon applaud the partnership, which will see improvements made to the 3.3 km stretch of Highway 1 between Cobble Hill and Duncan. The area targeted for work has a collision rate higher than the province average. The funds will go towards median barriers, shoulder widening, safer access to frontage roads and surface repaving. Read more.

In response to the policy options presented by Transport Canada in the Maritime Law Reform Discussion Paper May 2005, COTA submitted its recommendations to government on behalf of the BC tourism industry on October 31, 2005. COTA's recommended adjustments of the Marine Liability Act include: maintain the limits of liability; and reverse the onus on operators to prove innocence to assuming innocence until proven guilty. In addition, compulsory insurance under the MLA should not extend to international carriage. To read COTA's submission, click here.

The BC Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts has released its service plan outlining its priority objectives for the next few years. Under the subsection Tourism and Resorts, the Ministry’s plan will look at several areas including: Public Recreational Management and Promotion, All Seasons Resorts Office, Tourism Planning, Sector and Product Development and Marketing, Research and Anaylsis, Commercial Recreation, Public Recreation Sites and Trail, as well as Aboriginal Relations. Read more.

2010 Legacies Now is offering contribution programs and activities designed to "strengthen and enhance the creative capacity of individuals, organizations and communities". One such programm, the Innovations Program, provides investment for initiatives undertaken by arts, culture and heritage organizations and communities, alone or in partnership, to create new opportunities for people to engage in sustainable and transformative arts and cultural activities. Two broad categories are available including Community Initiatives and Creative Exploration. Read more.

Snow is falling and more is on the way for BC's Fernie Alpine Resort. According to Jim Roener, noted meteorologist and ski weather expert, Fernies Alpine can expect “At least a foot or more in the interior BC eastward to Fernie and Banff.” Staff at Fernie Alpine Resort are currently preparing the mountain, known for its 875cm average snowfall, for its anticipated December 10 opening date. Fernie’s sister resort, Lake Louise Mountain Resort, is scheduled to open November 11. Read more.

Area Directors from the three South Okanagan Regional Districts of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) are looking at a joint funding program for the construction of an aquatic and wellness centre in Oliver. The joint funding proposal was brought forward when the value of the centre was recognized at a sub-regional level. The larger tax base will mean a decreased tax burden to any single area as well as an extended sense of ownership over the project. Read more.

The State of Alaska and the Province of BC have signed a Memoradum of Co-operation designed to enhance state-province relations and foster economic development. The document pledges that the governments will work together in the areas of tourism, energy, environment, mining, transportation and wildlife management. Officials from both offices will collaborate on the areas of expressed interest and periodically meet to review the Memorandum. Read more.

COTA, in partnership with the Cascadia Discovery Institute, has submitted a document to the US Department of Homeland Security urging it to consider changes to the proposed Western Hemisphere Travel Initative (WHTI) passport requirments. COTA warns the US government of the potential impact the new passport requirements will have on tourism operators in both the United States and Canada and offers three suggestions: 1) Mount a large scale communications campaign, targeting US citizens and the travel industry on the fact that passports will not be needed until the implementation date, 2) Push back the implementation date until January 1, 2008 for all modes of travel, so that surface transportation does not gain a competitive edge on sea/air modes and 3) Clarify and improve the definition of "Alernative Secure Documents" to make documents easily accessible in avaliability, cost and benefits. Read more .