Tourism New West enjoyed some “big wins” on the tourism front in 2017 but has more big things planned for 2018.
Tej Kainth, executive director, said the local destination marketing organization focuses on four main areas – destination development, marketing and media, product development and visitor servicing. She said some of Tourism New Westminster’s 2017 highlights included: providing five downtown wayfinding maps that have been illustrated in a fun and active way; launching four self-guided tours in the downtown; participating in regional campaigns like the B.C. Ale Trail and the West Coast Food; creating the Bucketlist 150 brochure of the best experiences in New Westminster as suggested by locals; providing a pop-up visitor Info on the Go kiosk at 18 outdoor events; and collaborating with local businesses and venues to put on 12 events (including six sellouts) during the 2017 Feast on the Fraser event.
One of Tourism New Westminster’s big plans for 2018 is the creation of a new website, which will be launched early in the new year.
“We hope that our website is going to be the official website for anything and everything that’s happening in New Westminster when it comes to fun and different activities and attractions to go and check out,” Kainth said. “It’s going to be more interactive.”
Tourism New West is also looking to expand its visitor services program in 2018 – and will be inviting residents to get involved.
“Having the Info on the Go kiosk this last summer was very big for us. We want to expand, where we get more locals involved in participating and volunteering their time to help Tourism New West at all the different festivals and events and be our brand ambassadors,” Kainth said. “People want to engage with the locals, and this is a great opportunity for New Westminster residents who love their city to get involved with Tourism New West and be able to promote all of our activities and our areas that New Westminster is so proud of.”
In the spring of 2018, visitors and residents alike will be able to take self-guided digital walking tours, including a public art tour and a tour highlighting the city’s heritage, entertainment and food history. Future tours could include a walking tour highlighting filming that’s taken place in New Westminster.
Jorden Foss, chair of Tourism New West’s board of directors, took part in the pilot program for the public art tour. He thinks the tours are a great idea as they get the city in the public eye a bit more and showcase some of the cool and interactive things that are being done in the city.
“Once you download the neartuit.com app, it basically takes your Bluetooth and finds these little beacons that are placed throughout the city and it finds the beacon nearest to you so you can choose what tour you want to go on. You download the tour you want to go on,” Foss said. “It’s a neat technologically cool way to experience the city.”
