Vernon tourism services go mobile in May – Vernon Morning Star

If people do not gather at the visitor center, Tourism Vernon will meet them at the beach or on the street.

This is the idea behind the transition from the Vernon visitor center to a mobile team that will soon be in action.

The city council felt that the old model of traditional tourism was outdated. The city has seen a steady decline in trips to the Visitor Information Center (in 2019 there were 58% fewer visits to the center compared to 2006) and costs exceed revenues.

The center saw a slight increase in visits in 2014, the year it was centralized, but the downward trend has continued since.

In response, Tourism Vernon is shifting to a mobile visitor services team that will hit the streets in May, as approved by council on Monday, April 26.

The goal is to provide quick and efficient support to tourists by meeting them where they are – in places like Kin Beach, Ellison Provincial Park and throughout downtown. The team will also interact with people via phone, email and Facebook chat.

An enhanced digital presence will complement the new visitor services program in the form of website enhancements and new digital maps.

Mayor Victor Cumming said promoting tourism and hospitality is a top priority as the sector recovers from the pandemic.

“With fewer resources available, the Tourism Commission and City Council have thought carefully about how our investments will be most effective and how we can reimagine our visitor service to showcase Vernon, communicate meaningfully with visitors and residents and continue to provide exceptional customer service, ”Cumming said.

Tourism research indicates that this mobile model works best across the province and in Canada, according to Claus Larsen, chairman of the tourism commission and director of accommodations at Predator Ridge Resort.

“Travelers are researching more, booking more and buying more on mobile devices. They are already operating in a digital space, so we are pivoting our efforts to offer a hands-on approach that helps connect visitors to local attractions and activities, and presents area residents with new opportunities that match changes in the market, ”he said. Larsen said.

Kevin Poole, director of economic development and tourism, said the change followed the lead of several other communities in British Columbia who have found the mobile model useful – and not just for tourists.

“Not only have these communities seen positive results in connecting visitors to local attractions, but they have also seen an increasing number of local residents begin to explore their own communities and find local businesses or attractions they did not know existed.” , said Poole.

“This in turn has helped residents become ambassadors for their communities and spread awareness of what is available in their own backyards.

To learn more, visit www.tourismvernon.com.

Brendan Shykora

Tourism