VANCOUVER – New Democrat MLA Brenda Bailey says new support from the BC NDP government for tourism projects in Vancouver will attract visitors, boost local economies and help communities recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Many people in Vancouver rely on tourism jobs to support their families and we know how hard tourism operators have worked to adapt and stay afloat in these changing times,” said Bailey, MLA for Vancouver-False Creek. “With these new investments, Science World and Bard on the Beach will be able to welcome visitors back in a safe way for years to come, boosting our local economy and bringing stability to people in our community.”
Science World will be receiving $577,060 to construct flexible indoor-outdoor programming space and the Bard on the Beach Theatre Society is receiving $400,000 to construct pandemic-safe facilities for theatrical presentations and education. This funding for Science World and Bard on the Beach is part of a $21.3 million investment from the BC New Democrat government for shovel-ready destination development projects. People in Vancouver will benefit from this funding, as it will not only support people working in tourism but also help grow the local economy into the future.
The destination development funding invests in implementation-ready tourism infrastructure and amenities projects that support the recovery and resilience of tourism by creating jobs and developing infrastructure that will attract visitors to B.C. communities in the near and long term. Projects were chosen for their demonstrated tourism benefits to communities and British Columbians, along with new jobs, many of which will provide employment for apprentices, youth, new Canadians, women, and First Nations.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the New Democrat government has worked closely with B.C.’s tourism sector and provided $228 million in support to ensure businesses and non-profits can continue to draw visitors and benefit local communities for years to come.
Learn More:
For more information on destination development funding and a list of projects, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022TACS0003-000124