Tourism togetherness in Kootenay
The concept of smaller tourism businesses working together is one that can be successfully applied anywhere, believes Mike Rowland, co-owner of Kootenay Bay’s Tara Shanti Lodge. “We’re in an area that is stunningly beautiful, and we have a lot of visitors passing through. But our area is very unpopulated. We’ve had more trees than visitors,” he said. Kootenay Bay is a small lakeside resort community located in the Creston Valley, along the eastern shore of Kootenay Lake. With such attractions as the longest free ferry ride in the world, it is one of British Columbia’s best interior holiday destinations. But after being bypassed at times by tourists unaware of its existence, a group of several business owners joined together to develop innovative vacation packages. “We’re only now starting to talk to travel agents about these packages,” said Mr Rowland. The vacation packages are designed specifically for active 40-to-60-year-old vacationers. The week-long, all inclusive packages are designed for both experiential and learning vacations. “The advantage for travel agents is that they don’t have to do the work. We’ve already made all the arrangements,” said Mr Rowland. There are several packages. One is the “Outdoor Adventure” package, which combines hiking, kayaking, horseback riding and fishing. A “Week of Wellness” package offers morning workshops and a chance to try several healing and wellness activities, while still another package is geared to golfers. All packages are all-inclusive, including meals and taxes, and all are for a week-long stay. Prices range from a low of 795 (Canadian dollars) to upwards of 1200 (Canadian) for the others. Mr Rowland said he is increasingly being asked to appear before other tourist areas that want to know how a group of small businesses in the Lake Kootenay area came together to do joint marketing. “One of the key things was to sell everyone on the benefits. Some of the businesses started thinking if they offered kayaking, it was competition to hiking. But when businesses found they were complimentary, they liked the idea,” said Mr Rowland. –Report by David Wilkening–
David
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