TOFINO – As British Columbia experiences one of its strongest tourism periods in years, Tofino is getting set to welcome the crowds as the summer travelling season draws closer.
Through the Province’s Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI), the Tofino region has received $305,000 in funding toward four projects to help grow tourism.
“Tofino and the Pacific Rim National Park are among British Columbia’s key attractions during the busy summer tourism season,” says Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour. “Through RMI funding, the Province is working with Tofino to make sure it continues to be at the top of the list of places to visit for travellers. The strong tourism industry is an important economic driver supporting jobs in the region and is one of the reasons why B.C. is expected to be an economic leader in Canada in 2016.”
A star attraction for the renowned West Coast resort area is its windswept beaches. Soon, visitors with mobility issues will have an easier time accessing popular Mackenzie Beach. Almost $275,000 in RMI funding is going toward Tofino’s first-ever wheelchair-accessible beach. Construction has started on a beach access ramp, parking area, accessible washroom and change room with work expected to be completed by July 2016. Access to area beaches and other points in town will also be helped by the $28,000 investment in the seasonal Tofino transit shuttle.
“Featuring Tofino’s beautiful environments and local culture through events like the Tofino Shorebird Festival and the Tofino Food and Wine Festival are part of what makes this area so wonderful to live in and visit,” says Josie Osborne, Mayor of Tofino. “RMI funding helps make these events even more successful.”
At this time of year, visitors are arriving to take in an impressive display of migratory birds as they travel from South and Central America toward their Arctic breeding grounds. The Tofino Shorebird Festival received $1,500 of RMI funding to feature a range of activities taking place as up to 30 different types of shorebirds pass through the region.
As the birds fly north and the warm weather arrives, a crisp glass of B.C. wine at one of Tofino’s restaurants is on the menu during the Tofino Food and Wine Festival. RMI funds of $500 are supporting the popular event which runs from June 3-5.
RMI is a $10.5 million-a-year program that helps resort-oriented municipalities develop and enhance tourism infrastructure and amenities. RMI communities are: Fernie, Kimberley, Golden, Harrison Hot Springs, Invermere, Osoyoos, Radium Hot Springs, Revelstoke, Rossland, Sun Peaks, Tofino, Ucluelet, Valemount and Whistler.
Since RMI’s inception in 2006, more than $98.1 million has been invested in tourism infrastructure and programs to support local and regional tourism economies in the 14 participating communities. Tofino received $636,935 in RMI funds in the 2015-16 fiscal year. To date, Tofino has received $5,202,624 in RMI funds since joining the program in 2008.
