How do we create a thriving sustainable community? A place where residents flourish, businesses prosper, ecosystems are preserved for future generations, and visitors are welcomed as contributors to the island’s balanced, resilient and valued way of life?
Tourism Strategy
This past spring, Tourism Bowen Island released a 10-year tourism strategy, a Community-based Responsible Visitation Plan for Bowen Island. Have you read it yet? If not, we encourage you to do so. The strategy is available on Tourism Bowen Island’s website under the Resident section. You can read the plan online or download a PDF copy.
The overarching goal of the strategy is to balance the values and wellbeing of residents, environment, economy, and visitors. This 10-year strategy is a living document and the first step towards developing a regenerative tourism ecosystem on Bowen Island.
You’ll find over 55 initiatives presented – some are quick wins and others are complex and long-term objectives. These initiatives are organized under four strategic goals: 1) Visitor Management; 2) Community Engagement and Regional Collaboration; 3) Infrastructure and Investment; 4) Environmental Protection and Regenerative Tourism. The success of this plan is dependent on community support, collaborations, and cross-sectoral partnerships.
Resident Survey
One of our community engagement goals is to conduct an annual resident survey. Our last resident survey was conducted in February 2023 with more than 250 residents responding. The survey feedback and comments were invaluable, informing our research and the plan’s initiatives. When you read the plan, you’ll find a diversity of survey respondents’ comments included.
We want to hear from you again! We’ve launched a new resident survey that’s live now and closes Sunday, December 15. The survey takes 5-10 minutes to complete. Your feedback is vitally important, providing a current snapshot of issues/considerations and helping to set priorities and future actions.
The survey is anonymous and asks questions specific to Bowen Island, as well as more general tourism-related questions. We want to hear from you: Take the Resident Survey about Tourism
Community Engagement
Another opportunity to share feedback is an open house in early 2025. Our fall engagement session was delayed and given the holidays are upon us, we’ll be hosting a resident open house in February. The good news: you’ll have time to read the tourism strategy and prepare your questions/comments. More details will be announced in January, once the dates and venue are confirmed.
Good to Know
You’ll find the resident survey and A Community-Based Responsible Visitation Plan for Bowen Island on the Resident webpage on Tourism Bowen Island’s website. The survey closes December 15.
Tourism Bowen Island Association (TBI) is a small member-based non-profit organization managed by a volunteer board of directors. Since 2015, TBI is the central body for local tourism, providing destination management, visitor services and community economic development. TBI operates the Visitor Information Centre on behalf of the Municipality, but TBI is not part of the municipality.
You can find us online at www.tourismbowenisland.com and by email at [email protected]
Please email us anytime with your questions or comments.
