Greg Girard

The TIABC Provincial Tourism Roundtables 2025–2026 report is one of the strongest pieces of evidence produced in recent years supporting many of the issues EH Canada Travel has championed on behalf of rural and small-town tourism operators.

For years, EH Canada Travel has advocated that tourism should be treated as essential economic infrastructure. TIABC's findings reinforce this position by stating that tourism investment creates employment, diversifies local economies, stimulates private investment, and strengthens communities.

Participants identified the need for investment in sectors including recreation infrastructure, trails, waterfronts, transportation, cultural experiences, visitor amenities, connectivity, funding, print and online materials, and year-round attractions.

Participants consistently stated that funding is declining. Enough with the MRDI, and build a fund for rural communities that want to build a tourism economy, not ones that already have one.

We attended the round tables. And good job, small town BC, for raising critical issues, and thankful that the TIABC is listening. Now it is action time.