My platform can be summarised as making New Westminster an even more liveable city for all its citizens. And tourism is one of the livebility pillars that make it possible so I just have to write about it!
The Benefits
As a City we strongly encourage tourism as firstly, it makes a direct contribution to our enconomy as tourists spend money here. Also tourists add to the live and colour of the city, making it more fun to live here.
The indirect benefits of tourism are as important. For example, when tourists like what they see – our new buildings offering excellent modern housing, parks, easy transport, sport, arts, cinema – they might decide to move here.
Another indirect benefit of tourism is when business people visit the city and see the tremendous potential, they will consider starting a new business here.
Who Are Our Tourists
One gets so used to our city, that you no longer see the attraction for tourists. But tourism will be a growing part of our economy.
The region is an important gateway for Asian visitors, has major attractions in its own right, excellent infrastructure, and growing reputation/exposure. World tourism is rising as developing economies produce new affluent travellers.
Many of our “tourists” are not from overseas, but from neighbouring communities like Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond and Burnaby who come to shop, dine, go to the movies (soon). Other tourists include family and friends who come to visit.
As a City we encourage tourism but as individuals we also need to make tourists welcome in the Royal City.
You know Folks, in the 1940′s Columbia Street was known as the “golden mile” of the lower mainland – it is rapidly becoming that again. Oh, I know that some of the developments are still causing a mess, but look beyond that and capture the vision, the tourism potential! I get so excited!
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