Tourism promotion won't be cut as a result of the B.C. government's decision to disband Tourism BC and absorb the former Crown corporation's staff into the ministry.

Tourism Minister Kevin Krueger made that commitment Wednesday as he headed into a cabinet meeting where the government faces an array of potential service reductions.

"There won't be a lower amount flowing than before we made this change," Krueger told Black Press.

He said the government's commitment to a major post-Olympic tourism push remains, and moving to direct administration is the best way to make sure the effort is as well coordinated as it can be. The money will come out of the province's harmonized sales tax revenues, which are to replace the hotel room tax that is to be phased out next July.

After the surprise announcement came on Friday, the Council of Tourism Associations said it is "gravely concerned" that Tourism BC's reputation as a world leader in destination marketing was at risk. At an emergency meeting Tuesday, COTA directors accepted that the decision is final and urged the government to maintain political independence and stable funding for the effort.

Krueger said he has spoken individually with most COTA directors this week, and "none of those conversations have ended unhappily."

COTA chair Jim Storie asked to be part of the ministry's new industry advisory council, and Krueger said he has agreed and provided Storie with the council's terms of reference.

Krueger defended the decision to pull the plug on Tourism BC without consulting the industry.

"It's always a difficult question when to consult," he said. "If you tell an industry that you're thinking of doing something, people tend to guess where they think you're going, and speak about their theories, and you end up with a lot of people consulting with one another about something that isn't going to happen."

tfletcher@blackpress.ca