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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

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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

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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

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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.

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