Manic Monday | Let's make some noise!!!!

The world is on the move and means great things for our Tourism Industry.  No longer languishing behind oil and gas, the lumber industry and even the automobile sector, Tourism, has gained its rightful place on the podium.

Provincially the numbers are impressive with British Columbia realizing approximately 19.7 million visitors annually, contributing $15.7 billion in revenue to the provincial economy and providing nearly 19,000 tourism-related businesses that employ more than 127,500 people.

The Thompson Okanagan is a significant contributor to those provincial numbers with over 3.5 million visitors travelling annual to the region, generating nearly $2 billion in direct economic impact and providing 15,000 full time equivalent positions.

Economic benefits to communities, cities, regions, provinces and the country notwithstanding Tourism creates cross cultural opportunities that can help lead the way in the truth and reconciliation process; provide an arena for presenting history in a way that captures the imagination and assists in elevating diversity that has created the mosaic of this amazing area.

So where am I going with this you may ask ....well next week is Tourism Week - May 28 - June 3rd and we want industry to get excited about what it is we offer the world..

We don't talk enough about ourselves, we don't brag enough about our uniqueness, we don't sing our own praises and we certainly don't boast.  But here is a tremendous opportunity for all of us to raise our collective voices and "make some noise about tourism". We want as many of our BC and Regional Tourism Industry Stakeholders show the world that #BCTourismMatters!

Please find a link to a letter from TIABC and Destination BC that outlines how you can join in tourism week celebrations or go to the TIABC website for more information.

We'll be making a lot of noise in the TOTA office and we will be watching and listening to you and helping amplify your messages.

Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO