Northern B.C. AGM reinforces regional leadership in tourism

The Northern B.C. Tourism Association (NBCTA) represents the tourism industry in Northern British Columbia. The Association is contracted to provide Tourism B.C. development and marketing activities. It represents one of the six regions of Tourism BC, but includes well over half of the province’s geography.

The Annual General Meeting and Conference of the NBCTA was held last week in Prince George. I believe that there were about 120 delegates this year, including a strong contingent of university tourism students – which is always a very promising sign for the future. This is the main annual event for northern tourism organizations and businesses, and is an effective venue for us on many levels. It is an exchange of information, swapping ideas that have worked in other areas and developing partnerships that span the northern region.

For example, Debbie Davis of Prince Rupert Adventure Tours (who was also returned for another term as a director of the Board) provided an operator showcase that reinforced the elements of a successful tourism business. Another great example of this is the series of coordinated trail maps for Northwest B.C. communities, spearheaded by Kermodei Tourism in Terrace, which grew from ongoing community partnerships. This year there was quite a bit of interest in our conference and events work in Prince Rupert, which other communities recognized as potentially having value for their communities.

There is always professional development material as well, such as an information-packed presentation about social media applications for tourism by Jose Gonzalez, Online / Social Media Strategist, Tourism B.C. A presentation by Go2 about the new Provincial Cook Apprenticeship Program was made even more informative – not to mention inspiring, and very amusing – by chef Willie Beaudry of the Crest Hotel.

Most importantly, however, especially this year, is the work of the Association itself as it relates to tourism business in our region. This became especially important, with the announcement that Tourism B.C. will be absorbed into the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. Stacked atop changes to funding for community organizations such as Tourism Prince Rupert, the HST, and changes in gaming revenues, this introduced a level of uncertainty so substantial that NBCTA CEO Anthony Everett called it the “elephant in the room.”

We might not have had any of these big questions answered at the AGM – at this point there probably aren’t really any answers – but at least there was information. The NBCTA, and Stephen Regan from the Council of Tourism Associations of B.C., were able to bring the northern stakeholders up to speed on the most recent developments. Again, this might not have provided a lot of answers, but it at least helps stakeholders begin to understand what is happening and set a course. Most importantly, this led to a reaffirmation of the role of the NBCTA in the northern tourism industry.

At the Annual General Meeting Tourism Prince Rupert introduced a motion, which was carried unanimously by the membership. It asked the leaders of the Northern B.C. Tourism Association to communicate all of the benefits of the regional association to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, ask for a continuation of all of these programs and at least equivalent funding, and recognize the leadership of this organization by consulting us on any appointment to any tourism advisory committee appointed to help steer the future of tourism in the province. Despite any changing role in the provincial system, the tourism organizations and business owners of the North clearly recognize the Northern B.C. Tourism Association as the regional leader.

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