B.C. STRENGTHENS AND ALIGNS TOURISM PROMOTION

VICTORIA NEWS RELEASE– Tourism BC will be brought into the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, reducing administrative costs and better co-ordinating all of the Province’s marketing initiatives, Minister Kevin Krueger announced today.“While Tourism BC has served British Columbia well, in these difficult economic times it is critical that we maximize every tourism dollar for marketing B.C. to the world,” said Krueger. “Consolidating tourism operations in the ministry will allow for co-ordinated marketing campaigns, while ensuring resources are focused on getting the best results for British Columbia’s tourism sector.”Bringing Tourism BC into the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts next year will reduce administrative costs and allow these funds to be re-invested into marketing initiatives. The integration of Tourism BC, effective April 1, 2010, will result in a new program under the leadership of the ministry with a renewed focus on marketing the regions of British Columbia.

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Provincial government scraps Tourism BC

Updated: Mon Aug. 17 2009 16:48:48 The Canadian Press

The British Columbia government is getting rid of a Crown corporation in charge of promoting tourism in the province and will hand its duties over to a provincial ministry.Tourism BC will be folded into the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts in a move the province says will reduce administrative costs and allow it to better co-ordinate marketing initiatives. Tourism Minister Kevin Krueger says the goal is to use the money spent on tourism in the most efficient way possible. He argues doing so will make it easier to ensure the entire province benefits from the Olympics. The change goes into effect on April 1 of next year, and Tourism BC's board of directors will be replaced by a minister's advisory council. New Democrats tourism critic Spencer Herbert is using the news to fuel anger over plans to introduce a harmonized sales tax, claiming the decision is "retribution" against the tourism industry for its opposition to the HST.