Two regional marketing organizations are using collaboration to promote the Kootenay Rockies region, with Kootenay Rockies Tourism and Invest Kootenay formally entering a partnership to work together on regional marketing initiatives aimed at tourism and business investment.
The two organizations see a strong link between tourism and investment attraction, since investment interest is often sparked by a tourism visit to the region.
"The collaboration between Invest Kootenay and Kootenay Rockies Tourism is a natural,” said Garry Jackman, chair of Invest Kootenay and RDCK Area A Director. “Those of us who have operated businesses in the area, in particular tourism-based businesses, recognize that many of our new residents were at one time visitors to the region, whether on business or holidays.
“The Kootenay Rockies region provides opportunities for entrepreneurs who also value an active, outdoor lifestyle or who just appreciate being close to nature in a pristine environment. Connecting visitors who are introduced to the area through Kootenay Rockies Tourism to local investment opportunities is important both for succession of existing businesses and growth within the region."
The partners believe that the regional tourism sector is supported by vibrant communities with diverse, local businesses.
“This new relationship is a win/win for both organizations,” said Kathy Cooper, managing director of Kootenay Rockies Tourism. “We believe there will be many opportunities for both Kootenay Rockies Tourism and Invest Kootenay to work together to generate more tourism and investment revenue for this entire region. We look forward to exploring those opportunities going forward.”
An early initiative already launched by the partners is inclusion of Invest Kootenay on the Kootenay Rockies Tourism Kootenay App – a free mobile application that offers complete travel information services for the region, including over 1,200 product listings. Kootenay App users can click on the Invest Kootenay button to be directed to the InvestKootenay.com site, where they will find investment opportunity listings from around the Kootenay Rockies region.
Kootenay Rockies Tourism is one of British Columbia’s six official regional Destination Management and Marketing Organizations. The organization represents more than 600 tourism businesses and operators and coordinates tourism marketing initiatives for the region.
Invest Kootenay is a regional partnership of several Kootenay-region communities who have joined forces to attract, retain, and expand business investment in their community.