Having been recognised for its unparalleled dedication to sustainability by the World Journey Awards, Breaking Journey Information right here chats with Glenn Mandziuk, chief govt of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Area, to seek out out extra
Breaking Journey Information: Congratulations – the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Area has been honoured with North America’s Responsible Tourism Award on the World Travel Awards. How does it really feel to have gained?
Glenn Mandziuk: On behalf of myself the board of administrators and our complete crew on the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Affiliation we’re extraordinarily honoured that the Thompson Okanagan Area has as soon as once more be recognised in North America for our dedication to sustainability.
By no means earlier than within the historical past of tourism have we confronted the challenges which were led to by the Covid-19 pandemic, nevertheless, it’s only highlighted the necessity for our business to work collaboratively on the long-term success and sustainability of the sector.
We respect and thank the World Journey Awards for recognising the devoted work of our affiliation and area for the third yr and may guarantee you that we’ll be persevering with our efforts to maneuver ahead and construct again higher extra sustainable tourism business for the longer term.
BTN: That is the third successive yr the area has taken the distinguished title – what’s it that you just try this separates you from rivals throughout North America?
GM: One of many main areas separating our work in tourism sustainability from others in North America is the effort and time that has been dedicated to the administration and stewardship of the area.
We started this focus in 2009/2010 embarking on a ten-year regional technique, the primary of its sort in North America.
The technique – entitled ‘Embracing Our Potential – took 18-months to finish and engaged stakeholders in 90 communities and 33 indigenous communities across the area.
In the end launched in 2012, it outlined a transparent path ahead for your entire area.
Underpinning each strategic route within the doc was the stakeholders expressed want that sustainability be on the forefront of any actions.
In March this yr, after an 18-month overview of the unique technique, we launched the up to date ‘Embracing Our Potential 2.0’ constructing additional on the unique doc.
Having these methods in addition to a transparent mandate from our stakeholders, communities, and governments has ensured that every one of our efforts and actions are nicely outlined and that there was and is an unwavering dedication to sustainability.
This has additionally continued to information and help our efforts us for the reason that outset of the Covid-19 pandemic offering the organisation with a transparent route on the trail ahead to greatest help our tourism stakeholders.
BTN: How helpful are the World Journey Awards trophies with regards to selling the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Area to a world hospitality market?
GM: The World Journey Awards has enabled the Thompson Okanagan Area to have a presence on a global stage that might not have been achieved by means of conventional advertising and marketing and promotional avenues.
Not solely has it enabled us to talk on to markets that will have been unaffordable for us to succeed in in any other case, but it surely has additionally supplied the chance to inform our story and communicate on to the kind of customer that we wish to entice to this area primarily based on our robust values and concentrate on sustainability.
As we begin towards constructing again tourism and the longer term, it is going to be extra vital than ever that the precise guests are drawn to this area, that they perceive their potential impacts each optimistic and unfavourable, and that they respect and respect the vital position that sustainability performs all through the Thompson Okanagan
BTN: Thompson Okanagan Tourism Area itself shall be welcome the World Journey Awards North America Gala Ceremony in 2021. What position can occasions resembling this play in serving to the area overcome the affect of Covid-19?
GM: Whereas we had been very a lot trying ahead to welcoming the World Journey Awards to our area this fall, we’re hopeful that we’ll be collectively once more in 2021, and that having gone by means of these unprecedented instances we can have gained an excellent higher respect for each the significance and fragility of our world and our business.
All of us anxiously await the day that we will as soon as once more expertise the various cultures and historical past of neighbours worldwide, nevertheless, this pause has additionally enabled us the chance to rethink journey and experiences and to work more durable to protect them for futures generations to proceed to take pleasure in.
Occasions such because the World Journey Awards can help all areas globally in recognising these which are striving to create a greater world of tourism, one which values and awards these making a distinction within the business.
The awards have the power to spotlight the achievements of our collective measures of our resiliency and of our capability to rethink how we current ourselves as an business.
Understanding and appreciating that our success have to be measured by greater than revenues and variety of travellers, however our capability to coach others and protect all of the wonders that make one of the best journey experiences and guarantee their longevity.
Extra Info
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Affiliation represents a various space in western Canada, stretching from Christina Lake and the Shuswap to the east, Cache Creek and Princeton to the west, Mount Robson within the north and Osoyoos within the south.
Discover out extra on the official website.
Picture: Tom Ryan
