VICTORIA – From stunning natural vistas and small town hospitality to vibrant big cities, from cultural events to food and the arts, Canada has a lot to offer visitors. Tourism connects us with one another, brings visitors from around the world, and is an engine for our local economies.
However, COVID-19 had a significant impact on Canadian tourism as travel restrictions reduced visits to attractions across the country. The Government of Canada created the Tourism Relief Fund to support tourism businesses and organizations as they safely welcome visitors back and invest in their future growth.
Today, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan) announced a total investment of almost $1.2 million through the fund to revitalize tourism and enhance visitor experiences in the Lower Mainland.
- Harbour Air is receiving $99,000 to expand its services by establishing a new terminal in Squamish. This will allow Harbour Air to offer seamless transportation to visitors from Vancouver Airport to Squamish. It will also contribute to local economic development and job creation as Harbour Air collaborates with local businesses to package its flights with other tourism offerings in the region.
- Yervana Services Inc. is receiving $500,000 to develop digital tools to advance adventure tourism in British Columbia. These tools will enable local guides and small tourism operators to capture bookings via their mobile responsive web-based platform. Yervana’s platform will allow them to compete both domestically and internationally by directly connecting operators with adventure-seeking visitors across the world.
- go2HR is receiving $495,500 to create a comprehensive labour recovery framework to address labour shortages in the BC tourism sector. This project aims to recruit and retain talent in BC by promoting the tourism sector as a career of choice.
- Uniglobe Specialty Travel Ltd. is receiving $99,999 to acquire a bus and staff to develop new tours for visitors to BC, with a focus on local tourist and Indigenous attractions.
