Paradise is about to become even more alluring.
Tofino's tourism experience is in for a boost as B.C.'s Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour announced yesterday that Tofino will receive $667,047 from the province's Resort Municipality Initiative coffers to enhance its attractiveness to visitors.
Tofino has received roughly $6 million in RMI funding since joining the province's roster of Resort Municipalities in 2008.
Those funds have gone towards aesthetic improvements and enhanced festival and event offerings designed to draw tourists in and create experiences they'll want to repeat.
"Tofino's participation in the Resort Municipality Initiative program has made it possible to invest in infrastructure and amenities that help build a more liveable and vibrant community,” said Tofino mayor Josie Osborne through a Sept. 26 media release announcing her community's $667,047 score.
“Better facilities at our beaches, improvements to our downtown, a growing trail network and a calendar of lively local events have made it so much easier to welcome visitors year-round and provide them with the best experience possible."
The province has dished out over $100 million to its 14 Resort Municipalities since launching the tourist-inducing RMI program in 2006. These funds are earmarked for upgrades in tourism infrastructure and event offerings that buoy local and regional economies.
"B.C.'s tourism industry is experiencing incredible growth. It's helping to create jobs and is one of the reasons why our province has the leading economy in Canada,” B.C.'s tourism minister Shirley Bond said through the release.
“Resort Municipality Initiative funding ensures qualifying resort communities have the resources they need to provide a world-class traveller experience. It's an important step toward making sure visitors
return to our province for years to come, supporting businesses and keeping our economy diverse, strong and growing."
B.C. Welcomed 4.9 million international visitors last year; an 8 per cent increase over 2014, according to the release, which adds the tourism industry employs roughly one of every 15 British Columbians.