Tourism Powell River has requested that qathet Regional District provide monetary support for the tourism organization’s operation.
At the January 16 committee of the whole meeting, directors reviewed a letter from Tourism Powell River executive director Tracey Ellis asking for annual operating funds of $16,000 each year for the next four years, commencing January 2020. Ellis stated that the funds would “help us to serve the visitors and tourism operators of the qathet Regional District in the professional way that we have historically done.”
Committee chair Sandy McCormick said the letter was asking for a specific contract and she wanted to ask for a motion to refer the matter to staff to report back on the service contract request.
City director George Doubt made the motion, seconded by Electoral Area C director Clay Brander.
“Asking staff for a report is the right thing to do,” said Doubt. “Tourism Powell River is providing a good service.”
Doubt said he and McCormick served as liaisons with Tourism Powell River and have an understanding that the tourism organization has a service agreement with the City of Powell River until 2023.
“The letter explains their funding challenges; there are a number of issues going on there,” said Doubt. “They would like to have some reliable funding from the regional district from year to year. This would allow them to have that money so they can sustain their programs in the future, which really is dealing with the [Powell River Visitor Information Centre] and directing people from place to place.”
Doubt said Sunshine Coast Tourism, which also covers tourism in Powell River, is a different organization. It covers destination marketing and receives funding from the province and other levels of government, covering the territory from Gibsons to the northern reaches of qathet Regional District. Doubt said Tourism Powell River provides tourism management.
“Really, what they do is operate the visitors centre and direct people once tourists have arrived at our destination, which is the best in the world, and teach them how to deal with the local area,” said Doubt. “The two organizations have been working to try and come closer together, which has been somewhat of a struggle. They have a limited agreement right now.”
Doubt said in the meantime, the letter before the committee was about Tourism Powell River doing what it does, operating the visitors centre and some other projects.
The committee voted to receive the letter and forward it to staff for a report on a service contract between the regional district and Tourism Powell River.
