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Our Town

21 - Sunday,

July 29, 1990 - North Shore News

Tourism reaps millions annually

NORTH SHORE residents have
an environment of natural splendor.

always enjoyed living in
What they perhaps

don’: realize, however, is that local mountains and canyons
translate into big tourism dollars.

“Tourism could easily be our
number-one industry.”" says North
Shore Tourism Committee chair-
man Kelly Millin. ‘But it’s a con-
stant struggle for North Shore

By PEGGY TRENDELLWHITTARKER

News Reporter

Tourism to) convince businesses
that tourism is important for

NEWS photo Stuart Davis

TOURISTS ARE drawn to the natural splendors of the North Shore
like these visitors enjoying a day at the Capilano River.

Dad

HAVE YOU SEEN THE CHANGES
ON 14th & MARINE DRIVE
IN WEST VANCOUVER?

Don has taken over the 14th St. block and
added to his collection the two remaining
stores formerly Margarita’s and U-Frame-
It. With all the improvements on 14th
Street and the new 14th Street Pier, this
location makes for a beautiful setting to
view Don's fine collection of Patio & Lawn
Furniture in wood, resins, aluminum, and
other metals at 15% to 30% OFF

There is a very specia! contest
going on at West Van Patio and
Lawn Furniture. Count the
Frogs Contest fox kids 14 years
and under, from July to August.
Kids could win a Nintendo
Power Glove and 2 Patio Set
valued at $699 for Mom and

PS. Count all the
frogs in pictures,
a tts and in all

Never rust
Reg. $699

everyone."

In) February. North Shore
Tourist. a commutioe composed
of otepresentatives trom cach
muntapahits and both the North
and West Vancouser Chambers of
Commerce. organized a tourism
seminar instead of us usual wala
start-up party.

“Unfortunately, the turnout
was very, Sery low.” Millin sass.
Although all members of the
Chambers of Commerce were
contacted, only about 200 showed
up.

Buta study oon) tourism in
Greater Vancouver indictates that
local merchants should start tak-
ing tourist dollars serioushs ,

According to the repert, com-
missioned by Tourism Vancouver,
direct’ expenditures by overnight
visitors to Greater Vancouver last
year totalled $1.56 billion. Almost
50 per cent of all visitors surveyed
said they visit other communities
in addition to the City of Van-
couver.

And if the 35,000 visitor inqui-
ries at the North Vancouver
Chamber of Commerce are any-
thing to go by. tourists are cert-
tainly making the North Shore
part of their itinerary.

But Millin says the market is
barely tapped, especially in the
area of business conventions.

“Our problem is no major
hotels. We don't have any major
rooms to book large groups.
When the Canyon Gardens ban-
quet rooms went down, there was
trouble.”*

While she waits for the day
such a hotel becomes a reality, the
North Shore Tourism Committee
is far from idle.

Funded by the municipalities
and run by volunteers, the com-
mittee was established in 1987 fol-
lowing a recommendation by an
economic development task force
that covered all North Shore in-
dustries.

Formed to market tourism on
the North Shore, the committee
has been actively invoived in the
development of the North Shore
scenic route, a North Shore tourist

CAST ALUMINUM LAWN FURNITURE

Now $499

5 pce.

* PICK UP PRICE $449.00

FOUR DIFFERENT STYLES TO
CHOOSE FROM «- 2 ROUND SIZES
© RECTANGLE + SQUARE

map and seon-tosbe released
brochure, deseloning oa press
release program, the North Shore
News annual fourm: supplement,
trade shows and oreanizing ‘‘fa-
miltarivation’” tours for teur
ormaeizabons and travel writers
visiting the North Share,

Acrecent coup Was bringing rep-
resentatives of the Pacttig Asia
Travel Association (PATA) te the
North Shore for a tour.

“Getting these people here as
the best tourism promotion we
could do.” said Millin.

\ photo of the visitors in: front
of the Lonsdale Quay Market
showed up on the front page of
the PATA newsletter, which is

Ballard

* Umbrella

© 4 Cushions

e 4 — 3 pos. Chairs
¢ Table

1164-15th Street, West
North Vancouver, BC.

Canada
Phone (604) 986-4104

BALLARD BATTERY SYSTEMS

14 years
on the North Shore.

11 PIECE SET

distributed to thousands of travel
agents and writers throughout the
Pacitic Asia region.

According to Mallia, goals of
the committee include estublishioy
a sesource fibrary thar could issue
press packages. photos and
brochures on each of the local
fount QU racuens,

ft will produce a tourist guide
by next summer, and in honor of
North Vancouver District's cen-
tennial next year, Millin hopes the
committee will be able to open a
tourist information centre near the
Second Narrows Bridge, to com-
Plement the existing centres at
Capilano and Marine and at
Lonsdale Quay.

V7P M9

Reg.
* Base
$1995
© Removable
leaf table

SALE $ | 495

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