FOCUS OF EFFORT

Our objective is to create an online presence that supports people to learn about the Similkameen Valley as a visitor destination, touring route (via BC Scenic Crowsnest Highway 3), and as a service centre when passing through. Ultimately we want the consumer website to be the official source to find information about the Similkameen Valley including the local businesses that make up the tourism industry. We encourage all businesses on the website to keep their free business listing up-to-date by contacting us with any changes.

Activities for 2023 are primarily the consumer website content updates and social media channels Facebook & Instagram. The Crowsnest Tourism Alliance executes digital campaigns. Pad maps were updated in 2022 and there is adequate stock for 2023. The 2023 Travel Experience Guide is complete.

Our markets continue to be focused primarily in BC, with the secondary market of Alberta. Promoting awareness of the Similkameen Valley continues through our social media channels Facebook and Instagram. Two digital campaigns with our Crowsnest Partnership in Spring/Summer 2023 promoted travel along this corridor in the BC and Alberta markets.

The website requires ongoing updates with copy editing, blogs, seasonal image changes, and back-end updates with technology upgrades to improve the user experience and search engine optimization. Organic search continues to be the number one source of website traffic with the majority being new users accessing the site. The winter home page will be displayed Nov 15-March 14 annually and the summer homepage with video displays March 15-Nov 14. Seasonal highlight links on the home page are updated spring/summer/fall/winter.

SV core marketing activities – Manning Park to Cawston

Core marketing activities include Similkameen Valley brand, photography, video, banners, consumer based-research, website similkameenvalley.com, Facebook and Instagram social media, digital campaigns, print maps, and the official travel experience guide in partnership with Black Press.

Destination BC maintains a consumer messaging webpage to support changing conditions due to health, climate, or other events to support the tourism industry.

Cruise the Crowsnest – Hope to Christina Lake

Crowsnest Scenic 3

The Crowsnest Tourism Alliance (Similkameen Valley Planning Society, Similkameen Independent Winegrowers, Destination Osoyoos, and Boundary Country RDKB) Hope, Cascades and Canyons through Destination BC leveraged funding, has maintained the Cruise the Crownest digital campaign microsite to promote the destinations along this route.

NEW FOR 2023 – WEBSITE LIVE

Highway 3 Initiative – Hope to Sparwood

Through Federal grants, the Thompson Okanagan and Kootenay Rockies Tourism Associations in partnership with the Vancouver Coast and Mountains tourism regions (Destination BC), initiated a Highway 3 project to support tourism growth and visitation along Highway 3 from Hope to Sparwood. A new Road Trip website launched Fall 2023 to support a Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 research-based digital campaign. Additional projects include branding, signage, and other projects. More information to follow.

Destination Canada/Destination BC

New projects to support Highway 3 will be delivered through the Prairie to Pacific initiative. More information to follow.

Review the Program Information

Review the Destination Canada Announcement

HISTORY – SPECIAL FUNDING PROJECTS

In addition to supporting our core marketing activities through the Destination BC Co-Op Funding Program, Destination BC provided additional funds in 2021.

ONE-TIME PROJECTS WITH EXTRA FUNDING IN 2021

Destination BC granted community tourism funds to support additional activities given the COVID-19 global pandemic. Additional projects completed in 2021 included: Tourism Marketing Plan, social media strategy, this online industry resource website, three photoshoots (summer, fall, and winter), new content for the website including the introduction of a BLOG series, website user experience audit, and re-structure, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), updating over 200 new images, copywriting/editing, two rotating home page versions summer and winter and business directory updates and digital channel print cards.

COVID-19 Consumer travel messaging

We link to the official sources for BC travel advisories and add customized messaging if there is a need to alert people about current travel conditions for the Similkameen Valley. Refer to the top header on the consumer website under Current Travel Information. If there is any special messaging you need us to communicate contact us at support@similkameenvalley.com

SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY TOURISM MARKETING STRATEGY

The Similkameen Valley 2021/22 Marketing Strategy has been followed where possible in alignment with PHO orders. Review the Executive Summary or read the full report. The key marketing strategy is story-telling through research-based content creation.

We encourage you to think about shoulder-season and winter tourism, as some people will still want to travel closer to home, despite the lifting of travel restrictions.

Contact Simone Carlysle-Smith, Tourism Services Provider for more information support@similkameenvalley.com