Tourism Vancouver Island seeks industry input on long-term tourism strategy

Tourism Vancouver Island (4TVI) is seeking input from tourism business owners and operators, residents of Vancouver Island, First Nations communities and visitors to the region to help it to develop a long-term tourism strategy.

A robust engagement process has been launched to gather relevant information from these different groups, using an online survey of between five and 10 minutes in length.

The survey self-adjusts according to if the respondents are residents or visitors and is available for completion until Sept. 15. Additionally, a paper version of the survey is available for filling out at visitor centres, ferry terminals and community gathering points around the region.

At the same time, the 10-year Vancouver Island Destination Stewardship Strategy is using a foundation of academic research, findings from tourism plans in communities across Vancouver Island and tourism success stories from around the globe.

The strategy envisions a future that focuses on reconciliation and reciprocity; supports sustainable business growth; fosters community engagement; preserves cultural heritage and promotes environmental regeneration.

The 4TVI helps shape the future of the Vancouver Island’s tourism industry by connecting entrepreneurs with funding, training and expert guidance; managing sustainable tourism growth in a way that meets the needs of residents first; and providing connections to international markets via travel trade partnerships.

Recent successful initiatives by 4TVI include a regional carbon audit that it describes as “one of the largest and most comprehensive carbon emissions audits in North America, that has become a globally recognized case-study and lighthouse example of tourism stewardship in action.”

Also, the 4TVI Whales campaign was designed to reduce negative impacts on marine mammals in the coastal waters around Vancouver Island.

The campaign was done in partnership with local marine education and research associations to ensure that more visitors are aware of the laws and standards that are designed to protect marine mammals.

Go to www.4vigroup.com for more.

Top Photo Credit 

Ladysmith – credit to Tourism Vancouver Island, Tourism Cowichan and Rob Wilson

Second Photo Credit 

Telegraph Cove – credit to Northern Vancouver Island Tourism_ Steven Fines