Regional Tourism Programs
Tourism BC works with regional, community and industry partners on multiple programs designed to support the growth of the industry through cooperative marketing and development initiatives. In most cases, tourism stakeholders will work with a designated representative from their Regional Destination Marketing Organization (RDMO) to determine the options that are best suited to their particular situation ranging from consumer marketing, community programs, travel trade and travel media relations activities.
The Tourism Partners program provides the opportunity for communities and tourism businesses to participate in sophisticated marketing campaigns coordinated by their RDMO. Each RDMO actively participates in provincially coordinated trade, overseas and media relations program as part of the provincial travel trade and media relations team in partnership with Tourism British Columbia.
View a map of the
Tourism Regions of BC.
Tourism Partners
What is the Tourism Partners program?
Tourism Partners is a unique cooperative program designed to support the marketing efforts of Regional Destination Marketing Organizations (RDMOs). It offers opportunities for tourism businesses and community organizations to gain exposure through joint marketing programs developed and managed by the RDMOs in partnership with Tourism BC.
Activities include radio, television, web, newspaper and magazine advertising, participation in regional publications, representation at consumer shows, and direct mail campaigns.
How does the program work?
Each year, in formal consultation with Tourism BC, the province’s six RDMOs develop business plans for the coming year and invite local tourism business operators and tourism organizations to participate in joint programs. Tourism BC contributes a significant portion of the marketing costs on approved eligible projects, and also provides each region with “fee for service” funding to directly support the implementation of all Tourism Partners’ marketing programs and RDMO operations.
The Opportunity
Some of the benefits to the participants of the Tourism Partners program include:
- Gaining greater leverage of marketing dollar investments
- Increased consumer awareness through access to extensive distribution channels
- Enhancing credibility and brand recognition that comes with using regional branding and the use of Super, Natural British Columbia®.
Approximately 1,800 tourism businesses currently participate in the program on an annual basis province-wide.
For more detailed information, please contact your regional office, or:
Wendy Magnes, Manager of Regional Partnerships, Tourism BC.
Email: Wendy.Magnes@tourismbc.com
Travel Trade, Overseas Markets & Travel Media Relations
What is the Travel Trade Overseas & Media Relations program?
The Trade, Overseas and Media Relations Program integrates the activities of the six Regional Destination Marketing Organizations (RDMOs) with Tourism BC’s Travel Trade and Media Relations teams. Each region has a dedicated Travel Media Relations representative as well as a dedicated Travel Trade representative.
The regions and Tourism BC meet throughout the year to formulate the provincial Travel Trade and Travel Media Relations Plans. These plans outline the tactics to be undertaken in the travel trade, travel media relations and on occasion, in consumer overseas initiatives. The regional representatives also support trade familiarization tours and media press trips as determined by these provincial plans.
The Opportunity
Provincial plans examine the export-ready products, issues and challenges of each region and identify opportunities in markets in which Tourism BC is established. This provides the opportunity to identify potentially synergistic resources and efforts.
How you can participate
For more detailed information, please contact your regional office or:
Wendy Magnes, Manager of Regional Partnerships, Tourism BC.
Email: Wendy.Magnes@tourismbc.com
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