The BC Tourism Climate Resiliency Initiative Launches: Supporting a Climate-Ready Tourism Sector
To support sustainability and climate resilience, the BC Tourism Climate Resiliency Initiative (BCTCRI) is launching this week, to help BC’s tourism industry face the impacts of climate change.
The BCTCRI is comprised of four project streams, that invest in:
- practical climate adaptation and sustainability planning for tourism businesses,
- micro-grants to help with implementation of climate adaptation and sustainability plans,
- development of a data framework to enable better insight-driven decisions, and
- new province-wide learning and training opportunities.
The BCTCRI will play a vital role in harnessing opportunities to build a climate-aware tourism industry that is better prepared to proactively respond to climate change. It builds on grass-roots efforts by the tourism sector to amplify and elevate tourism businesses and communities in adopting sustainable and regenerative practices, supporting efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and make climate change driven adaptations. The program aims to incentivize and empower tourism businesses and community destination management organizations to actively contribute to the development of a clean, sustainable, and regenerative tourism landscape in BC.
The BCTCRI’s first two project streams provide direct support to tourism businesses to help them grow sustainable business practices and address the challenges of climate change by offering personalized assistance for creating sustainability roadmaps to help them save on energy costs and identify solutions to climate change related threats. Additionally, businesses can receive support for planning and adapting to extreme climate events such as wildfires and floods, financial aid for joining accredited sustainability programs, and funding for projects that reduce energy, waste, and water consumption, aligning with CleanBC’s climate goals.
Application Process:
- Offers free, tailored support to tourism businesses looking to incorporate environmental sustainability or climate adaptation measures into their operations. An experienced program advisor and supporting experts will work with tourism businesses to develop a sustainability and climate adaptation road map and perform detailed assessments to identify the most impactful, customized measures for climate resiliency. The intake period to apply for this opportunity will commence on January 18, 2024.
Project Two: Micro-Grants to Support Sustainability and Climate Adaptation Plan Implementation.
- Provides micro-grant funding of up to $15,000 for tourism businesses that are ready to build on their sustainability or climate adaptation plan to implement a project or obtain sustainability certification. The intake period for this opportunity will open on January 29, 2024, and those who already have a sustainability and climate adaptation road map in place are eligible to apply. An additional micro-grant intake is planned for fall 2024 to provide future opportunities for tourism businesses that need time to prepare or enhance their sustainability and climate adaptation plan or road map.
Project Three: Sustainability and Climate Adaptation Data Framework and Project Four: Community Destination Stewardship Initiative will launch later this year.
Background:
This initiative was created through a provincial partnership with Destination BC, the BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, BC’s six Regional Destination Management Organizations (RDMOs)—the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association, Northern BC Tourism Association, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism Region, 4TVI, and Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC), and will be delivered by Destination BC and the RDMOs. This initiative builds on the achievements of the BC Tourism Sustainability Network (BCTSN) – a collaborative sustainability support program for BC’s tourism industry that was initiated in 2022.
This initiative is being funded through a $3 million investment from the provincial Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, over two-years, as part of BC’s Destination Development Fund.
Learn more about the BCTCRI and its four project streams, including intake periods and application deadlines for BC’s tourism industry, by visiting the program landing page, here: https://www.destinationbc.ca/what-we-do/destination-management/bc-tourism-climate-resiliency-initiative/
Quotes:
“Investing in climate preparedness and adaptation not only helps tourism businesses create greater climate resiliency, but it also helps support the sector to meet the objectives of CleanBC, which will benefit people and communities in the years ahead. If we’ve learned anything over the past three years and from the recent wildfires last summer, it’s that we’re stronger together.” – Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
“Thanks to provincial funding, the BCTCRI is an investment in the tourism industry and the environmental and economic well-being of BC. The program will guide BC’s tourism industry through the challenges of climate change by supporting sustainability, encouraging adaptation, and building a collaborative network. We look forward to working closely with our valued partners and supporting the tourism industry as we continue our collective journey towards creating a sustainable, resilient, climate-ready, and thriving tourism sector that benefits visitors and communities.” – Alison McKay, Vice President, Destination Management, Destination BC
Links and Resources:
About Destination BC:
Destination British Columbia (Destination BC) is a Provincially funded, industry-led Crown corporation that supports a strong and competitive future for B.C.’s tourism industry through a combination of global marketing, destination development, industry learning, cooperative community-based programs, and visitor servicing. Destination BC’s programs help to improve the visitor experience, support businesses and communities across the province, and strengthen BC’s worldwide reputation as a destination of choice. For more information about Destination BC’s programs and services, please visit: http://www.DestinationBC.ca/
For additional information, please contact:
Destination BC Media Relations
Email: [email protected]
