Construction on $2 million new Visitor Information Centre will be started in 2005
Osoyoos was front and centre when Premier Gordon Campbell made a number of major tourism funding announcements.
Speaking at the annual B.C. Tourism Industry Conference in Vancouver Thursday, Campbell announced $2 million for a new tourist information centre in Osoyoos.
He also announced $12 million to be divided among the six different tourist regions of B.C., as well as funding for two other tourist centres in Golden and at Peace Arch.
Osoyoos is a primary gateway, not just to the Okanagan but to our entire province, and it's the perfect location for a world-class visitors centre to welcome travellers to the best place on Earth, Campbell said. . . . the Osoyoos visitor centre is one more way we can help tourism operators prepare for the benefits of hosting the world in 2010 and new opportunities like Canada's move toward approved destination status with China.rnThe official name given to the new centre is Gateway Visitor Information Centre, and in a press release the premier also said it was a partnership with Destination Osoyoos and the Town of Osoyoos. It will be built at the same location as the current tourist information centre.
Each year more tourists visit Osoyoos and the Okanagan Valley to take in our world-class amenities and scenery, said MLA Bill Barisoff. This will be a tremendous boost to Osoyoos and I'm thrilled our community is a key part of the province's tourism strategy.rnTown of Osoyoos councillor Dick Flintoft said a new tourist centre is very important.
I think it is a great thing to have a good quality tourist centre, he said.
Flintoft said the town council had been involved in the process for the new centre for about a month.
This will definitely generate more awareness and ensure the name Osoyoos is out there a lot more, he said. This really makes us the gateway to the Okanagan and the province.rnThe town economic development officer Glen Mandziuk agreed, adding that Osoyoos is the third busiest border crossing in the province.
We are just elated, he said. This is the culmination of a lot of vision and dreaming.rnMandziuk said Destination Osoyoos has been working hard on this project for the past two months.
It will be something that is more than a just a tourist centre, he said.
While no formal architectural plans are ready, Mandziuk said the plan is to include interactive displays focusing on desert eco-tourism, agri-tourism, the wine industry and First Nations culture.
Another positive aspect, according to Mandziuk, will be the partnership between the town and B.C. Tourism.
While Flintoft said no formal agreement has been reached with the tourism body, there would be an agreement between the two in terms of the new centre.
Tourism B.C. will be front and centre in our community, Mandziuk said. This will enable Osoyoos to access a great deal of resources. This is an all-around great opportunity.rnConstruction of the new centre is expected to start this year and will be ready in 2006.
Currently the visitor's information centre has 35,000 visitors annually, however, Mandziuk said 150,000 vehicles cross the border at Osoyoos and he thinks a higher profile building will lead to far more people using the centre.
We will be promoting the whole South Okanagan, he said, adding the new centre was something that was definitely needed. It was so desperately needed. We basically have a 1974 trailer that welcomes people to our country, province and our community. It has served us well, but it is time to go to the next level.rn
