The 12th annual Tourism Industry Conference, held at the Westin Bayshore Hotel, in Vancouver, offered delegates and opportunity to meet and listen to leading speakers on trends affecting the tourism industry, participate in educational seminars, view industry showcases and sample a few of Vancouver's finest tourism experiences. The three days, conference entitled "360 Degrees: The Big Picture and The Bottom line" saw more than 650 delegates from across the province take part in a number of activates, seasons, and events including:
For information about the 2005 tourism industry conference or how to register for the 2006 conference to be held in Penticton, please visit the COTA website, or the tourism industry conference website at www.bctourismindustryconference.ca.
Speaking at the 12th annual Tourism Industry Conference, Premier Campbell unveiled an exciting new regional tourism strategy. The $14 million in proposed funding will be dedicated to a new Gateway Visitor Centre in Osoyoos, a new signage program at entry points into the province, and $2-million to each of the province's 6 tourism regions in one-time grants. This commitment represents, in some cases, a six hundred percent increase in funding to the regions and allows them to promote their unique attractions to visitors from across the province, Canada and the world. For more information on this announcement please click here.
During a recent interview with the Canadian Press, Transport Minister Jean Lapierre suggests that ‘open skies’ treaty negotiations will be at the top of his agenda during U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta’s visit to Ottawa in two weeks’ time. A sensitive issue between the federal political parties, the ‘open skies’ treaty would give Canadian airline companies permission to fly between American cities, and American airlines would be allowed to fly between Canadian cities. ‘Open skies’ would mean more competition and better price options for tourists. The US Transportation Secretary will be in Ottawa on February 24 to speak at a conference marking the 10th anniversary of the Canada-U.S. air services agreement. For more information on the Open Skies Conference click here.
After more than five years of discussions with the federal government and other interested parties, China’s administration has begun negotiations to grant Approved Destination Status (ADS) to Canada. The status would allow Chinese residents to travel to Canada using a tourist exit visa. Historically, only those Chinese visitors traveling on business could obtain exit visas. The completed agreement will also allow Canada to advertise tourism products in China. According to the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada the average Chinese tourist spends more than $4,660 per trip, and thus represents a large, desirable market for Canadian tourism operators.
Scheduled to open officially in the Spring of 2005, the latest addition to BC’s Circle Routes, the Pacific Marine Circle Route, will run through Victoria, Port Renfrew, Lake Cowichan and Duncan. The Ministry of Transportation is stepping forward and offering $3 million in road upgrades to make this route into a reality. To open up the area, the provincial government has purchased a private 25 km road from the TimberWest Forest Company. With the success of the Wine Route program opened on the Island last year, the government has hopes that opening tours like the Pacific Marine Circle Route will encourage tourism around the island as well as improve access for the various communities in the area.
COTA Town Hall will take place on February 23rd, at 2:30 pm with guest moderator Vaughn Palmer, famed columnist of the Vancouver Sun. This session is open to the public. This interactive and dynamic forum will focus on identifying five to six key strategies for moving the industry forward over the next five years. The COTA Town Hall is free to the industry regardless of conference registration. For more information on COTA events at TIC 2005 email info@cotabc.com
The Council of Tourism Associations of BC (COTA) and partners Adventure Insurance Agency and Shaw Sabey & Associates are unveiling a new insurance program on February 25th that gives tourism businesses two ways to access a wider range of business coverage. Businesses offering nature-based tourism experiences are also eager to hear the details of the new COTA Insurance and Risk Management Program. It’s expected that businesses identified as having risk management plans and operating procedures in place could qualify for liability premium reductions. The COTA event kicks off with a press conference featuring Minister of Small Business and Economic Development John Les and Assistant Deputy Minister of Western Economic Diversification Ardath Paxton Mann whose ministries have been supporting COTA and its efforts to find insurance relief for tourism operators stricken by the short supply of affordable insurance. Businesses interested in nature-based tourism are invited to stay in the room after the press conference for a one hour risk management primer from Pinnacle Risk and Insurance Consultants, the group COTA retained to develop the risk management component of its new insurance program. COTA expects the COTA Insurance and Risk Management Program to be fully up and running by March 15th. COTA is still taking registrations. Email info@cotabc.com or call 604-685-5956. The Press Conference is from 11:00 – 11:30 am in the Cypress Room at the Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina in Vancouver on Friday February 25th. The risk management session follows in the same room from 11:30 – 12:30 pm and is open to all tourism operators.
On February 8th, the BC Liberal’s Throne speech was met by the industry with a buzz of excitement. After the recent announcement of Canada’s negotiations for Approved Destination Status with China, the provincial government seems set on realizing the economic benefits of the Asia-Pacific market. The government’s plans to open BC as an Asia-Pacific gateway view tourism as a “cornerstone” of this strategy. The Premier’s goal is to double tourism revenues within a decade by developing tourism products that appeals to an international market as well as taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the 2010 Games. Other industry relevant issues discussed were: the establishment of a World Trade University in Chilliwack, the opening of transportation links and sustainable environmental management projects and many more. For more information click here.
Plans for COTA’s Planning Session, AGM and Town Hall are firmly in place at the Westin Bayshore Resort and Marina in Vancouver during the BC Tourism Industry Conference 2005. February 23rd will begin with a COTA Council Meeting and Planning Session at 9:00am. Facilitator Julie Paul will be on hand to take COTA members through a discussion of COTA’s vision, mission, belief systems and board structure, to name a few of the subjects on the table. COTA members only. The COTA Annual General Meeting will start at with lunch at 11:30 , the business meeting starting at 12 noon and ending at 2:00 pm. Council members will have an opportunity to scrutinize COTA’s financial statements, reports of our activities in 2004, appoint our auditor and elect our new Board members for 2005. COTA Members can register for this event by emailing info@cotabc.com.
