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August 24, 2009 |
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First of all, let me thank our business and community partners who have called or e-mailed to express their thoughts on recent events in our industry. Simply put, these are interesting times! The most important message today is that Vancouver, Coast & Mountains will deliver its programs and services to its partners on a “business as usual” basis until March 31, 2010. The planning process for the following year will also proceed as usual, and we will be in touch with our partners during September and October. For further insights into the events and industry response, please see the press release from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Arts, an information document from the Council of Tourism Associations and today's press release from the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.. Needless to say, there are many conversations between industry and government, and we will inform you as facts become clear. The next significant event will likely be the release of the provincial budget on Tuesday, September 1st. If you have questions or concerns please contact Kevan Ridgway at kevan@vcmbc.com, direct at 604-638-6930, or 1-800-667-3306 ext 106. |
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Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts B.C. STRENGTHENS AND ALIGNS TOURISM PROMOTION VICTORIA – Tourism BC will be brought into the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, reducing administrative costs and better co-ordinating all of the Province’s marketing initiatives, Minister Kevin Krueger announced today. “While Tourism BC has served British Columbia well, in these difficult economic times it is critical that we maximize every tourism dollar for marketing B.C. to the world,” said Krueger. “Consolidating tourism operations in the ministry will allow for co-ordinated marketing campaigns, while ensuring resources are focused on getting the best results for British Columbia’s tourism sector.” Bringing Tourism BC into the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts next year will reduce administrative costs and allow these funds to be re-invested into marketing initiatives. The integration of Tourism BC, effective April 1, 2010, will result in a new program under the leadership of the ministry with a renewed focus on marketing the regions of British Columbia. The minister will be replacing Tourism BC’s board of directors with a new Minister’s Advisory Council, which will continue seeking input and advice on marketing plans from the tourism industry. The council will report directly to the minister. “We must continue building on the successes B.C. has had over the past few years and remain top-of-mind with travellers,” said Krueger. “These changes will ensure we are maximizing our opportunities to showcase British Columbia, the best place on earth, to the world.” Created in 1997, Tourism BC was the marketing arm for the Province, with primary offices in Vancouver and Victoria, approximately 146 employees and in-market representation in key markets including Australia, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, South Korea and Taiwan. These changes will enhance B.C.’s international presence and ensure that the value of B.C.’s tourism potential is maximized at home and abroad. Tourism generated an estimated $13.8 billion in 2008, providing more than 120,000 direct and 170,000 indirect jobs across the province. The Province of British Columbia has supported the development of a strong infrastructure for the tourism industry since 2001. For instance, the Province has:
-30- Contact: For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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Council of Tourism
Associations TOURISM BC DISSOLUTION:
COMMUNITY / REGIONAL MARKETING SYSTEM
HARMONIZED SALES TAX (HST)
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B.C. Government Trips Up on Tourism B.C. Decision; For Immediate Release OTTAWA, August 24, 2009 – The Tourism Industry Association of Canada is shocked and disappointed by the recent announcement by the Government of British Columbia to dissolve the province’s tourism marketing organization, Tourism British Columbia. “The B.C. government’s unilateral and sudden decision to dissolve Tourism British Columbia demonstrates a total lack of appreciation for the industry-leading work that this organization has done on the province’s behalf,” said TIAC President and CEO Randy Williams. “Tourism has a profound impact on the economy in B.C., and the dismantling of this award-winning tourism marketing organization will set the industry in the province back by a decade.” TIAC met with B.C.’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Kevin Krueger on Friday of last week in Victoria, and expressed to him the industry’s disappointment at the decision. The Minister noted that the decision to pull Tourism B.C. back into government was driven by the need to maximize the potential around the forthcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver-Whistler. The Minister indicated that the Government believes that by bringing this marketing function within the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, they can increase efficiencies, especially in relation to the promotion of the forthcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games. TIAC responded to this by noting that government operations within the bureaucracy have not traditionally demonstrated increased efficiencies over the arms-length agency model, and that efficiencies could have been gained within the current model if they were found to be lacking. TIAC also emphasized to the Minister the importance it attaches to a public-private partnership between the marketing organization and the tourism industry in a given province to ensure that the message conveyed to potential visitors is effective, resonant and consistent with the needs of the sector. Tourism British Columbia was one of the original public-private partnerships in tourism marketing in Canada, and its success over the past decade was due in large part to its ability to undertake long-term strategic approaches to selling the province’s diverse tourism offerings while addressing the needs of the private sector players in tourism. Given changes of government and ministerial shuffles that are inevitable, B.C.’s tourism industry will no longer possess a stable, independent marketing entity that is able to demonstrate leadership and a long-term vision for the sector. Canada’s tourism sector remains solidly committed to the private-public partnership model of destination marketing. As the revised approach to tourism marketing in British Columbia will continue to be supported by a destination marketing fund levy, TIAC and its members in B.C. will remain vigilant in support of a properly-funded, consultative and strategic approach to ongoing tourism marketing in the province. - 30 - About the Tourism Industry Association of Canada: For more information, please contact: Kevin Desjardins |
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Your feedback is most
welcome on any subject – please e-mail kevan@vcmbc.com. |
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Tourism Industry Association
of Canada