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Province’s RMI investment boosts tourism in Fernie
The Government of British Columbia is supporting local tourism by investing more than $5.97 million in 14 resort-oriented municipalities throughout the province, including the most recent installment of $222,928 for Fernie.
Since the Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) was launched in 2007, Fernie has received more than $1.85 million. Communities will use RMI funding to enhance services and infrastructure geared at attracting more tourists and having them stay longer.
“We want visitors from throughout the province and the country to be able to experience and see all that this region has to offer, especially its rich cultural heritage,” said Bill Bennett, MLA for Kootenay East. “By investing more than $220,000, we are making sure that Fernie has the infrastructure needed to support a strong tourism industry that creates jobs and strengthens our economy.”
This year’s RMI funds will be used toward projects including the development of recreational trails, cultural and heritage tourism, the Fernie Nordic Centre, a museum and information centre, signage, and a winter shuttle service.
“Tourism is playing an increasingly important role in Fernie’s economy and the RMI funding is allowing us to attract new visitors through the development of tourism infrastructure that would not otherwise be possible without added burden to our existing taxpayers,” said Mary Giuliano, Mayor of Fernie. “The City of Fernie feels very fortunate that that the Province continues to support the RMI Program.”
Since 2007, more than $72.5 million dollars has been invested through the RMI in tourism infrastructure and programs to support regional tourism economies. In 2011, the tourism sector — identified in the BC Jobs Plan as one of eight key sectors — employed 126,700 British Columbians, generated more than $13.4 billion in revenue for tourism-related businesses and contributed more than $1.13 billion to provincial government revenues.
To learn more about the program, visit http://www.ruralbc.gov.bc.ca/about/RMI/RMI_Index.html.
For more information about the BC Jobs Plan, please visit http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/
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