Tourism Vernon will be hosting the third annual Tourism Vernon Industry Familiarization (FAM) Tour on May 15 and May 16. During the tour, local front-line staff and visitor centre teams from around B.C. will visit and experience Vernon tourism providers to showcase attractions, venues and accommodations. The FAM tour will include local heritage attractions, golf, agritourism products and attractions, arts and culture, and Vernon accommodators, and give participants a chance to sample taste local cuisine.
“We want to engage our community and provincial tourism professionals to actively promote Vernon as a destination with lots to see and do for visitors,” said Ange Chew, Tourism Manager for the City of Vernon and Tourism Vernon. “Our goal is to attract more visitors to Vernon and get visitors to explore more and stay longer. This program was the first of its kind in B.C., and we are delighted to be leading the pack for creating tourism advocacy for Vernon. Our tourism partners have supported us from year one and continue to help us grow tourism yearly,”
During the two-day FAM tour, up to 69 participates will learn about and experience some of Vernon’s key tourism destinations, from Predator Ridge Golf Resort to Historic O’Keefe Ranch. Participants will also visit Mackie Lake House, enjoy pie at Davison Orchards, taste spirits at Okanagan Distillery and local craft cider at the BX Press, learn about Vernon’s history with a mural walk and visit the Vernon Public Art Gallery.
“When you visit a new destination, the people you trust for advice are the people who live in the area,” said Leah Campbell, Marketing & Social Media Manager for Davison Orchards. “We are so excited to get a chance to showcase our business to our own B.C. hosts. We know they have a lot of sway with our visitors and we have seen firsthand what a positive impact they can have on our business.”
Space is still available for the FAM tour. Front-line staff of tourism-based businesses in Vernon can reserve a spot or get more information at Vernon Visitor Servicesby emailing info@tourismvernon.com.