The BC Tourism Climate Resiliency Initiative (BCTCRI) is a provincial project that focuses on building a foundational program to support a resilient tourism sector that is prepared to adapt to climate change. Starting in the 2023/2024 fiscal year and spanning over two years, an investment of $3 million from the BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport (TACS) will be allocated to this initiative through the Destination Development Fund.
Destination BC, in close collaboration with tourism industry partners, will use this funding to operate the BCTCRI which is comprised of four key projects that invest in facilitated sustainability and adaptation planning for tourism businesses, micro-grants to support implementation, the formation of a data framework, and province-wide networking opportunities. This initiative and its respective projects are aimed at improving the climate resiliency of the tourism sector and are aligned with the sustainability and adaptation goals identified in the following provincial-level strategies:
The goals and intention of the BCTCRI is to ensure:
The fall 2024 application intake is open and accepting applications on a first come, first served basis while spots last.
This program provides free, tailored support to tourism businesses in BC that are looking to incorporate environmental sustainability or climate adaptation measures into their operations. An experienced program advisor and supporting experts from Destination BC’s extensive network will work with organizations to develop a sustainability and climate adaptation roadmap and perform detailed assessments to identify the most impactful, customized measures for climate resiliency. Learn more →
The second application intake closed on May 31, 2024 at 4:00 pm PST.
This program provides micro-grant funding up to $15,000 for eligible tourism businesses that are ready to build on their sustainability or climate adaptation plan to implement a project or obtain sustainability certification. Projects must be non-planning related, and include infrastructure enhancement, equipment purchases, or development of new systems that support previous planning processes. Learn more→
Project 3 directly relates to BCTCRI goal and intention #2: BC’s tourism industry is using a standard set of tools to track, measure and improve sustainable practices and climate adaptation initiatives. Learn more→
The fourth workshop is scheduled for September 18, 2024.
Project 4 is designed to establish a provincial network across BC, enhancing the management of climate resiliency and sustainability within community destinations and the broader tourism industry. The program offers comprehensive learning opportunities through workshops, discussions, and other engaging formats, providing communities with essential knowledge and tools. Learn more→
The BCTCRI and its representative projects are developed and delivered in collaboration with partner organizations, including the six Regional Destination Management Organizations (RDMOs), Indigenous Tourism BC, and the BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport working together to meet the goals of this initiative.
To find out more or ask questions about the BCTCRI or any of the four projects, contact us at DestinationStewardship@destinationbc.ca.
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