Tourism Powell River (TPR) is looking for continued, long-term financial support from qathet Regional District.
At the May 3 finance committee meeting, TPR executive director Tracey Ellis said the organization operates Powell River Visitor Centre and she was appearing to provide her annual report and to ask, going forward, for new operational funding at the continued rate of $16,000 per year.
Ellis said travellers can feel overwhelmed and the visitor centre can offer support, as well as provide information. She said additional revenue is generated by membership, retail and advertising sales. She added that the organization collects data on visitor travel, markets local attractions and connects people with local businesses.
Ellis outlined a number of services provided for visitors, such as creating and printing collateral and maps, providing key information regarding where to go, answering enquiries, offering public services, including a washroom and WiFi, dealing with complaints and offering the inside scoop on local attractions.
The visitor centre also provides information for locals who are vacationing throughout BC, said Ellis.
“We can offer them travel tips and assistance,” she added.
In terms of outcomes, Ellis said visitors who attend the centre will participate in three more activities than planned before arriving.
“They will usually spend one more additional day when we overwhelm them with all the things to see and do here,” said Ellis. “When they are educated on things they can see and do, they will return, so they will have many visits to Powell River, which generates more revenue for the community.
“When we talk to them about things to do, we enrich the whole visit.”
At a time where some visitor centres are abandoning bricks and mortar facilities completely, the local centre has expanded its service with new and innovative attractions.
The value of tourism in BC is only second to mining, said Ellis. In a written presentation to the committee, she indicated that in 2021, tourism contributed $5 billion to BC’s gross domestic product. Total tourism revenue in 2021 was $13.5 billion, a 22.7 per cent increase over 2020, she added.
Looking at visitor statistics, in 2022, visitors requested 10,329 pieces of information, said Ellis. In the past five years, 28,608 visitors have been served, she added.
“Visitor statistics for 2021 to 2022 are up 7.8 per cent, so we are in recovery now,” said Ellis. “We have a lot of recovery still to do.”
Ellis said she is proud of the staff and support at the visitor centre. She said there have been some difficult times with the community resource centre next door, which has necessitated additional staffing at the visitor centre to be safe. She added that the community support for the organization is overwhelming.
“I do hope you’ll see the value in the visitor centre and what it brings to the local economy, and that you’ll agree to support us for the next five years at the same level that we have enjoyed,” said Ellis.
Electoral Area E director and finance committee chair Andrew Fall said the committee would not be deciding anything monetary because the financial ask will come up on the agenda of a future finance committee meeting.
