COURTENAY – The Trans-Canada Trail is quickly becoming a world-renowned tourism asset, and a new project will build on its success with a connected marine trail, aimed at paddlesport tourists.
The Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET) will be providing up to $30,000 of funding from its Economic Development Readiness Program for the Salish Sea Marine Trail Project.
“The vision is to create a network of amenities, recreation areas, launch points, and access to local businesses along a 257-km marine route for paddlers and other self-propelled watercraft,” explained Paul Grey, president of the BC Marine Trail Network Association (BCMNTA).
“Paddlesports is already a significant contributor of tourism revenue around the Island and Sunshine Coast, but stakeholders haven’t yet been able to bring a single, strategic focus to optimizing and growing the impact. This project will help us make that happen.”
The project, which is now underway, will include a clear marine trail route, including new recreation sites in the Winchelsea Islands, South Ballenas Island, Wilson Creek near Sechelt, and more.
The project will also connect the route’s access and destinations with related businesses such as accommodation providers, food and beverage, and outdoor equipment and supplies.
“Paddlers are a dynamic and desirable tourism market,” said ICET Chair Phil Kent. “This project can help bring exposure to many locations to establish key service hubs and promote tour and exploration options along a single marine recreation travel corridor.”
This new Salish Sea Marine Trail will ultimately link the pre-existing marine-accessible provincial and national park campsites with the new service hub areas to strategically market clean, green, and active tourism with the Salish Sea Marine Trail as a new focal point for adventure ecotourism along the BC coast.