Boundary communities get more community centre funding
By Contributor
A new, three-year base funding model for community visitor services centres in Oliver, Grand Forks, Greenwood and Keremeos will ensure more stable and predictable funding and allow for greater flexibility and innovation.
Destination BC, the province’s industry-led destination marketing organization, has announced the three-year base funding model for the 108 community visitor centres it helps support following extensive consultation with the community visitor services centre network.
The strategy includes a new minimum base funding of $10,000 annually for the next three years for small and rural community visitor centres as well as an innovation fund available in 2016 to assist communities with projects that help them adapt to the changing needs and expectations of visitors, including through the use of technology. Under this program, Christina Lake will receive $23,731 annually.
This is a positive increase for rural and small communities across B.C. and acknowledges their ongoing contributions to the tourism industry.
“Tourism is a key economic driver and job creator in British Columbia and helps keep our local communities strong, diverse and growing,” Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson said.
As a key sector in the BC Jobs Plan, tourism is an important economic driver in the province.
B.C.’s tourism sector is strong and growing, which is good news in light of fierce global competition for tourists. In 2013, the tourism industry generated $13.9 billion in revenue and a direct contribution to B.C.’s gross domestic product of $7.3 billion, accounting for four per cent of the province’s total GDP.
