By Times Chronicle Staff
The Osoyoos Tourism Master Plan is now about a third of the way along its process with an opportunity for public input to a draft plan sometime this fall.
In what Destination Osoyoos describes as a “first-ever, collaborative project” the task of putting it together represents an 18 month effort by a dozen organizations.
Tourism is the backbone of the Osoyoos economy, with tourists spending $175 million in Osoyoos in 2021 – equivalent to approximately $25,000 of spend per resident.
Funded by DO the project is guided by a Task Force of local and regional stakeholders, including representatives from business and cultural communities, elected officials and staff from the Town of Osoyoos and Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen, plus tourism-related organizations, from Destination Osoyoos to Indigenous Tourism BC, and others.
The project began in November 2022, with an examination of similar tourism-dependent communities, including Ucluelet, Fernie, Tofino, Cranbrook, and others.
Those that have enhanced resident benefits and positive environmental outcomes through tourism, while minimizing negative impacts on local ecosystems and residents, were of particular interest, Osoyoos’ tourism promotion organization said.
Saying it is using “innovative research, planning, and evaluation techniques,” the project is learning from other communities that have adopted sustainable destination management and marketing frameworks.
While the public will only be involved going forward at the draft master plan stage, a resident survey on tourism needs and issues with more than 800 responses was conducted in late 2021.
A follow-up survey in Oct. 2023 saw more than 2,300 specific written comments on ways to improve tourism opportunities in the community while addressing concerns about possible negative impacts of tourism.
Osoyoos residents’ thoughts on tourist events throughout the year. Destination Osoyoos image.
“We have been reaching out to residents to understand their values and needs, as well as ways that we can work together to ensure that tourism benefits the community as much as possible,” says Sue McKortoff, Mayor of Osoyoos.
“We recognize that we have to make tourism more resilient and responsible, and we are stepping up to the plate.”
Kelley Glazer, CEO of Destination Osoyoos said the organization is “acutely aware” of the importance of working together in what she described as an “immensely complex environment”.
“We have to be proactive and innovative with our destination management and marketing. We have to build on our opportunities and become more resilient, knowing that as a regional tourism organization, we will probably have to deal with things like wildfires and smoke, floods and droughts, health pandemics, and food security,” Glazer said.
The Tourism Master Plan will focus on strategies to enhance destination appeal while delivering resident benefits, such as improving outdoor recreation opportunities; enhancing coordination and support for arts, culture, and heritage; and exploring new opportunities to diversify hospitality and travel industry experiences.
Another key component is maintaining, diversifying, and improving industry resilience in the peak summer travel, and also deepening the travel season into spring, fall, and winter.
Members of the Task Force include:
- Destination Osoyoos Executive Director and Chair of the Board of Directors
- Destination Osoyoos board members (one large accommodation, one small accommodation)
- Mayor and CAO of the Town of Osoyoos
- Town of Osoyoos Council representative on DO Board of Directors
- Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen staff representative
- Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen director (Area A)
- Osoyoos Desert Centre
- Indigenous Tourism BC / TOTA Indigenous tourism
- BC Wine Institute
- Osoyoos Museum
- Wide Arts National Association
- South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce
For more information visit the Osoyoos Tourism Master Plan website which also has links to download background information including tourism market studies, regional tourism organizations and strategies as well as various Ucluelet studies and plans.
