Introducing the VCM Sustainability Council & Action Plan

In April 2021, the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Sustainability Council formed under the leadership of the VCM tourism region. The objective of the council is to improve sustainability practices of the tourism industry and partners in the region. Through partner engagement, we’ve heard loud-and-clear that this is meaningful to many of you. The work of the Sustainability Council supports the provincial strategic framework for tourism, Destination BC’s Corporate Strategy’s Destination Stewardship pillar, and the Invest in Iconics pillar. Over the past year the VCM Sustainability Council has been hard at work with guidance from GreenStep Solutions to identify non-sustainable practices in the region as well as areas of alignment, gaps and opportunities through a destination sustainability diagnosis process. The result of this process has been the development of a 12-18 month VCM Sustainability Council Action Plan. The council has recently formed sub-committees to move the key focus areas in the action plan forward.

Key focus areas of the action plan include:

• Enhance resident and community engagement and prosperity through tourism and the visitor economy.
• Improve industry adoption of sustainable and responsible tourism practices.
• Promote respectful and sustainable visitor practices within communities, natural spaces, and cultural sites.

For more information, contact Allison.Picard@destinationbc.ca.