Are you looking for a loan to start or grow your small business? The Canada Small Business Financing Program can help. By sharing the risk with your financial institution, the program may help you to secure up to $500,000. Join Joffré Osborne of the Canada Small Business Financing team as he explains how the program can work for your business. Mr. Osborne has over 19 years of experience with the CSBFP both as an employee and as a client. The webinar takes place on Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 10:00 am Pacific time in English and 11:30 am Pacific time in French. Click here to register.  

Nanaimo, BC - Hosted by the Council of Tourism Associations of BC (COTA), the 2nd Annual BC Tourism Leaders' Summit in Nanaimo united tourism leaders from around the province to discuss how tourism can play an even greater role in BC's economy.

At the two-day summit and accompanying Annual General Meeting, members of the association voted for a new name and new bylaws. The association will now be called the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC), reflecting the growing number of tourism businesses that have joined the association in recent years.

Click here to read the full release.

Interested in the part-time Master of Arts in Tourism Management at Royal Roads University?  Join a 20-minute information teleconference on one of the following dates:

Monday, April 18th. at 12:30pm
Thursday, April 28th. at 2:00pm
Wednesday, May 18th. at 12:30pm
Wednesday, June 8th. at 3:00pm
Wednesday, July 6th. at 2:00pm

Additional information is available at www.royalroads.ca/information-sessions. To RSVP, please contact melody.andersson@royalroads.ca.

The provincial budget was released February 15, 2011 in Victoria. The budget is described as status quo, though times are exciting for the industry. Tourism highlights include the following:

o ‘The overarching goals of the Ministry are to maximize the economic and job creation benefits of tourism, trade and investment to the B.C. economy in a sustainable and responsible way, and to improve British Columbians‘ range of opportunities and quality of life in every region.’ Click here for the Ministry of Tourism Service Plan.

o The main tourism-related goals set out in the plan are as follows:

•  Goal 1: British Columbia - Canada’s Pacific Gateway - is recognized globally as a preferred place to visit, study, live, work, invest and do business.
• Goal 2: Increase revenue by attracting visitors from multiple markets, with seasonal and geographic distribution across B.C.
• Goal 3: A tourism industry that delivers a world-class, comprehensive range of tourism products, destinations and enhanced visitor experiences.

o The notion of ‘world-class’ stands out in the post-Olympic era as a strong rallying point.

As part of the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Investment, Tourism BC’s mandate is to support and promote the business of tourism throughout the province. Tourism BC is structured to develop and deliver programs and services that attract visitors to British Columbia and help ensure that the quality of their vacation experience keeps them coming back for more.

Tourism BC has a number of resources available to assist tourism operators, communities and sectors in growing and developing their businesses.

Click here to view these resources.

Premier Campbell announced his resignation at 11:30 AM PST on November 03, 2010. The four minute ten second live address called for a leadership convention as soon as possible.

"We would like to thank the Premier for his years of service, contribution to tourism including the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and being a champion for Open Skies. There is a need to ensure tourism and travel priorites are clearly communicated to government and its new leadership," says Lana Denoni, Chair of Council of Tourism Associations.
 
Click here to read the statement from the Premier Campbell.

A total of nine awards were given out at the BC Tourism Industry Awards on October 21st at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre to recognize excellence, innovation and foresight in supporting BC’s tourism industry.

Click here for the full news release.

Premier Gordon Campbell realigned the provincial cabinet today to ensure government?s continued focus on supporting families, education and the economy.

Click here for the full news release.

WHISTLER – The Province will build on B.C.’s Olympic momentum with the next phase of a capital vision that began in 2002 and a strategy that focuses on smart growth and smart communities, Premier Gordon Campbell announced at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

Click here to read the full news release.

A reminder that aplicatons to enrol in the Graduate Certificate in Destination Development in Vancouver starting on September 1 are due by August 3. 

The application process takes a few days to complete, so it is best  to start the process soon.   More information on the program as well as access to the application is available at  http://www.royalroads.ca/program-offering/destination-development-certificate .

With today’s official signing of the Approved Destination Status agreement with China, Canada’s tourism industry is now presented with an excellent opportunity for growth.

Click here to read the Tourism Industry Association of Canada's full news release.

The 2010 BC Tourism Industry Awards will take place on October 21, 2010 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre. Previously hosted by Tourism BC, the awards are now managed by COTA in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts.

If you know of a tourism business practicing industry excellence, be sure to nominate them for one of the eight categories:

• Best Tourism Marketing Campaign Award
• Delta Hotels Environmentally Responsible Tourism Award
• Foresight Sustainability Award
• Tourism Media Award
• WorldHost® Customer Service Award
• T4G Limited Technology in Tourism Award
• go2 Employees First Award
• Sport Tourism Award

Companies or organizations may be self-nominated or may be nominated by other agencies. Previous nominees can resubmit as appropriate.

Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and will be honoured at the 11th Annual British Columbia Tourism Industry Awards held during the BC Tourism Industry Conference in Vancouver.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NOMINATION FORMS

Deadline for Nominations is Friday, August 6, 2010.

Please mail nominations to the COTA offices:

Attn: BC Tourism Industry Awards
1208-409 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2

NEWS RELEASE – from the Ferry Advisory Committee Chairs (FACC)
MISSING PIECE IN NEW FERRY BILL
 
05 MAY 2010 –  A key recommendation by the Comptroller General is missing from the Province’s proposed changes for the ferry system. That recommendation could safeguard the public service role of ferries and reconcile an apparent conflict in government goals for the system, say the Ferry Advisory Committee Chairs (FACC).

Click here to read the full release.

Starting this September, Royal Roads University will be delivering its Graduate Certificate in Destination Development in Vancouver. The program being offered by the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management   can be taken as a stand-alone certificate or as part of the Master of Arts in Tourism Management. 

Information sessions will be held Thursday morning, May 27 at 8 a.m. and Wednesday evening, June 23 at 7:00 p.m. at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

For more information or to RSVP for an information session, please contact Melody Andersson at (250) 391-2600 ext. 4864, or by sending an e-mail to melody.andersson@royalroads.ca.

Canada Revenue Agency has released an information sheet regarding tour packages and the transition to Harmonized Sales Tax for British Columbia.

Click here to read the information sheet.

Tourism and government agencies in the United States have recently taken three steps to aggressively pursue market share in both the international tourism market and domestic U.S. market. 
 
First, a new private-public partnership (P3) national Destination Marketing Agency has just been created, with annual funding anticipated to be upward of $200 million. 
 
In addition, U.S. Travel  the national tourism advocacy group for the United States  has just created a Meetings, Incentives, and Trade Shows Council to aggressively pursue enhanced market share for its MC&IE market. 
 
Finally, the U.S. Congress has just tabled the Travel Regional Investment Partnership (TRIP) Act, which would provide base funding for partner-leveraged destination marketing programs aimed at promoting enhanced U.S. domestic travel. 

Travel Promotion Act  National DMO Created as Private-Public Partnership

On March 4, 2010 the Travel Promotion Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama, creating a private-public partnership (P3) marketing agency to promote international travel to the United States. The program will charge a $10 fee to all inbound visitors to the United States (for countries not requiring the (USD) $131.00 entrance Visa), and is expected to generate upward of $100 million to be matched by partner marketing agencies. 
 
The organization will be governed by an independently elected private sector board of directors. 
 
The new program is expected to attract an additional 1.6 million international visitors to the U.S. each year, increasing tourist revenues by approximately $4 billion per year.  

For more information click here.  
 
New Council Created to Promote Meetings, Incentives and Trade Shows

On Tuesday, March 9 U.S. Travel created a new Council to support the development of Meetings, Incentives and Trade Shows (MC&IE).  The private sector Council will develop a cohesive national strategy to support the development of the MC&IE market through enhanced research, communications, and government relations. 
 
For more information click here.

U.S. Congress Tables TRIP Act Legislation to Promote U.S. Domestic Travel

Congressman Sam Farr (D - Cal) introduced legislation on Friday, March 12 to the U.S. House of Representatives to increase domestic tourism through the Travel Regional Investment Partnership (TRIP) Act - H.R. 4676. 
 
The legislation, if passed into law, would create a matching grant program in the U.S. Department of Commerce to promote domestic tourism through local and regional partnerships.  The program will seek matching grants through a competitive bid process for marketing intiaitves ranging from $100,000 to $1 million in value.  Eligible entities would include convention and visitors bureaus and other community tourism entities, such as parks, resorts and other attractions.
 
For more information, click here.

Ottawa, March 10, 2010 – Stan Cook Jr., Chair of the Board of Directors of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), announced today the appointment of David Goldstein as the new President and CEO, effective April 5, 2010.

Click here to read the full release.

In May 2009, the Upper Nechako Wilderness Council (the complainant) submitted a complaint that Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (the licensee) had harvested timber within a lakeshore management reserve used by the complainant’s member businesses for guided-wilderness moose hunts and hike-in fishing. The complainant said the proximity of the cutblock to the lake has caused its member businesses to abandon the lake as part of their wilderness-business operations. The complainant is concerned that, under the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA), a forest licensee has the authority to make land use decisions that can negatively impact the values of its member businesses. As a result, the complainant is worried about what may happen in future to other lakes its members use for similar business purposes.

Click here to read the report.

The Conservatives faced renewed accusations of showing contempt for Parliament Tuesday for revealing broad outlines of a budget the Liberals and the NDP say does nothing to justify a three-month prorogation of the House of Commons.

Details given to journalists on Monday by a senior government official suggest Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will table a very safe budget next week that will use a dull axe to cut spending.

Click here to read more.

Ontario’s government is paving the way for a stronger, more competitive tourism industry by supporting the industry as it forms new Regional Tourism Organizations in each of the province’s 13 new tourism regions.

The Regional Tourism Organizations will be independent, industry-led, not-for-profit organizations responsible for building and supporting competitive and sustainable tourism regions to attract more visitors, generate more economic activity, and create more tourism jobs across the province. This regional approach builds on extensive consultations with stakeholders and key recommendations from Discovering Ontario, a report on the competitiveness of Ontario’s tourism industry.

A map on the provincial government’s website provides an overview of the counties and/or municipalities located in each of Ontario’s 13 new tourism regions and three northern sub-regions.

A Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) is now open to organizations or groups of organizations interested in becoming a Regional Tourism Organization.  This is the first step in the process to help each region identify a Regional Tourism Organization, and an important step towards a stronger tourism industry in Ontario. Full application details including a form, instructions and RFEI questions and answers are available on the Request for Expressions of Interest section of the website.

Completed Expression of Interest forms together with all other required documentation must be postmarked by March 1, 2010, 5:00 p.m. EST. All completed submissions will be reviewed and the ministry will continue to work closely with the industry to help ensure each region has the support it needs as it establishes a Regional Tourism Organization.

The Canada Revenue Agency is preparing to administer the HST and is offering free information seminars to businesses, designed to help prepare you for a seamless transition to HST.

The seminars, entitled "The Proposed Transition to Harmonized Sales Tax – Information for Businesses," will provide you with an overview of the HST, covering topics such as:

•How the tax works
•Applying tax to supplies, goods and services
•Self assessing
•Collection and reporting
•Point-of-sale rebates
You can find the seminars servicing most areas across BC on the following websites:

Information seminars on HST for BC
General HST information for BC

VICTORIA – British Columbia’s economy is stabilizing and is expected to grow 2.9 per cent in 2010, partly due to the effects of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, but the outlook for later years has moderated slightly.

Click here to read the news release.

VICTORIA – The Province has placed a moratorium on issuing new finfish aquaculture licenses and will no longer be accepting new applications for shellfish aquaculture, following Tuesday’s B.C. Supreme Court ruling.

Click here to read the news release.

VICTORIA – The Province is moving the operations and management of the British Columbia Railway Company (BCRC) into the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, reducing administrative costs and ensuring maximum value for taxpayer dollars.

Click here to read the news release.

The revised bulletin describes the steps involved in appealing assessments, including penalties and interest, disallowed refunds, and other determinations issued by the ministry.

You can view this publication online.

or request a paper or an electronic copy of this, or any of our publications, by e-mailing: SBRPublications@gov.bc.ca

For further tax-related questions, please contact Taxpayer Services in Vancouver at:
Phone: 604 660.­4524, or toll-free: 1.877.388­.4440
Email: CTBTaxQuestions@gov.bc.ca

There has been a lot of fear generated about the HST; all of it unfounded, says John Winter, president and CEO, BC Chamber of Commerce. In fact, the HST is estimated to increase the average British Columbian’s tax bill by only 0.7%. This is because the HST will offset the cost of doing business for all B.C. businesses.

Click here to read more.

The 1st annual major BC Tourism Leaders Summit, hosted by the Council of Tourism Associations (COTA), is being held at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, April 19 – 20, 2010. This high level summit will attract some 200 industry leaders who will provide visionary thinking and discussion around the future of tourism in the short, medium and long term.

The annual BC Tourism Industry Conference (TIC), traditionally held in February, has been moved to the fall and will continue to offer hands-on, ‘toolbox’ elements that attendees can take away with them and use in their day to day business operations.

Sponsors of these two significant events are an important element to their success therefore we are offering sponsorship opportunities either individually or combined, with enhanced benefits for combined support.

If you are interested in sponsorship, click here for sponsorship opportunities or contact Patricia Cashin, Conference Manager at patricia_cashin@telus.net for more information.

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.

On January 19, 2010, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced changes to cabinet, including the role of Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism.

COTA would like to thank former Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism, the Honourable Diane Ablonczy, for her work on behalf of the tourism industry in Canada.

We also welcome the Honourable Rob Moore as the new Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism.

Click here to read the full article.

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.