New Business Supports for Tourism Climate-Readiness: BC Tourism Climate Resiliency Initiative (BCTCRI)
The BC Tourism Climate Resiliency Initiative (BCTCRI) is launching in January 2024 to help BC’s tourism companies develop sustainable practices and climate resiliency. The program aims to incentivize and empower tourism businesses and community destination management organizations to actively contribute to the development of a clean, sustainable, and regenerative tourism landscape in BC.
The BCTCRI is comprised of four project streams that invest in:
Practical climate adaptation and sustainability planning for tourism businesses,
Micro-grants to help with implementation of climate adaptation and sustainability plans,
Development of a data framework to enable better insight-driven decisions, and
New province-wide learning and training opportunities.
Applications for the first two project streams will open in January 2024 and will provide direct support to tourism businesses by offering personalized assistance for creating sustainability roadmaps to help:
Grow sustainable business practices
Address the challenges of climate change
Save on energy costs
Identify solutions to climate change related threats.
Additionally, businesses can receive financial aid for:
Joining accredited sustainability programs
Planning for and adapting to extreme climate events such as wildfires and floods
Funding for projects that reduce energy, waste, and water consumption, aligning with CleanBC’s climate goals.
Application Process
Free, tailored support to tourism businesses looking to incorporate environmental sustainability or climate adaptation measures into their operations. An experienced program advisor and supporting experts will work with you to develop a sustainability and climate adaptation road map and perform detailed assessments to identify the most impactful, customized measures for climate resiliency. Applications are open January 18 to February 23, 2024.
Project Two: Micro-Grants to Support Sustainability and Climate Adaptation Plan Implementation
Micro-grant funding of up to $15,000 for tourism businesses that are ready to build on their current sustainability or climate adaptation plan to implement a project or obtain sustainability certification. Applications are open January 29 to March 8, 2024.
An additional micro-grant intake is planned for Fall 2024 to provide future opportunities for tourism businesses that need time to prepare or enhance their sustainability and climate adaptation plan or road map.
Project Three: Sustainability and Climate Adaptation Data Framework and Project Four: Community Destination Stewardship Initiative will launch later this year.
Learn more about the BCTCRI and the four project streams, including intake periods and application deadlines for BC’s tourism industry, by visiting the program landing page: DestinationBC.ca/what-we-do/destination-management/bc-tourism-climate-resiliency-initiative
Background
This initiative builds on the achievements of the BC Tourism Sustainability Network (BCTSN) – a collaborative sustainability support program for BC’s tourism industry that was initiated in 2022.
This initiative will be delivered by Destination BC and the RDMOs and was created through a provincial partnership with:
BC’s six Regional Destination Management Organizations (RDMOs)—the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association, Northern BC Tourism Association, Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism Region, and 4VI
This initiative is being funded through a $3 million investment from the provincial Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, over two-years, as part of BC’s Destination Development Fund.
