Published on : Wednesday, April 17, 2019
The award, for cities with approximate inhabitants between 50,000-150,000, identifies powerful partnership between the City of Kelowna and Tourism Kelowna, along with the local, national, and international organization’s efforts and clubs which work together with organizations annually in attracting, organizing, and executing sport events in Kelowna every year.
“We are committed to establishing Kelowna as a centre for multi-sport excellence, as a host to tournaments large and small, including major athletic events, such as the Apple Triathlon and Okanagan Marathon,” said Mayor Colin Basran. “With sport and event tourism as a key driver for travel to Kelowna, it contributes significantly to the local economy through tourism’s $1.25 billion in annual economic output.”
Recent instance comprise the World Mixed Curling Championships which contributed $630,000 in new visitor spending in Kelowna previous fall. Upcoming events including Skate Canada International in the fall and the 2020 Memorial Cup championship.
“Kelowna has established itself as a leading destination for sport tourism and hosting,” said Tourism Kelowna CEO Lisanne Ballantyne. “In 2018 Kelowna was host to more than 100 sport events. The national title awarded to Kelowna recognized a cross section of those events, specifically national championships and international events, while also considering major events secured for 2019 and 2020. We’re on the map and will continue to promote Kelowna’s established reputation as a sought after destination for sport and event tourism.”
Tags: An ideal sports tourism