Across B.C. the week of May 28 to June 3 was Celebrate Tourism.
“Week and acknowledge the operators, employees, suppliers, destination marketing organizations and others who contribute to the industry, we are inviting stakeholders from every community to spread the word about the power of tourism,” writes the Tourism Industry Association of B.C (TIABC).
According to TIABC, 19.7 million overnight visitors vacation in B.C. each year, contributing to $15.7 billion in revenue annually to the provincial economy.
“In 2016 we saw 12,301 visitors in our visitor centre,” said Maureen Czirfusz, executive director and economic development officer for the Houston &District Chamber of Commerce. “This includes 34 buses.”
Czirfusz added that Houston had 283 one night stays in the community for 2016.
“The B.C. visitor economy comprises nearly 19,000 tourism-related businesses that employ more than 127,500 people,” says TIABC.
There are many ways people in Houston can enhance and celebrate the power of tourism in the community.
Taking photos and sharing them on social media with hashtags like #BCTourismMatters and encourage others to do the same.
On Instagram there are 993 posts with the hasthtag #houstonbc and currently 363 posts for #BCTourismMatters.
“By using this hashtag, we can ensure that all BC Tourism Week activities are easily tracked and shared,” says TIABC.
TIABC also recommends that peoplefollow TIABC and Destination B.C. on their social channels, as wel as tell the local newspaper and radio stations about Tourism weeks and the activities you enjoy doing.
People can also contribute content to TIABC and Destination BC like photos, videos, stories for their Power of Tourism initiative.
“We are inviting the tourism industry to tell us their story by sharing 100-200 word written summaries, or short, unedited videos that describe your career journey, what BC’s tourism industry has given you, and what advice you would give to people considering a career in tourism,” says TIABC.
If you work in the tourism industry, go2HR is collecting 150 reasons to love working in #BCTourism. If you enter into the contest you can win $150 Visa gift card. The contest ends 11:59:59 p.m. on June 11, 2017. To particiapte, vsit https://www.go2hr.ca/careers-tourism/150-reasons-to-love-working-in-bc-tourism and contribute your reasons.