(BRENDAN KERGIN / iNFOnews.ca)
October 12, 2016 - 1:00 PM
KAMLOOPS - Tourism Kamloops is looking five years into the future with a new strategic plan.
The plan focuses on increasing visitor engagement, building the new brand coming in 2017 and increased collaboration with stakeholders, the community and nearby communities. It recently received approval from the tourism agency's board, according to a Tourism Kamloops media release.
Increased use of technology and data and differentiating Kamloops from other B.C. tourism destinations like Kelowna or Revelstoke will be central parts of the new plan.
“Models have changed, technology changed, and the way the consumers plan and engage has changed,” Tourism Kamloops CEO Beverley DeSantis says in the release.
Data collection will assist with results based decisions, giving Tourism Kamloops the chance to track marketing and engagement strategies and plan accordingly. Technology will also be used to move away from only using broad marketing tools and move to more direct engagement with visitors or people making plans.
Another newer strategy will be to work on a local cluster, DeSantis says. While visitors might not plan to stay in Kamloops for an extended stay she foresees working together with Sun Peaks or collaborate with stakeholders around Shuswap Lake to increase visitors to the area.
The plan incorporates new funding from a renewed and increased hotel tax approved recently.
A stakeholder forum will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Coast Kamloops Hotel to unveil the entire plan.
The new tourism brand is being developed now and will come into use in spring or summer 2017.
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