As the newest member of the Province’s Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI), Sun Peaks has been granted $470,000 to boost tourism, increase investment and create jobs.
Sun Peaks recently became eligible for the RMI program, and will now receive annual funding payments that will allow it to focus on its goal of increasing visitation during the summer and shoulder seasons. This activity will support B.C.’s tourism sector revenue goal of $18 billion by 2016 as well as the Province’s new tourism strategy, ‘Gaining the Edge’.
“The provincial government has recognized the contribution that tourism makes to the provincial economy and resort communities,” says Sun Peaks Mayor Al Raine. “Funds available through the Resort Municipality Initiative enable resort-oriented communities to build and expand the attractions that have successfully brought tourists to the region. With these funds, we will grow tourism at Sun Peaks, which benefits our residents and the Kamloops region.”
In 2006, the RMI was developed to assist resort-oriented municipalities maintain and grow robust local and regional tourism economies. The program helps small resort municipalities overcome unique challenges and take advantage of opportunities with a goal of increasing tourist visitation, visitor activities, employment, private investment, municipal tax revenue and the diversification of the municipal tax base.
“As we celebrate the last 50 years of skiing at Tod Mountain and 20 years as Sun Peaks, we recognize the resort as a world-class destination that draws significant tourism dollars to our region. This funding will allow them to take their success to the next level, which will increase investment and create jobs for local families,” explains Terry Lake, MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson.
The RMI is allocated bi-annually. Funding announced for Sun Peaks is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2011.
“Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan” identifies tourism as one of the eight sectors critical to the province’s growth.
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