Agri-tourism will be at the heart of a new Shuswap Tourism campaign thanks to a $100,000 grant from BC’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.
The funds will be going towards the creation of the Farmgate Tour project, which will help promote local producers and their home-grown and homemade products.
Farmstands are a popular experience and a driver for agritourism. We are proposing a Farmgate Tour through the Shuswap to create an exciting visitor experience that supports local farmers, increases tourism to the regional economy and expands into shoulder season travel.
Morgen Matheson, Team Leader for Shuswap Tourism and Film Commission, is excited for the opportunity to cultivate the Agri-tourism sector in the Shuswap.
“We are looking forward to working closely with our regional partners to build a strong agri-tourism asset for years to come,” she says.
“Agriculture is a huge asset in the Shuswap. With over 600 large and small-scale producers, we feel there is an opportunity to develop a compelling highly valuable visitor experience that will continue to grow tourism in the Shuswap as a four-season destination,” she adds.
Shuswap Tourism is one of the 90 grant recipients across the province, supporting shovel-ready tourism development projects through the Destination Development Fund. The fund provides $30 million in one-time grants to support the development and rejuvenation of tourism infrastructure, assets and experiences.
“Agri-tourism has shown to be a strong motivator for travel in the Thompson Okanagan, with similar initiatives helping to entice travellers to make visits north of Kelowna,” says Matheson.
Work on the Farmgate Tour project is already underway, with plans to launch in the summer of 2024.
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