Public engagement on Fernie’s first tourism master plan will start next month.
Local tourism partners launched the project at an open house held at the Fernie Seniors Centre on Tuesday, September 18.
The first of its kind, the master plan will be informed by the community and developed by a group of tourism stakeholder organizations.
It will guide future growth of Fernie’s $100 million-a-year tourism industry to ensure its success and sustainability, setting goals and identifying gaps in services, products and infrastructure.
Eighty-five people attended the launch event last Tuesday, representing a wide range of interest groups, from mountain biking and snowsports to insurance and accommodation.
Project coordinator and Tourism Fernie Executive Officer, Jikke Gyorki, said the response to the concept of a master plan was excellent.
“Everyone understands the need for a tourism master plan that will help address growth, opportunities, issues, impacts, marketing and management,” she said.
Gyorki said while the open house was more of an awareness event than an engagement session, participants had a chance to provide initial comments on flip charts that will help inform the process moving forward as well as the plan.
“Seeing the level of participation, interest and willingness to engage was an important starting point that will lead into the next steps,” she said.
Public engagement will begin next month via a variety of methods, including surveys, focus group sessions with sectors, interviews and user group submissions.
Gyorki said the Tourism Master Plan Taskforce and consultant are in the process of finalizing and scheduling the engagement elements of the plan.
Details will be posted at Tourismplanfernie.com as well as in various locations around the community.
“We will be making an effort to provide access to the survey offline to those without online access,” she said.
Who’s on the taskforce?
Chair – Shelley L’Estrange, General Manager, Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain Lodge
Project coordinator – Jikke Gyorki, Executive Officer, Tourism Fernie, Member, RMI RDS Advisory Working Group
Other members: Norm McInnis (CAO, City of Fernie, Chair, RMI RDS Advisory Working Group); Patty Vadnais (Executive Director, Fernie Chamber of Commerce, Manager, Visitor Centre, Member, RMI RDS Advisory Working Group); Scott Gilmet, Director of Marketing & Sales, IGS Group – Park Place Lodge, Griz Inn & Cornerstone Lodge, Chair, Tourism Fernie); Brad Parsell, General Manager, Fernie Lodging Company, Board Member, Tourism Fernie); Andy Cohen (General Manager, Fernie Alpine Resort, Member, RMI RDS Advisory Working Group); Ron Ulrich (Executive Director, Fernie Museum & Heritage Fernie, Project Lead, Heritage Strategic Plan Fernie); Mike McPhee (Director of Sales & Marketing, Island Lake Resort Group, Member, Marketing Committee, Tourism Fernie); Krista Turcasso (Co-Owner of Claris Media & Fernie Fix, Board Member, Fernie Trails Alliance); Sheila Byers (Past President/Board Member, Fernie Chamber of Commerce); Mike Sosnowski (Electoral Area A Director, Regional District of East Kootenay); Lee-Anne Walker and alternate, to share the role of the Environmental Sector (primarily Wildsight & Elk River Alliance).
