Building upon the very successful Approved Accommodation Program, now in its 80th year, British Columbia's tourism businesses can now say hello to millions of consumers, as Tourism BC utilizes unparalleled technology to expand its offering to include many of British Columbia's tourism activities, attractions and experiences to visitors.

The new HelloBC Listings Program enables Tourism BC to better meet consumers' vacation planning needs by directly connecting them to up-to-date information regarding the tourism products and services they want to experience while travelling through BC. Potential visitors from all over the world can connect to these experiences through the channel of their choice:

• HelloBC.com
• 1-800-HELLO BC
• Over 100 Visitor Centres located throughout the province

"Tourism is fiercely competitive worldwide, and we need every advantage to ensure British Columbia grows as a preferred travel destination," commented Tourism, Sport and the Arts Minister Stan Hagen. "I am pleased to see Tourism BC's use of this innovative technology to promote the uniqueness of tourism experiences that can be found in every corner of the province."

With registration now underway, listings for activities and attractions businesses will appear on HelloBC.com in January 2007. In the next phase, transportation and events organizations will be invited to enroll their products early in 2007, with their listings appearing in Spring 2007.

The program features a comprehensive listing, including contact details, a 40-word description, listing in the primary product category, services, hours of operation, prices, directions and a map pinpointing the business' location. A la carte enhancements such as web links, photos, additional categories and more are also available for purchase. See the sample listing for more information.

To find out more or to enroll in the HelloBC Listings Program, visit www.tourismbc.net, or contact Tourism BC at productservices@tourismbc.com or 1-800-722-7899.