[BCMA] Heritage Tourism Alliance Website Launch

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Heritage Tourism Alliance launches website for 'time travel' in British
Columbia 

 

October 23, 2009, Victoria, BC - It is now easier than ever to take a
trip through time to British Columbia's past with the help of a new
website launched today by the Heritage Tourism Alliance of BC. The site
www.timetravelbc.com <http://www.timetravelbc.com/>  puts the province's
heritage experiences at traveler's fingertips, so they can plan
activities and itineraries with ease.

 

"Heritage tourism is an important component of cultural tourism, one of
the fastest growing sectors in the industry today," says Tiffany Gyles,
heritage tourism liaison with the Heritage Tourism Alliance. "This
website puts information on heritage experiences all in one place in an
easy-to-use format. This allows visitors to BC to include heritage sites
in their visit including everything from their accommodation to dining."


 

The Time Travel BC web site, launched today at the British Columbia
Museum Association's annual provincial conference, allows visitors to
search for heritage experiences by region or by travel categories such
as heritage-themed accommodation or shopping. Heritage sites range from
well-established destinations like Barkerville in the Cariboo Chilcotin
to a hotel or pub from the turn of the century that is still in
operation.    

"In BC, our heritage is valued as a major contributor to our distinctive
identity, character and sense of place to our communities, residents and
visitors," says Jim Harding, executive director of the BC Museums
Association and a member of the Heritage Tourism Alliance. "The purpose
of the Alliance and this website is to raise awareness of the breadth
and depth of BC's heritage experiences across the province and ensure
visitors include heritage as an essential part of their visit." 

The Heritage Tourism Alliance of BC is made up of partners from Tourism
BC <http://www.tourismbc.com/> , the Ministry of Tourism
<http://www.tca.gov.bc.ca/tourism/> , Culture and the Arts
<http://www.gov.bc.ca/tca/> , Heritage BC <http://www.heritagebc.ca/> ,
BC Museums Association <http://www.museumsassn.bc.ca/> , Parks Canada
<http://www.pc.gc.ca/> , BC Heritage Properties, the Business
Improvement Areas of BC <http://www.bia.bc.ca/> , and a variety of
independent heritage operators. While visiting heritage sites is not a
new phenomenon to travelers to BC, the Alliance is working to ensure
heritage is an essential part of the BC experience and easy to seek out
for those who like a bit of the past in their present day travel. 

 

The World Tourism Organization has reported that travellers are looking
for a complete, participatory authentic, experience which also provides
them with opportunities for new knowledge. And statistics are favourable
for BC's target audiences. For instance, 17 per cent or 34.5 million
American adults are heritage tourism enthusiasts and of these 63 per
cent sought out heritage experiences as part of their last visit to
Canada. Canadians are also keen on heritage, with 11 per cent
identifying themselves as heritage tourism devotees, more than 55 per
cent of them made a heritage experience part of their last trip in
Canada.  

 

About the Heritage Tourism Alliance: 

The Heritage Tourism Alliance of BC, launched in 2007, works in
collaboration with Tourism BC through its Experiences BC program to
promote and celebrate the very best of BC's heritage sites and
experiences. The Alliance is made up of partners from Tourism BC
<http://www.tourismbc.com/> , the Ministry of Tourism
<http://www.tca.gov.bc.ca/tourism/> , Culture and the Arts
<http://www.gov.bc.ca/tca/> , Heritage BC <http://www.heritagebc.ca/> ,
BC Museums Association <http://www.museumsassn.bc.ca/> , Parks Canada
<http://www.pc.gc.ca/> , BC Heritage Properties, the Business
Improvement Areas of BC <http://www.bia.bc.ca/> , and a variety of
independent heritage operators. For more information on the Heritage
Tourism Alliance of BC visit: www.timetravelbc.com
<http://www.timetravelbc.com/> . 

 

 

-30-

Media Contact: 

Tartan Group 

Trisha Lees, 250-592-3838, cell 250-896-3838

Trisha at tartangroup.ca <mailto:Trisha at tartangroup.ca>  

 

Christine Gleed, 250-592-3838, cell 250-896-3844

Christine at tartangroup.ca <mailto:Christine at tartangroup.ca> 

 

 

 

 

 

Trisha Lees, MBA 

The Tartan Group 
Office: 250-592-3838 
Cell: 250-896-3838 
trisha at tartangroup.ca 
www.tartangroup.ca 



 
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