Manic Monday | Combining Efforts to Make a Difference Through Tourism Development

Last weeks announcement of additional $1 million in regional funding facilities, through the BC tourism regions such as TOTA, for rural communities negatively effected by Mill closures is a tremendous collaboration between the Ministry of Forest Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development together with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Destination BC.

Special thanks go to Tourism Minister Lisa Beare for championing this important initiative.

This coordinated approach is an outstanding example of cross-ministry initiatives that can make a substantive difference for smaller communities with tourism opportunities as the economic driver.

In the weeks to come, TOTA will be working closely with communities and regional and local economic development and tourism agencies in the application of these dollars to develop tourism initiatives and ultimately new business and job opportunities.

Priorities are for Destination Development Initiative(s) specifically targeting rural communities with populations of less than 25,000 who have been affected by permanent Mill Closures.

Our goal, as we work closely with our partners, will be to find and develop legacy projects that will have a lasting positive impact and may be replicated in other communities in the future.

Strategic tourism stewardship and management have the ability to make a significant impact on our entire region and we look forward to working together and assisting anywhere we can on bringing this to fruition.

Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO