Theme of this year’s event was ‘Tourism and Peace’

It was a full house on September 26 as community members, students, and employees celebrated World Tourism Day (WTD).

This year’s event, a partnership between the College of the Rockies’ Tourism Management department and St. Eugene Mission Resort shone a light on tourism’s role in, and responsibility to, peace and reconciliation in an industry that sees over 1 billion people travelling the globe each year.

“I’ve been looking forward to another great World Tourism Day event where we can learn and share how we can all collaborate to make our region a better place for people to live and visit,” said Becky Pelkonen, Tourism Management Program Coordinator. “This year the United Nations World Tourism Organization chose Tourism and Peace as the theme which we focused further to explore Tourism as a Force for Reconciliation.”

WTD programming began with a prayer and acknowledgment of place by Elder Marty Williams, followed by an opening message from Stephanie Wells, Dean Business and University Arts & Sciences who shared her experiences in the tourism industry as a global educator, consultant, and community-builder.

Leanna Gravelle, Operations Manager with the ǂkamnin̓tik Society opened the keynote address with a discussion on the importance of “truth” in Indigenous Tourism, showcasing her work through the Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre.

Pelkonen was then joined by Lecia Furber, Human Resources Manager from St. Eugene Mission Resort; Furber discussed the current issue of sustainability in resort operations, how the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are shaping decision-making and daily operations. A presentation was then provided showcasing newcomer and immigrant voices in the tourism industry to demonstrate accurate labour need statistics and a spirit of welcoming and belonging.

Finally, Beverley O’Neil, a Ktunaxa citizen, consultant, and founding member of Indigenous Tourism BC delivered a powerful keynote address on Tourism as a Force for Reconciliation.

Several sponsors also supported with prizes, demonstrating their commitment to the importance of community-based celebration. The World Tourism Day organizing team would like to provide special thanks to St. Eugene Mission Resort, ʔaq̓am Community Enterprises, Cranbrook Tourism, Overtime Beerworks, Black Dog Cycle & Ski, Beverley O’Neil, and Kamu Sauna.

“World Tourism Day is a time for us to celebrate the impact that the industry can have as a force for good and to discuss the challenges and responsibilities we have as leaders in this field,” Wells continued. “Tourism fosters understanding, we are all ambassadors of our communities and taking time to be a part of an event like this is one step towards this goal.”

College of the Rockies welcomes the regional industry to join them for future years’ World Tourism Day events to continue building on the success of this annual event.

About Tourism Management

The tourism industry is made up of several sectors, College of the Rockies supports regional employers with graduates that are skilled and knowledgeable to make a positive impact on their business.

Programs within the Department of Tourism Management are:

• Adventure Tourism Business Operations Diploma (Golden);
• Hospitality Management Diploma;
• Recreation Management Diploma;
• Tourism Management Diploma;
• Mountain Adventure Skills Training Certificate (Fernie);
• Professional Cook Training (Trades).

All programs provide experiential components that connect students to industry through field excursions, co-op or practicums. Learn more about Tourism Management at cotr.ca/tourism

Lead image: College of the Rockies Tourism Management students hosted World Tourism Day events on September 28 at the Cranbrook Campus. College of the Rockies image

College of the Rockies

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