IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism Summit, Victoria, BC, January 21-24, 2024:
Jody Kirk (Destination Stewardship Manager) and Jess McGarry (Visitor + Member Services Manager) attended workshops, solutions-forums, and heard from guest speakers/partners such as United Nations University Institute for Water Environment + Health, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, Travel and Tourism Research Association and Destination Canada.
Highlights included networking and learning about regenerative tourism, decarbonization, Indigenous tourism + reconciliation, biodiversity, and industry innovation.
Day of Impact – a familiarization tour showcasing community sustainable and regenerative tourism practices in Victoria. Participants embarked on a Salish Sea wildlife tour to visit the stunning coastal Lester B. Pearson College, visited Bilston Creek Farm, and returned to the Victoria harbour on a carbon neutral bus operated by Pacific Northwest Transportation Services.
“As we experience a surge in the tourism market in Canada, environmental and social issues continue to threaten the sustainability of our planet and communities. The IMPACT founding partners recognized the urgency and opportunity in convening leaders to have a holistic dialogue about how we can create new partnerships, leverage technology, and change the trajectory of tourism towards a restorative, sustainable industry that Canada will benefit from for decades to come” – IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism.
IITC – International Indigenous Tourism Conference, Ottawa, ON, February 26-28, 2024:
Jody Kirk representing Tourism Tofino, Maria Clark representing Tsawaak RV Resort & Campground, along with Savannah Rose and Corene Inouye representing Ahous Adventures attended the IITC Conference in the unceded Algonquin Anishinabeg Territory in Ottawa from February 26 – 28th. IITC is a gathering of industry professionals, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and partners dedicated to promoting and celebrating the vibrant world of Indigenous tourism. It was an exceptional conference as Tsawaak RV Resort & Campground won the industry award for ‘Leading the Way in Business Development (Community-based) & Ahous Adventures won the award for ‘New Operator or Business that Launched a New Experience’.
BC Tourism Industry Conference, Victoria, BC, March 5-7, 2024:
Brad, along with our marketing team of Samantha and Jess C., and a few Tourism Tofino Board Members, recently attended the annual BC Tourism Industry Conference.
Over 400 attendees from throughout the province, representing other DMOs, tourism businesses, educators, and government ministries, participated in valuable sessions that followed the theme of ‘Shaping Our Future Together’. Some topics included working with AI (artificial intelligence) in the tourism realm, sustainable business solutions, the benefits of wellness travel, social procurement, as well as Destination Canada’s tourism strategy toward 2030. These conferences are valuable opportunities for meeting colleagues, sharing ideas, and incorporating them into our work on behalf of members.