TOTA Receives Second Major International Award This Year For Leadership In Sustainable Tourism

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
September 24, 2018

Montego Bay, JAMAICA

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) has been awarded North America’s Responsible Tourism Award 2018 at the 25th Annual World Travel Awards. The Awards Gala, which was hosted in Montego Bay this past weekend, is highly regarded as one of the most important hospitality events of the year, with government officials, industry leaders, and international media in attendance.

Frank Antoine (TOTA Chair) and Glenn Mandziuk (TOTA President & CEO) with the award for North America’s Responsible Tourism 2018

The World Travel Awards is a renowned global initiative, founded in 1993, that celebrates distinction and recognizes collective success in the travel and tourism industry. Throughout the past 26 years, the coveted Awards have grown to set the benchmark for excellence across the globe.

This recognition comes on the heels of another international accolade, with TOTA taking home the Tourism for Tomorrow Destination Award at the World Tourism and Travel Council’s Global Summit in Argentina earlier this year.

“We are so very honoured to be receiving this international award for the work we are doing in this important area of tourism management”, said Glenn Mandziuk, President and CEO of TOTA. “This recognition does not come without a great deal of effort and collaboration from industry, communities and partners who have come together with a common belief in the critical nature of protecting our economic, environmental, cultural and social systems for future generations”.

TOTA’s commitment to sustainability was established in 2012, when the region’s 10-Year Regional Tourism Strategy, “Embracing Our Potential,” was completed. The strategy, the first of its kind in North America, was officially endorsed by the 90 communities and hamlets, and 33 Indigenous communities in the region, and has provided the roadmap for tourism development since then.

In 2017, the Thompson Okanagan Region was officially certified as the first destination in the Americas to have successfully achieved the Biosphere Sustainable Tourism Destination accreditation from the Responsible Tourism Institute, an international accreditation body that is affiliated to the World Tourism Organization and is a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

TOTA has also been nominated for the prestigious World’s Responsible Tourism Award 2018, which will be awarded in Portugal on December 1, 2018. Voting is now open and can be found on the World Travel Awards website.

Destination BC: Thompson Okanagan Regional Profile (2017)

Read the Full Profile Here: Thompson Okanagan Regional Profile (2017)

The Thompson Okanagan Regional Profile summarizes tourism indicators and provides a general overview of the area. The most recent annual data are presented including visitor volume, accommodation and transportation indicators, and information about seasonality and activities.

Top Markets for the Thompson Okanagan
BC residents make up the largest share of overnight visitation (61%) and spending (44%) in
the Thompson Okanagan region. Alberta residents make up the second largest share of overnight visitation (19%) and spending (28%).

Trip Characteristics by Origin

The Thompson Okanagan received 3,721,000 overnight visits in 2014 and generated over $1.4 billion in related spending. Domestic overnight travellers accounted for 85% of visitation and 83% of related spending. International travellers accounted for 15% and 17%, respectively.

On average, travellers to the Thompson Okanagan region stayed 3.6 nights and spent $105 per night. BC travellers stayed 3.0 nights and spent $90 per night during their trip. Other Canadian travellers stayed 4.9 nights and spent $123 per night.

Overnight vs. Same-Day Travel

Same-day travel encompasses travellers who enter and leave a destination (i.e. region) in less than 24 hours. Same-day travellers accounted for 56% of visitor volume and 19% of visitor expenditures in the Thompson Okanagan region.

For more research information by Destination BC, Visit: https://www.destinationbc.ca/Research.aspx

For more research information by TOTA, Visit us online at: https://totabc.org/research/