The District of Sechelt has awarded the Visitor Information Centre contract to Sunshine Coast Tourism (SCT), at a cost of $40,000.
The Community Services Society had been running the VIC since 2004, but opted late last year to end its agreement with the district and the centre closed on Dec. 31.
A March 4 release from the district announcing the contract with SCT said a date to reopen the VIC is still to be set.
The release also said council has directed municipal staff “to develop a pilot Sechelt Host program which would establish satellite visitor services in our local businesses on a volunteer basis.”
Staff will work with local businesses, the Sechelt Downtown Business Association, the Chamber of Commerce and SCT to develop a program to run as a pilot project this summer.
The budget for that is estimated at $10,000.
Documents included with the March 6 council agenda indicate the Chamber was also interested in bidding to run the VIC.
“In the very limited time available to us, we have tried to provide a viable proposal but have concluded that doing so would be well outside the stated criteria in the RFP document,” the Chamber said in a letter dated Jan. 31. “Should another party provide an acceptable submission to the RFP, we will be pleased to assist them in any way, to ensure our visitors have a great experience in Sechelt.”
Bid information from SCT, also included in the March 6 council agenda, shows SCT hopes to rehire the “well-liked, competent, and experienced former part-time Sechelt Visitor Centre employees.”
It also shows that the $40,000 contract fee will be supplemented with $15,000 through Destination BC, a federal youth summer employment grant, anticipated revenue of $6,000 from the sale of souvenirs and maps, and $5,000 in fees for “racking” promotional material from tourism operators.
SCT predicted the $73,500 total would allow it to operate at a break-even point.
“I am very pleased we will continue to offer visitor services as a way to encourage longer visits and direct tourists to our local businesses. This will be very good for our local economy,” said Mayor Darnelda Siegers.
“Operating the Sechelt Visitor Information Centre will help ensure consistent services and brand identity for tourism on the Sunshine Coast,” added SCT executive director Paul Kamon.
