The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors Feb. 9 agreed to provide $100,000 a year for three years to Valley Visitor Services (VVS), operated by Tourism Radium and Travel Columbia Valley.

The annual sum mirrors past funding pacts with the RDEK, though VVS was seeking an increase to $125,000 annually.

In a letter to the RDEK, Jessica Fairhart, Executive Director of Tourism Radium and Travel Columbia Valley, outlined how in 2016, the RDEK began a new funding model for VVS to streamline visitor services offered in the Columbia Valley by providing $100,000 to the Radium Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce (Tourism Radium) as the lead for the project in partnership with the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce and Fairmont Business Association.

“These funds are used to offset the cost of staffing visitor information centres at the Invermere Crossroads and Radium Hot Springs as well as two seasonal kiosks in Fairmont Hot Springs and downtown Invermere,” Fairhart said.

“This single-entity VVS model continues to strengthen through strategic planning, operating partnerships, and increased stakeholder collaboration. New leadership, innovative projects, and program delivery models, along with better integration with destination development and destination marketing have continued to build a successful visitor services network that not only welcomes visitors to the region but also promotes and supports overnight stays and drives visitors to stay longer, explore new businesses and book more experiences throughout the region.”

The visitor centres also play a role in supporting emergency communications in times of emergency or crisis, she pointed out.

“Through multiple fire seasons, highway closures as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, the VVS team works hard to support response communications, keep local businesses, second homeowners, and visitors well-informed on current travel advisories, support positive messaging and act as a key point of contact for the public during these events.”

The VVS program’s success and results have been achievable with the funding provided by the RDEK and the support of both Tourism Radium and the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce, Fairhart said.

“As with many other organizations, VVS is facing overall increases in the cost of operations and specifically the cost of staffing,” she said, noting that is why the funding ask was increased to $125,000 per year.

“This will allow the VVS program to continue to grow, lead new projects, and sustain staff and teams over the next three years while delivering on the service level our program is known for.”

The regional board unanimously agreed to provide $100,000 a year for three years.

e-KNOW file photo

e-KNOW

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