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MAY 2015
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Overseas visitors resulting in more ‘heads in beds’ National Tourism Increase has Regional Impact
SAANICHTON
#220 - 645 Fort Street, Victoria
ANAIMO - Vancouver Island hospitality properties are benefiting from a substantial increase in international tourism. The federal government recently announced that overnight arrivals to Canada by non-residents reached 17.1 million in 2014. This is a 3% year over year increase, meaning that more 537,600 additional people visited Canada last year. The increase was more than double the rate of growth in 2013. “We have seen good numbers through 2014, with strong growth from the US,” says Tourism Nanaimo Executive Director Lesley Anderson. She adds “This is thanks to favourable tourism conditions caused by a strong US dollar, lower gas prices and pent up demand.” “There has also been an increase in British and German visitors, who like BC due to due to the outdoor recreation opportunities that
Lesley Anderson, Executive Director of Destination Management of Tourism Nanaimo
Paul Nursey, President & CEO of Tourism Victoria
are available. They travel from Europe to Calgary, and connect directly through to Nanaimo.” In addition to increases in American and European travelers, visits
from China increased by 29%, visits from India increased by 19% and Mexico by 14%. “China is a huge growth area for Canada right now, more Chinese
travelers coming in through the larger airports like YVR, and we’re seeing a trickling down effect for Nanaimo and Vancouver Island from these large transportation hubs,” says Anderson. She also noted that Tourism Nanaimo and other representatives from the city went on a regional promotion mission in China in September last year. A contributor to the increase in tourism numbers has been “an alignment of initiatives through regional, provincial and federal partners, like Tourism Vancouver Island, Destination British Columbia and the Canadian Tourism Commission,” says Anderson. An example would be a promotion effort in conjunction with Tourism VI, focused on promoting the region and ease of access through direct Seattle to Nanaimo flights. The flights are offered by SEE OVERSEAS VISITORS | PAGE 15
Camosun steps toward its largest agreement ever Years of planning lead to international deal
V
IC T OR I A – Ca mosu n College has taken the first step towards a long-term international agreement with India’s National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). An MOU was signed between Camosun, Alberta-based Bow Valley College and the NSDC that brings the parties towards a 10year agreement. “The agreement would see us providing curriculum development and ‘train the trainer’
type programs for India-based facu lty,” sa id Geoff Wilmshurst, Director, at Camosun International. “For us it’s by fa r t he la rgest scope contract we’ve ever engaged in, both locally and internationally. “It represents the culmination of three years of meetings and visits to and from India through which Camosun has been able to develop a strong reputation in the education and skills sector,”
he adds. “We have had strong success over that time in the recruitment of Indian students to Victoria. This MOU is the next step in the development of deeper educational partnerships that will enhance our reputation in India over the coming decade.” “We have learned that in order to play at an international level, we need to be present in the marketplace to become a known entity.
The IILM Institute for Higher Education, a private university in India, will play a role in the potential agreement, which would be based off of a public-private partnership model. The Government of India would contribute 75% of the funding necessary for the agreement, with the private sector contributing the remaining 25%, while Camosun would provide SEE CAMOSUN STEPS | PAGE 4
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