Minister Outlines Federal Plan For Tourism

May 23, 2019 | 5:50 AM

The federal tourism minister has told North Okanagan business leaders about Ottawa’s 60 million dollar investment in the tourism industry over the next two years.

Melanie Joly took part in a roundtable discussion with Greater Vernon and Armstrong-Spallumcheen chamber of commerce members in Armstrong.

She says the Canadian Experience Fund will help Canada attract more visitors in the face of significant competition from international destinations.

“If Canada is not playing a bigger role, other countries will take the role we used to have. Other countries see tourism as big business and are investing. Canada needs to make sure it’s playing a bigger role,” said Joly in a news release issued by the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce.

Joly says the goal is to create 25,000 new tourism jobs in Canada by 2025 and increase shoulder season traffic by one million more visitors over that period.

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“Tourism is increasingly an important component of the local economic fabric, and the federal strategy may create opportunities for us through strategic planning in rural areas, food tourism, attracting more visitors during the shoulder seasons and indigenous tourism,” said Deb White, Greater Vernon Chamber director.

“We thank Minister Joly for taking the time to stop in our region and it was exciting to learn more about the recently announced federal tourism strategy,” said Peter Rotzetter, Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber president.

During a question and answer session, issues such as funding for the rail trail from Armstrong to Sicamous were brought up, along with the need for additional resources for indigenous tourism, support for fairs, affordable housing for tourism workers in local communities and the need to keep the backcountry open while protecting caribou.

Rotzetter says it was important for the minister to hear first hand the issues that directly impact tourism operators and communities.

“We are confident she will take this information back to her colleagues in Ottawa,” he said.

White says the two chambers were able to demonstrate how important tourism is to the region by working together.

About 90 people attended the roundtable at Fairways Bistro in Armstrong Thursday, including representatives from the Splatsin and North Okanagan Shuswap local governments as well as MP Mel Arnold and Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster.

Joly, MP for Ahuntsic-Cartierville in Quebec, is the Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie.

by Corey Fischer