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Sep 20, 2024

TIABC Voice of Tourism Newsletter – September 20, 2024

TIABC

A couple of years ago, we joined some friends for an afternoon of cycling on the Vancouver seawall followed by dinner at Granville Island and dessert on the rooftop deck of my buddy’s spectacular False Creek townhouse. All was perfect until I was suddenly overcome by a severe bout of vertigo. Having experienced it before, I knew I needed immediate medical attention.

Somehow I managed to make it to the car so my wife could drive me to Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) for an injection of Gravol to stop the violent spinning of my brain. While lying horizontal in the back seat trying not to move a muscle to control the symptoms, I became acutely aware of how bumpy every street was. It felt like we were on decommissioned backcountry logging roads. At one point I pleaded with my wife to steer clear of construction zones and large potholes even though I learned there weren’t any on our short trip to VGH.

Since that incident, I’ve taken notice of the countless roads and highways in desperate need of repair no matter where in the province. And while I know there are many priorities that governments spend taxpayer dollars on, it’s painfully obvious that the paving of streets is not one of them.

This week at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention , the topic of infrastructure was top of mind for mayors and councillors who claim that some $24 billion is needed to build or replace roads, bridges, tunnels, parks, sewer systems, water pipes, and other amenities to ensure communities are able to catch up, maintain, or stay ahead of the curve in view of population growth, increasing visitation, climate change impacts, heavy usage, and other factors that erode infrastructure over time. To that end, UBCM has called on the Province to commit to an annual transfer of $650 million for local infrastructure renewal because communities don’t have the money to do it on their own.

Speaking of funding, during the resolutions session on Wednesday, delegates approved the Town of Oliver’s motion for UBCM to lobby the Province to provide financial investments to local governments to identify how to diversify tourism in communities impacted by emergencies. Similarly, a resolution by the District of Sicamous that asked UBCM to petition the Province to develop economic recovery supports that focus on building resiliency for tourism-dependent rural communities, was also endorsed. Finally, a call by the North Central Local Government Association for the Province to significantly increase the funding and mandates for BC tourism to support communities in accelerating economic diversification, was also passed. Very positive developments indeed.

Even better, resolutions by the cities of Fernie and Revelstoke for government to initiate a comprehensive overhaul of the Municipal & Regional District Tax (MRDT) funding framework to expand the allowable usage of funds, including directing a portion towards essential infrastructure projects, and/or the ability to adapt the funds to the specific needs (i.e. projects) of the community, were rescinded on the floor at today’s session. This after both communities overturned their original motions at council meetings prior to the conference this week after lobbying by tourism leaders.

TIABC, BC Destination Management Organization Association (BCDMOA), and BCHA undertook significant advocacy efforts in recent weeks to help defeat both resolutions. However, we’re not stopping there given that this issue will likely surface again. Consequently, we’ll continue to educate civic officials on the efficacy of the MRDT program and the value that DMOs bring, as well as advocate provincially to ensure MRDT is retained for its original intended purpose of marketing, projects and programs specific to BC’s visitor economy, as per TIABC’s revised MRDT policy that we introduced last month.

To be clear, TIABC wholeheartedly supports further investment in priorities such as roads, bridges, and wastewater treatment plants, but through a dedicated, provincial infrastructure budget and not MRDT for reasons I alluded to in this space a few weeks ago.

To close the loop on the vertigo incident, the lineup to see an emergency room doctor at VHG was out the door so I endured a long, jarring, nauseous drive home where I was met by paramedics who administered the necessary medication that eventually stopped my brain from gyrating like a pinwheel. I hope and pray I never experience a car ride like that again…or if I do…there are no potholes or speed bumps along the way.

Walt Judas
CEO, TIABC

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National Day for Truth & Reconciliation

During the last week of each September, Canada observes National Truth and Reconciliation Week, culminating on September 30th with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR).

Tourism businesses and organizations can advance reconciliation by promoting understanding, respect, and meaningful engagement with Indigenous cultures by collaborating with Indigenous communities to accurately represent their history, traditions, and cultures in tourism experiences, supporting Indigenous-owned businesses and promoting employment opportunities, educating visitors and staff about the history and current issues facing Indigenous peoples, establishing a long-term partnership with communities, and highlighting and promoting Indigenous-led experiences.

September 30th also coincides with Orange Shirt Day and goes far beyond simply wearing orange in solidarity - it is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”.

Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) encourages everyone to look for an event in your area and "step forward as an active witness to ensure, through thorough and honest education, that this never happens again." 

TIABC encourages all British Columbians to wear orange on September 30th and honour the thousands of survivors of residential schools.

By taking these steps, we can all contribute to understanding, healing, and a more equitable relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
Postcards from BC 📬

Wish you were here from Kat Craats, Marketing Manager for Wildplay Element Parks, in Squamish! 🌲🧗‍♀️
At a Greater Vancouver Board of Trade breakfast meeting, TIABC CEO Walt Judas met up with Rocky Mountaineer President & CEO Tristan Armstrong, as well as VIA Rail President & CEO Mario Peloquin who outlined his railway's 2030 strategy aimed at increasing passenger rail service across Canada. 

Within the next five years, VIA Rail will update much of its fleet with new equipment to replace railcars that are up to 77 years old.

While the federal government has invested some $3 billion in VIA Rail over the past five years, it pales in comparison to Europe's $87 billion and $69 billion the United States is investing in rail service and infrastructure in the coming years.

VIA Rail onboards and delivers a combined 30,000 passengers annually in British Columbia with targets to increase the numbers, particularly as new railcars come into service.
BC TIC 2025 Sponsorship Opportunities

Our sponsors are critical to what makes the BC Tourism Industry Conference a consistent success. Aside from helping to offset the costs of staging this event, sponsors deliver benefits to delegates that help grow their businesses, as well as BC’s visitor economy as a whole.

If your company is keen to connect with tourism leaders and stakeholders throughout British Columbia and Canada, we encourage you to partner with us for the 2025 BC Tourism Industry Conference.

If you have a unique sponsorship idea that you would like to explore, please contact us. We offer the flexibility to customize packages to meet your unique business objectives. Packages are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We look forward to seeing you in beautiful Vancouver.

Contact us at: info@bctourismconference.ca
2024 TIABC Election Toolkit 

Just in time for the 2024 provincial election campaign that is about to begin, TIABC has produced a valuable toolkit for your use. The toolkit provides a wealth of resources to better inform you of the current political landscape, what the implications for tourism may be, and how to engage with politicians and candidates.

The election toolkit also addresses the value of tourism to British Columbia and informs on what the tourism and hospitality priorities are. 

The comprehensive toolkit expands on these areas by providing recommended questions to ask candidates, for example: "How does your party view tourism as an industry and government priority relative to other sectors of British Columbia’s economy?"

Please download the 2024 TIABC Election Toolkit below, share it with your members and your stakeholders, educate on the value of tourism and inform candidates on today's issues facing our sector. Feel free to send TIABC additional questions that can be added.

Download the toolkit through link in bio! 👆
Postcards from BC 📬 

Wish you were here from Joe Baker, Dean of Okanagan College School of Business, at Okanagan Stables in Lake Country.