Sport Tourism Development Program Launched for BC
December 9, 2008
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Dec. 5, 2008) - Tourism BC and 2010 Legacies Now are pleased to announce the launch of the Community Sport Tourism Development Program. The City of Surrey was selected as the pilot community for the program and will be the first BC community to participate in this provincial development initiative for community sport tourism.
As one of the fastest growing industries in Canada, sport tourism generates nearly $2 billion per year nationwide and British Columbia has already experienced tremendous success in marketing itself as a sport hosting destination. Now, as Host Province for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, BC is receiving international attention which is sparking the interest of national and international sport organizations and creating many new sport tourism opportunities.
Surrey has been involved in multiple sport tourism initiatives in partnership with Tourism BC and 2010 Legacies Now, showing great potential as a sport tourism community. Designation as a Venue City by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) has allowed Surrey to engage in Olympic opportunities and play a stronger role in preparing for the 2010 Winter Games. Further to this, Tourism Surrey has identified the expansion of sport tourism as a high priority goal allowing greater resources to be invested in a long term sport tourism plan.
"This represents a remarkable opportunity for Surrey to partner with Tourism BC and 2010 Legacies Now to further define our image as a sport tourism destination," said City of Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. "What we learn from this pilot project will certainly contribute to the broader discussion of sport tourism in British Columbia and lead to a strengthening of our standing as a premiere hosting location."
Recognizing that many BC communities are already engaged in sport tourism and would benefit from long-term planning, the program aims to assist BC communities in creating a detailed situation analysis and a three to five year strategic sport tourism plan. The program provides communities with professional facilitators that have the expertise to gather and analyze information, facilitate workshops and planning sessions, and help prepare a comprehensive strategy.
"We are very excited to launch this program, as a result of our sport tourism partnership with 2010 Legacies Now," said Caterina Papadakos, Manager, Community Development at Tourism BC. "With Surrey on board as our pilot community, we look forward to complementing the city's broader marketing plan and continuing to build on the existing successes of British Columbia's sport tourism industry."
Michelle Collens, Manager of Sport Tourism at 2010 Legacies Now added: "We are excited by the opportunities this program brings to communities throughout the province. 2010 Legacies Now is working with Tourism BC to develop the sport tourism sector so communities can realize economic benefits for many years to come."
Tourism British Columbia is a Crown corporation that operates under an industry-led board of directors and is responsible for marketing the Super, Natural British Columbia® brand to the world. To access comprehensive information about the business of tourism in British Columbia and Tourism British Columbia's programs, visit www.tourismbc.com.
For more information, please contact
Tourism British Columbia
Chandel Diebold
Communications Coordinator
(604) 660-3757
Email: Chandel.Diebold@tourismbc.com
Website: www.tourismbc.com
