Tourism

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport says interest in B.C. as a tourism destination far exceeds any reputational losses caused by this year’s wildfire season. (Colleen Flanagan/The News)

Wildfire economic damage to B.C. tourism still being counted: minister

Tourism Minister Lana Popham says interest in B.C. far exceeds reputational damage after wildfires

 

The Central Okanagan endured weeks without tourism during its peak season because of wildfires and a regional travel ban. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Climate change cost B.C. tourism ‘$100s of millions, never to be recovered’

Provincial, regional tourism leaders are calling for quick, immediate relief after wildfire season

 

The Central Okanagan is facing weeks without tourism during its peak season after British Columbia’s premier imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones. A man sits in the parking lot outside an evacuation centre for those forced from their homes due to wildfires, in Kelowna, B.C., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Travel ban in parts of B.C. disrupting tourism as raging wildfires burn

‘If you look at the entire 12 months of the year, August is typically the busiest month’

 

Karen Jean Fralich won first place in the singles event at the 2023 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition. (Kevin Forsyth photo)

Winners declared at Vancouver Island’s global sand sculpting competition

Competitors from Ontario, Victoria capture top prizes in Parksville

Karen Jean Fralich won first place in the singles event at the 2023 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition. (Kevin Forsyth photo)
Visitors take photos of the Ancient Colosseum, in Rome, Tuesday, June 27, 2023. Italy's culture and tourism ministers Gennaro Sangiuliano vowed to find and punish a tourist who was filmed carving his name and his girlfriend's name in the wall of the Colosseum, a crime that in the past has resulted in hefty fines. Video of the incident went viral on social media, at a time when Romans have already been complaining about hordes of tourists returning to peak season travel this year. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italy looks for man seen in viral video carving names into Rome’s almost 2,000-year-old Colosseum

Italy’s culture and tourism ministers have vowed to find and punish a…

Visitors take photos of the Ancient Colosseum, in Rome, Tuesday, June 27, 2023. Italy's culture and tourism ministers Gennaro Sangiuliano vowed to find and punish a tourist who was filmed carving his name and his girlfriend's name in the wall of the Colosseum, a crime that in the past has resulted in hefty fines. Video of the incident went viral on social media, at a time when Romans have already been complaining about hordes of tourists returning to peak season travel this year. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Race fans walk through pit lane during the open house at the Canadian Grand Prix Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Montreal. Residents and tourists, alike, are excited for the return of the Canadian Grand Prix, the unofficial kickoff to the city’s summer festival season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Residents and tourists alike excited for the return of the Montreal Grand Prix

The Canadian Grand Prix, the unofficial kickoff to Montreal’s summer festival season

Race fans walk through pit lane during the open house at the Canadian Grand Prix Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Montreal. Residents and tourists, alike, are excited for the return of the Canadian Grand Prix, the unofficial kickoff to the city’s summer festival season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Surrey-raised musician Jazzy B with his StarWalk plaque on Granville Street in Vancouver during its unveiling in September 2016. (File photo)

New ‘StarWalk’ tour maps B.C.’s most celebrated entertainers for free on VanWalks app

‘People commemorated in the sidewalk have shaped not only Canadian culture, but worldwide entertainment’

Surrey-raised musician Jazzy B with his StarWalk plaque on Granville Street in Vancouver during its unveiling in September 2016. (File photo)
Adventurers enjoy paddle rafting at Kumsheen Raft Resort In what is expected to be one of the biggest gatherings in the Lytton area since the 2021 wildfires, more than 200 former employees will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Kumsheen Rafting Resort this long weekend. (Kumsheen Rafting Resort)

200 former employees to descend upon Lytton’s Kumsheen resort for 50th anniversary

A yearlong celebration set to kick off for the May long weekend

Adventurers enjoy paddle rafting at Kumsheen Raft Resort In what is expected to be one of the biggest gatherings in the Lytton area since the 2021 wildfires, more than 200 former employees will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Kumsheen Rafting Resort this long weekend. (Kumsheen Rafting Resort)
With Stihl Timbersports athlete Stirling Hart watching, Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce executive director Leanna Kemp fires up a chainsaw and cuts through a log. Hart was in town Monday to promote the Stihl Timbersports National Championship, which is coming to Chilliwack Aug. 12-13, 2023. (Eric J. Welsh/ Chilliwack Progress)

VIDEO: Stihl Timbersports nationals coming to Chilliwack in August

The Chilliwack Coliseum will host a pro and women’s competition featuring chopping and sawing events

With Stihl Timbersports athlete Stirling Hart watching, Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce executive director Leanna Kemp fires up a chainsaw and cuts through a log. Hart was in town Monday to promote the Stihl Timbersports National Championship, which is coming to Chilliwack Aug. 12-13, 2023. (Eric J. Welsh/ Chilliwack Progress)
The mirrored, geodesic dome of Science World at the end of False Creek in Vancouver makes is a perfect location for a last light photograph. (John Enman photo)

Science World to get $20M from B.C. for leaky dome repairs

Province also announcing additional $30M for tourism projects across B.C.

The mirrored, geodesic dome of Science World at the end of False Creek in Vancouver makes is a perfect location for a last light photograph. (John Enman photo)
Klahoose Wilderness Resort is located in Homfray Channel. Photo courtesy Klahoose Wilderness Resort

Indigenous B.C. wilderness resort recognized as one of best new hotels in the world

One of Klahoose Wilderness Resort’s biggest assets is its location, AFAR Stay List 2023 says

Klahoose Wilderness Resort is located in Homfray Channel. Photo courtesy Klahoose Wilderness Resort
People make their way along the waterfront in downtown Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday, Aug 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Tourism shot up in 2022, but still far short of pre-pandemic levels: StatCan

For the full year, national tourism spending jumped by 45 per cent

People make their way along the waterfront in downtown Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday, Aug 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
B.C. sex workers are preparing for their busy season, which can be dangerous. (Unsplash)

Sex trade workers, outreach organizations prepare for busy Kelowna tourist season

HOPE outreach urges people to pay for the services they solicit as though it’s a legal industry

B.C. sex workers are preparing for their busy season, which can be dangerous. (Unsplash)
Minister for Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport Lana Popham (front row second from left), Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Future Skills Selina Robinson (front row third from left) and Okanagan College President Dr. Neil Fassina (front row right) were on hand for the announcement for a new food, wine and tourism centre for the college. (Photo/Gaary Barnes)

Province cooks up new centre for tourism, culinary arts at Okanagan College

The province is providing OC with $44.8 million for the centre

Minister for Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport Lana Popham (front row second from left), Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Future Skills Selina Robinson (front row third from left) and Okanagan College President Dr. Neil Fassina (front row right) were on hand for the announcement for a new food, wine and tourism centre for the college. (Photo/Gaary Barnes)
Raylene Watts, left, and Alex Tuele, both from Fanny Bay, visit the Port Alberni waterfront looking for treasure on Wednesday, March 9, 2023. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Treasure seekers scour British Columbia for pot of ‘gold’

B.C.-based scavenger hunt offered $1,000 if someone could solve five riddles

Raylene Watts, left, and Alex Tuele, both from Fanny Bay, visit the Port Alberni waterfront looking for treasure on Wednesday, March 9, 2023. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Bruce Bidgood (far left) discusses the rezoning application with the regional district board prior to a vote on Friday, Feb. 17 at the RDKS office in Terrace. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)

Heli-ski resort for super rich voted down amid public outcry

Locals and First Nation opposed bid to rezone Old Remo property for non-farming use

Bruce Bidgood (far left) discusses the rezoning application with the regional district board prior to a vote on Friday, Feb. 17 at the RDKS office in Terrace. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)
People walk past carnival game stands below a ferris wheel during the Pacific National Exhibition Fair, in Vancouver, on Thursday, September 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. introduces $30M fund to support festivals, events over next 2 years

One-time grants come as event organizers cite increased costs, supply chain issues, trouble hiring

People walk past carnival game stands below a ferris wheel during the Pacific National Exhibition Fair, in Vancouver, on Thursday, September 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Northern Escape Heli Skiing offers an exclusive package to super rich clients who spend the day skiing and are lodged at the secluded Skeena River Ranch. (Submitted photo)

Heli-ski resort for the super rich pushes back amid public scrutiny

Massive $15M northwest B.C. property sits on ranching land that owners are reviving

Northern Escape Heli Skiing offers an exclusive package to super rich clients who spend the day skiing and are lodged at the secluded Skeena River Ranch. (Submitted photo)
The empty streets of Banff are seen as Parks Canada is restricting vehicles in the national parks and national historic sites in Banff, Alta., on March 24, 2020. Banff tourism officials are joining the call for better management of visitor traffic in the most heavily visited parts of the national park. In a document outlining its development plans for the next decade, Banff and Lake Louise Tourism says it wants to reduce damaging traffic bottlenecks through improved public transit and fewer private vehicles. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Banff tourism report seeks fewer private vehicles, more public transit in park

‘Vehicle traffic is one of the single biggest challenges in terms of…our ability to be sustainable’

The empty streets of Banff are seen as Parks Canada is restricting vehicles in the national parks and national historic sites in Banff, Alta., on March 24, 2020. Banff tourism officials are joining the call for better management of visitor traffic in the most heavily visited parts of the national park. In a document outlining its development plans for the next decade, Banff and Lake Louise Tourism says it wants to reduce damaging traffic bottlenecks through improved public transit and fewer private vehicles. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A young boy who arrived on a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong wears a face mask and face shield at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Hopes high in B.C. as China lifts border rules, but tourism recovery may take months

Chinese travellers were the second biggest international market for B.C. in 2019

A young boy who arrived on a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong wears a face mask and face shield at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck