Wine tourism given boost
B.C. tourism minister announces funding at Kelowna conference
At the beginning of her speech in Kelowna Friday, provincial Tourism Minister Lisa Beare admitted she was a little selfconscious.
“I have a black eye from being head-butted by my two-yearold,” Beare told the lunch crowd at the Tourism Industry Conference at the Delta Grand hotel.
“And I’m a little nervous because I know photos are being taken and some of you in the tourism industry will want to get selfies with me.”
Judicious makeup and lighting meant the tourism minister’s shiner was barely noticeable, and the show went on.
Being in the middle of Okanagan wine country at a tourism convention, Beare kicked off the official part of her address with an announcement of $150,000 in provincial funding for the B.C. Wine Campaign.
Destination B.C. will use the money to promote wine and food tourism under its Explore BC banner.
“It will start soon to encourage British Columbians to visit wineries in their own province,” said Beare.
“And then, in May, the campaign will expand to encourage international visitors to experience our wineries.”
Wineries are encouraged to leverage their own promotions with the campaign for maximum results.
The NDP MLA for Maple RidgePitt Meadows also announced the Minister’s Tourism Engagement Council to advise her on tourism policy and strategies and determine how the ministry can help the industry.
Applications for the 25 seats on the council will be accepted until March 19, and its first meeting will be in mid-April.
Beare also preached to the converted about B.C.’s exceptional tourism sector.
“B.C. is a world-class destination,” she said.
“It’s no wonder tourism is B.C.’s No. 1 economic driver. We have a pristine, beautiful destination for those within B.C. and Canada and around the world.”
For the coming year, the tourism ministry will continue to promote B.C. to Chinese tourists.
China has become B.C.’s second biggest foreign market behind the U.S.
B.C. has also invested to advertise on We Chat, China’s largest social media platform, with one billion users.
The ministry will also spend another $1.8 million this year to help organizations present events around the province, including the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival and the rugby 7s tournament in Vancouver.
The ministry also supports Aboriginal Tourism B.C.’s name change to Indigenous Tourism B.C. to better reflect the communities’ connection with the land and develop more programs for Indigenous tourism entrepreneurs and Indigenous cultural experiences.