Thompson Okanagan Tourism News Summary | Week of 2022-06-13
Midnight Musings from the TOTA Team |
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Hi there, Last week, the TOTA Board of Directors and senior staff members met for a regular and in person board meeting at the Summerland Waterfront Resort. It was the first time since October that the board was able to connect in person, to discuss challenges and opportunities for the Thompson Okanagan tourism industry and to hear an update from each of the board members.
They reviewed the TOTA’s 2022/23 Regional Operations Plan, which continues to be guided by the Embracing Our Potential 10 Year Regional Strategy, released in 2012 and refreshed in 2020, as well as Destination BC’s priorities and the Province of B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport Strategic Framework, focusing on People, Planet, and Prosperity. After two challenging years for Stakeholders and Partners in Thompson Okanagan tourism industry, and promising but uncertain times ahead, it’s more important than ever to develop and deliver sustainable, responsible, and regenerative tourism services and experiences.
TOTA will continue to stimulate sustainable growth by embracing the value of tourism through community engagement, innovative leadership in promoting authentic experiences, and inspiring creative collaboration.
As a Regional Destination Management Organization (RDMO) TOTA’s key program areas for 2022 include: Marketing:
Destination Development:
Destination Stewardship:
Industry Training & Business Advisory:
Symphony Tourism Services:
These programs will be highlighted in newsletters throughout the year, along with opportunities for stakeholders to get involved.
If you have any questions about TOTA’s operations plan or programs, feel free to email [email protected].
Get Involved with TOTA
There are several ways to get involved with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, including:
Register as a Stakeholder: TOTA’s stakeholder model is free in order to embrace all tourism industry participants in the region. By registering and subscribing to email communications, TOTA can better represent the interests of tourism stakeholders in the region and share programs as they become available.
Join the Biosphere Commitment Program: TOTA’s Biosphere Commitment Program guides Thompson Okanagan tourism industry stakeholders in working towards the United Sustainable Development Goals, reducing the impact on and maximizing the benefits for People, Planet, and Profit.
Join the Board of Directors: TOTA is seeking several dynamic and experienced tourism professionals to represent key sectors, sub regions, and diversity of the Thompson Okanagan region. Once elected, directors volunteer for a 2 year term in order to help TOTA and stakeholders improve and grow the region’s tourism industry.
For more information on the 2022 election and nomination process, contact TOTA at [email protected]. |
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- The TOTA Team |
Newsletter Contents
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TOTA News |
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Thompson Okanagan Tourism Board of Directors Working On Moving Tourism ForwardThe Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) Board of Directors and Senior Staff members of the Association met at the Summerland Waterfront Resort to discuss the challenges the tourism industry has faced and continues to deal with and how best to move forward.
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The Good News(letter)A summary of good news from around the Thompson Okanagan region, British Columbia, Canada, and other areas around the world.
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TOTA Ongoing Business SupportsThe TOTA team is here to help with the challenges your business is facing. Thompson Okanagan tourism companies can access the following free supports:
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News Highlights |
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Random testing at airports will be temporarily suspended at all airports starting on June 11 to 30. Only unvaccinated travellers will be required to take a test upon entry into Canada. The change is being called a “pause,” with the possibility that it could return.
Travellers who don’t meet the vaccine requirements may be turned away at the border, or be required to quarantine for 14 days or until their departure.
Click here for up to date information on COVID 19 travel testing and borders.
Indigenous History Month & Indigenous Peoples DayJune is National Indigenous History Month, a time to recognize the rich history, heritage, resiliency, and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across Canada. National Indigenous Peoples Day takes place on the summer solstice, June 21. It’s a special occasion to learn more about the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and histories of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
Learn how to get involved as a business and as a individual → Canada Pride Season - June to SeptemberPride Season refers to the wide range of Pride events that take place over the summer (June to September) when LGBTQ2 communities and allies come together to spotlight the resiliency, celebrate the talent, and recognize the contributions of LGBTQ2 communities.
Learn how to get involved as a business, including events, social media assets, the Rainbow Registered Business Directory, and LBGTQ2 project funding for non-profit organizations. Travel by Canadians Continues to be Limited Since PandemicA recent survey conducted by Abacus Data summarized that travel still isn’t ‘back to normal’ in the eyes of Canadians, and this feeling continues to drive travel desires. More Canadians now believe it’s possible to travel without feeling like we are living in a pandemic (1 in 4), but three quarters still believe that if they want to travel in the next few months, it will feel like ‘pandemic travel’.
National Unemployment Rate Dips to 5.1% - Women Lead Job Growth Canada’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.1 per cent in May, the lowest level on record, according to recent Labour Force Survey results from Stats Canada. This included a jump in jobs for women as the country added 40,000 jobs last month.
The agency said that women across all age groups made up the bulk of hiring in May, with employment steady for men. The participation rate, which looks at workers employed or looking for a job, hit an all-time high of 85 per cent for core-aged women in May. Also to note, there was a rise in employment rate in accommodation and food services (+20,000; +1.9%) for a second consecutive month.
The unemployment rate in BC has dropped to a three-year low of 4.5%, which is a rate not seen since July 2019. There are now nearly 100,000 more people working in BC than prior to the pandemic.
AccessibleBC Plan Removes BarriersThe B.C. Government’s new accessibility plan, AccessibleBC, outlines how provincial ministries will embed accessibility and inclusion in their work and services over the next three years. Implementation of the act is ongoing, with government now set to begin developing two new standards, the Accessible Employment Standard and the Accessible Service-Delivery Standard. Development of accessibility standards will be guided by the overall objective to identify, remove, and prevent barriers that impede full and equal participation by people with disabilities. Barriers include environments, attitudes, practices, policies, information, communications, and technologies and can be compounded by intersecting forms of discrimination.
B.C. Minimum Wage Increased as of June 1As of June 1, 2022 BC's lowest paid workers will get a pay boost as the minimum wage increases from $15.20 to $15.65 per hour, the highest of any province. The minimum wage increase to $15.65 per hour is tied to British Columbia's average annual inflation rate which was calculated at 2.8% for 2021.
Andrew Peller Exploring Viticulture Potential of Tranquille Farmland in KamloopsAndrew Peller Ltd., a name associated with award-winning premium and ultra-premium brands including Peller Estates, Black Hills, Sandhill, Tinhorn Creek, Red Rooster, and Gray Monk, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Ignition Tranquille Developments Ltd. to explore the viticulture potential for the Tranquille farmland in Kamloops, B.C.
Andrew Peller Ltd. will start microclimate data collection and micro-soil analysis to determine which grapes will be best suited for the land. After two years of data collection, Andrew Peller Ltd. will make recommendations to Ignition and move forward with 5-acre parcels of agreed-to varietals, with an expected planting date of spring 2025.
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Upcoming Dates |
BC 2030 Olympic Bid and Paralympic GamesJun 16, 2022 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Host: British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) Step into the River Framework for Economic Reconciliation Launch & Virtual Public LectureJun 20, 2022 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Destination Canada’s Virtual Annual Public MeetingJun 23, 2022 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Host: Destination Canada Hacking Housing: Team Up to Address Affordable Housing in the OkanaganJun 23, 2022 | 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Host: Accelerate Okanagan Destinations International Annual ConventionJul 19, 2022 – Jul 21, 2022 | 1:00 PM
Host: Destinations International |
Get Involved |
Tourism Growth Strategy Survey for Tourism Operator Priorities | Closes June 17The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is putting together its submission for the new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy and your input matters. TIAC’s goal is a submission that reflects the tourism industry’s priorities for moving towards growth, investment, and stability.
The deadline is Friday, June 17, 2022.
Donate to Support Lytton RecoveryOn June 30, 2021, the beautiful Village of Lytton was destroyed by a wildfire. Fort Berens Estate Winery Ltd, based in Lillooet, has a deep connection to the people and community of Lytton. The Fort Berens Winery team launched a fundraising campaign from June 3-12.
While the campaign has officially ended, donations are still being accepted to support Lytton.
Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail Fundraising to Connect Sicamous & Armstrong for 2023The Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail Fundraising Committee is raising funds to complete the trail connecting Sicamous and Armstrong for 2023. Each metre of trail surface costs $160 and with 50,000 metres to go, the fundraising goal is $8,000,000. Funds can help leverage government funding to address all the other layers.
Online Auction In Support of WORTH Mentorship ProgramThe Women of Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality (WORTH) Association online auction was on until June 15. Funds raised support WORTH’s Mentorship Program, operating costs, and educational programming.
Interested in being a future donor to WORTH’s Fall auction? Email [email protected].
British Columbians Invited to Share 2023 Budget Priorities by June 24People in British Columbia are asked to share their ideas and priorities to help make life better for people, businesses, and communities as government plans Budget 2023.
Budget 2022 focused on continuing to protect people’s health and livelihoods, while building an economic future that works for everyone. Government will continue to put people first and, as government looks ahead to Budget 2023, continue to look for ways to keep bringing costs down for families.
Read 2023 budget consultation paper →
New Federal Tourism Growth Strategy Feedback | Deadline: July 20, 2022The Government of Canada announced the launch of public consultations for the post-pandemic Federal Tourism Growth Strategy.
Canadian tourism stakeholders from coast to coast to coast are invited to share feedback as the federal government works towards charting a path forward for the tourism sector. The strategy will build on the work already done since the launch of the original strategy in 2019, with a particular focus on:
Survey on Luxury Boat Tax Impacts | Share Feedback by June 30Boating BC in cooperation with Boating Atlantic, Boating Ontario, Mid-Canada Marine and Powersports Dealers Association, Nautisme Quebec, and National Marine Manufacturers Association Canada are conducting a survey regarding the Luxury Boat Tax, in order to advocate on behalf of the tourism industry. Information will be presented to Members of Parliament.
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Resource Roundup |
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The UNWTO released a business case for advancing gender equality, called the "Gender Inclusive Strategy for Tourism Businesses," which contains tools to support private sector tourism enterprises of all types and sizes achieve effective and consistent strategies and programmes for gender equality across their operations.
Free Cyber Security Certification through Government of CanadaThe Government of Canada is offering a free cyber security certification designed for small and medium-sized organizations through CyberSecure Canada.
Cyber attacks are on the rise and they can have a devastating effect on your business if you are not prepared. The certification will equip you with information you need to keep your business safe.
Destination Canada Key Market Highlights 2022Destination Canada has released its key market highlights for 2022, sharing a brief summary of key facts on travellers by each market.
Learn about the travel habits of each market and what to expect through these reports:
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