Tourism

Provincial Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition returns to the Britannia Mine Museum on June 7 and 8. Photo courtesy of Britannia Mine Museum.

B.C. mine rescue teams showcase skills at annual competition

66th Annual Provincial Mine Rescue Competition returns June 7-8 to the Britannia Mine Museum

  • May 26, 2024

 

The tourism industry is rolling out a roadmap it hopes will guide more visitors to Canada after the bruising it took during the COVID-19 pandemic. People walk past flowering cherry trees in Centennial Park, in Toronto on Monday, April 22, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Canadian tourism sector rolls out road map to boost visitor numbers

By 2030, the goal is to boost Canada’s spot in a World Economic Forum ranking

 

Peter Sawatzky, co-owner of Hazelnut Inn in Yarrow, stands outside the soon-to-be-open accommodation on May 9, 2024. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

B.C.’s Hazelnut Inn a new escape to world of ‘delight and wonder’

Long-awaited ‘magical boutique hotel’ opening doors during this year’s Yarrow Days on June 1

 

Tourism has come roaring back from pandemic lows, but operators say the sector has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels and debt remains a hefty burden for thousands of small businesses across the country. Unofficially named “The First Sidewalk” a 700-foot walking trail system to promote eco-tourism is shown in Bella Bella, B.C., on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Post-pandemic recovery road painful for tourism industry in B.C. and Canada

Bounceback is happening but not without struggles, particularly in more remote regions

Tourism has come roaring back from pandemic lows, but operators say the sector has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels and debt remains a hefty burden for thousands of small businesses across the country. Unofficially named “The First Sidewalk” a 700-foot walking trail system to promote eco-tourism is shown in Bella Bella, B.C., on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery Mixoff is back Nov. 9. (OK Mixoff)

Liquor tasting changes draw cheers from B.C. producers

Enhanced tour and service experiences on tap for visitors of wineries, distilleries, breweries and cideries

Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery Mixoff is back Nov. 9. (OK Mixoff)
Ingrid Jarrett (centre), President & CEO of the B.C. Hotel Association has been named Business Woman of the Year by the Tourism Industry Association of BC. (TIABC) photo)

Tourism executive from Kelowna named B.C. Business Woman of the Year

‘I am so grateful for our industry, and honoured to be recognized in such a meaningful way’

Ingrid Jarrett (centre), President & CEO of the B.C. Hotel Association has been named Business Woman of the Year by the Tourism Industry Association of BC. (TIABC) photo)
BC Place Stadium will host seven games including two games featuring Canada’s Men’s National Soccer Team when FIFA’s Men’s World Cup, comes to North America. But a report published in 2019 raises questions about the effectiveness of promoting tourism through mega-events like the world’s largest soccer tournament. (Ryan Adams/Wikimedia Commons)

Hosting soccer’s World Cup ‘ineffective’ says study as B.C defends 2026 goal

Study published in Tourism Economy raises questions, but ministry ‘thrilled’ to host seven games

BC Place Stadium will host seven games including two games featuring Canada’s Men’s National Soccer Team when FIFA’s Men’s World Cup, comes to North America. But a report published in 2019 raises questions about the effectiveness of promoting tourism through mega-events like the world’s largest soccer tournament. (Ryan Adams/Wikimedia Commons)
Visitors stand at the closed gates leading to the Eiffel Tower, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024 in Paris. Visitors to the Eiffel Tower were turned away for the second consecutive day because of a strike over poor financial management at one of the world’s most-visited sites. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

The Eiffel Tower reopens to visitors following 6-day employee strike

Workers demanding better maintenance of landmark and increased salaries

Visitors stand at the closed gates leading to the Eiffel Tower, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024 in Paris. Visitors to the Eiffel Tower were turned away for the second consecutive day because of a strike over poor financial management at one of the world’s most-visited sites. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
South Langley resident Patty Kiloh admired the scenery in the B.C. Cariboo region while taking part in the Xeni Gwet’in Youth Wagon Trip late last month. Submitted photo

Desire for light footprint feeds adventure tourism in Cariboo Chilcotin Coast

Back country tourism in the heart of B.C. needs front-country support and understanding: operator

South Langley resident Patty Kiloh admired the scenery in the B.C. Cariboo region while taking part in the Xeni Gwet’in Youth Wagon Trip late last month. Submitted photo
The federal government has launched a $10-million program to directly supporting small businesses involved in Indigenous tourism across Canada. Unofficially named “The First Sidewalk” a 700-foot walking trail system to promote ecotourism is seen in Bella Bella, B.C., Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

First Nations decisions on tourism on Indigenous land must be respected: Minister

Martinez Ferrada was in Vancouver announcing the launch of a $10M program

The federal government has launched a $10-million program to directly supporting small businesses involved in Indigenous tourism across Canada. Unofficially named “The First Sidewalk” a 700-foot walking trail system to promote ecotourism is seen in Bella Bella, B.C., Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The federal government has launched a $10-million program to directly supporting small businesses involved in Indigenous tourism across Canada. Unofficially named “The First Sidewalk” a 700-foot walking trail system to promote ecotourism is seen in Bella Bella, B.C., Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Feds in B.C. to pump $10M into Indigenous tourism small business

Funding will also help the Indigenous Tourism Association promote an accreditation program

The federal government has launched a $10-million program to directly supporting small businesses involved in Indigenous tourism across Canada. Unofficially named “The First Sidewalk” a 700-foot walking trail system to promote ecotourism is seen in Bella Bella, B.C., Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
While the 2023 cruise ship season set new passenger records in Vancouver and Victoria, Victoria remains what Transportation Minister Rob Fleming calls the “outlier” when it comes to powering docked ships with what insiders call shore-power. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. hopes Ottawa plugs into shore-power project for Victoria cruise ships

Provincial capital remains ‘outlier’ in terms of lacking the ability to power docked ocean liners

While the 2023 cruise ship season set new passenger records in Vancouver and Victoria, Victoria remains what Transportation Minister Rob Fleming calls the “outlier” when it comes to powering docked ships with what insiders call shore-power. (Black Press Media file photo)
Karlee Friesen brings all the bugs to the social media spotlight, to educate, inform and have a little fun along the way. (The Victoria Bug Zoo/TikTok)

B.C. zoo staffer elevates #bugsoftiktok buzz with salute to Taylor Swift

Victoria Bug Zoo adapts Swifty kitty social media trend to critters outside the cat kingdom

Karlee Friesen brings all the bugs to the social media spotlight, to educate, inform and have a little fun along the way. (The Victoria Bug Zoo/TikTok)
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport says interest in B.C. as a tourism destination far exceeds any reputational losses caused by this year’s wildfire season. (Colleen Flanagan/The News)

Wildfire economic damage to B.C. tourism still being counted: minister

Tourism Minister Lana Popham says interest in B.C. far exceeds reputational damage after wildfires

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport says interest in B.C. as a tourism destination far exceeds any reputational losses caused by this year’s wildfire season. (Colleen Flanagan/The News)
The Central Okanagan endured weeks without tourism during its peak season because of wildfires and a regional travel ban. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Climate change cost B.C. tourism ‘$100s of millions, never to be recovered’

Provincial, regional tourism leaders are calling for quick, immediate relief after wildfire season

The Central Okanagan endured weeks without tourism during its peak season because of wildfires and a regional travel ban. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
The Central Okanagan is facing weeks without tourism during its peak season after British Columbia’s premier imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones. A man sits in the parking lot outside an evacuation centre for those forced from their homes due to wildfires, in Kelowna, B.C., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Travel ban in parts of B.C. disrupting tourism as raging wildfires burn

‘If you look at the entire 12 months of the year, August is typically the busiest month’

The Central Okanagan is facing weeks without tourism during its peak season after British Columbia’s premier imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones. A man sits in the parking lot outside an evacuation centre for those forced from their homes due to wildfires, in Kelowna, B.C., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Karen Jean Fralich won first place in the singles event at the 2023 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition. (Kevin Forsyth photo)

Winners declared at Vancouver Island’s global sand sculpting competition

Competitors from Ontario, Victoria capture top prizes in Parksville

Karen Jean Fralich won first place in the singles event at the 2023 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition. (Kevin Forsyth photo)
Visitors take photos of the Ancient Colosseum, in Rome, Tuesday, June 27, 2023. Italy's culture and tourism ministers Gennaro Sangiuliano vowed to find and punish a tourist who was filmed carving his name and his girlfriend's name in the wall of the Colosseum, a crime that in the past has resulted in hefty fines. Video of the incident went viral on social media, at a time when Romans have already been complaining about hordes of tourists returning to peak season travel this year. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italy looks for man seen in viral video carving names into Rome’s almost 2,000-year-old Colosseum

Italy’s culture and tourism ministers have vowed to find and punish a…

Visitors take photos of the Ancient Colosseum, in Rome, Tuesday, June 27, 2023. Italy's culture and tourism ministers Gennaro Sangiuliano vowed to find and punish a tourist who was filmed carving his name and his girlfriend's name in the wall of the Colosseum, a crime that in the past has resulted in hefty fines. Video of the incident went viral on social media, at a time when Romans have already been complaining about hordes of tourists returning to peak season travel this year. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
A “flight” ride over Niagara Falls at the FlyOver Canada attraction in Vancouver. (Submitted photo)

FlyOver Canada celebrates 10 years of flight rides with donation to Mosaic BC

A film-assisted ‘flight’ over regions of Canada is the longtime featured attraction

A “flight” ride over Niagara Falls at the FlyOver Canada attraction in Vancouver. (Submitted photo)
Race fans walk through pit lane during the open house at the Canadian Grand Prix Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Montreal. Residents and tourists, alike, are excited for the return of the Canadian Grand Prix, the unofficial kickoff to the city’s summer festival season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Residents and tourists alike excited for the return of the Montreal Grand Prix

The Canadian Grand Prix, the unofficial kickoff to Montreal’s summer festival season

Race fans walk through pit lane during the open house at the Canadian Grand Prix Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Montreal. Residents and tourists, alike, are excited for the return of the Canadian Grand Prix, the unofficial kickoff to the city’s summer festival season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz