[BCMA MBEN] (Fwd) [Fwd: COTA MEMBER UPDATE - FEDERAL BUDGET 2009]

[Jim Harding]

On behalf of the Heritage Tourism Alliance, the BC Museums Association 
has recently joined the Council Of Tourism Associations (COTA) as part of 
our work with the History & Heritage Sector Marketing Strategy under 
Tourism BC's Exeperiences BC program.

The following represents COTA's reaction to today's federal budget 
announcement...


------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent:      	Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:01:08 -0800
From:           	BCMA <bcma@museumsassn.bc.ca>
To:             	Jim Harding <jharding@museumsassn.bc.ca>
Subject:        	[Fwd: COTA MEMBER UPDATE 
	- FEDERAL BUDGET 2009]


*COTA MEMBER UPDATE - FEDERAL BUDGET 2009*

*Federal Budget Includes $800 Million in New Tourism Spending *

The federal budget that was released at 1:00 PM (PST) included a number 
of key items to support the tourism industry across Canada, with a 
number of these items having a direct impact on tourism development in 
B.C.

The budget included the following tourism-related expenditures:

    * $40 million over two years to the Canadian Tourism Commission ($20
      million for domestic marketing and $20 million for emerging markets)
    * $100 million for marquee festivals and events over two years
    * $150 million for Canada´s national parks system over two years
      ($75 million for visitor facilities and $75 million for national
      historic sites)
    * $25 million to create new hiking trails across the country
    * $407 million for improvements to passenger rail service in the
      Montreal to Toronto corridor operated by VIA Rail
    * Additional funding of projects which will assist in the
      development of vital tourism infrastructure
    * $24 million over two years for cruise ship tourism
    * $60 million over two years for local and community cultural and
      heritage institutions (i.e. theatres and museums)
    * $140 million over five years for Northern Economic Development, a
      substantial portion of which will be directed towards tourism
      projects

Senior B.C. tourism industry leaders will discuss ways that our province 
can capitalize on these announced expenditure areas at the pre-Tourism 
Industry Conference session to be held on the morning of February 11, 
2009.

Sent on behalf of Stephen Regan,
COTA President and CEO.

*Margaret Ross*
Administrative and Communications Coordinator
*COUNCIL OF TOURISM ASSOCIATIONS*
*tel: 604.678 6453 | fax: 604.685.5915*

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------- End of forwarded message -------
_______________________________
Jim Harding, ED
BC Museums Association
(250) 356-5694