It’s an industry worth about 1.8 billion dollars a year, and Tourism Vancouver Island hopes to boost that through a new strategic plan.
The road map will carry the organization through 2017.
Part of it deals with increasing local awareness of the value of the tourism sector.
President Dave Petryk says when it comes to attracting tourists, one of Vancouver Island’s main selling points is also a challenge; the fact it is an island that’s only accessible by air or water.
He says rising ferry fares and sailing cuts are a potential threat.
Petryk says the strategic plan also includes marketing tourism opportunities to Island residents.
Tourism Vancouver Island’s annual budget is about $3 million dollars and they invest about $2 million of that back into the marketplace through their programs.
