TIABC Voice of Tourism Newsletter – April 10, 2026

As I was strolling through Manhattan the other day… ok, I’ll hit the pause button here, as you may be wondering two things. First, why on earth is she in Manhattan? Second, why is she writing about it in a BC tourism newsletter?

The answer to question #1 is simple. My daughter lives just across the river in New Jersey and it’s just a quick ferry ride across to Manhattan. The answer to question #2 requires you to keep reading.

Let me begin again… As I was strolling through Manhattan the other day, I was struck by something that had nothing to do with skyscrapers, Broadway, or the sheer velocity of the place. What struck me was how intentionally that giant metropolis creates spaces that draw people in and, almost effortlessly, create a sense of community.

There are impromptu bistro tables and chairs set up on street corners. Park cafés tucked into green spaces that feel like a quiet exhale in the middle of the city. Brightly coloured Adirondack chairs lining the

riverfront, positioned just so, inviting you to sit down, eat lunch, catch up with a friend, or simply watch the world move around you. In a city that rarely pauses, these spaces invite you to do exactly that.

Creating community in one of the busiest cities in the world is no small feat. Yet Manhattan manages to carve out moments of connection within the chaos, and the result is something powerful. Both locals and visitors feel welcomed. Not in a performative way, but in a practical one.

Which brings me back to question #2. Why am I writing about this in a BC tourism newsletter?

Because tourism and community are synonymous. Perhaps not in the way you are imagining, but they are deeply intertwined.

In Manhattan and in many other cities and towns where tourism has been successful, the starting point was not “How do we attract visitors?” It was “How do we build a city that works for the people who live here?” Planning for the locals first, designing for community first, and investing in spaces that residents will use every day creates places that are beautiful, accessible, and welcoming. Visitors then naturally reap the benefits.

When a place works well for its residents, it works exceptionally well for visitors. When locals feel pride in their surroundings, that pride is contagious. When public spaces are designed for connection, they naturally become destinations.

In my experience, we often separate tourism and community in our conversations. We talk about tourism infrastructure as if it is distinct from community infrastructure, and we speak about visitor experience as if it is separate from resident experience. The truth, however, is far simpler.

The café that serves tourists serves locals year-round. The waterfront walkway that draws photographers is also where residents take their evening stroll. The festivals that attract visitors also strengthen local identity. When we invest in community vibrancy, we are investing in tourism. When we invest in tourism thoughtfully, we are strengthening community.

The magic of those Manhattan chairs is not that they were placed there for tourists. They were placed there so people could gather. The fact that visitors also gather is not an accident. It is a by-product of good planning.

Tourism success in a community or region is often the result of getting the fundamentals right for the people who live there. This is a useful reminder as we think about tourism growth across BC. If we want visitors to stay longer, explore further, and spend more meaningfully, then we must continue to build places that residents love first. Authenticity cannot be manufactured. It emerges from real community life.

So yes, I found myself in Manhattan, strolling along the river and sitting in one of those brightly coloured chairs, watching the city move. And I found myself thinking about BC. About our small towns, our urban centres, our waterfronts, our main streets, our parks, and our gathering places.

Tourism and community are not competing priorities. They are partners. If we build communities that feel alive, connected, and welcoming for residents, tourism will not feel like an add-on. It will feel like a natural extension of who we are.

And that is why I am writing about Manhattan.

Amber Papou, B.Ed, MBA, ICD.D

CEO, TIABC