September 29, 2005 for immediate release

The Community Development Institute at UNBC is hosting a presentationon local tourism development in its fall Speakers Series. The freepublic talks will be given in Prince George and Williams Lake byRichard Porges, the Director of Research for Tourism BC:

“Making Research Count: Applying Research to Support Community Tourism Development”

Prince George, Wednesday, Oct 5, 7:30 – 9pm Room 7-150, UNBC campus

Williams Lake, Thursday, Oct 6, 7:30 – 9pm, Council Chambers, Williams Lake City Hall

“Tourism is seen as providing a significant economic opportunity forthe province, but growing our tourism industry will require growingtourism on a community-by-community basis across the province,” saysGreg Halseth, Director of the Community Development Institute and aCanada Research Chair in Rural and Small Town Studies. “This talk willfocus on the use of research and the application of research tools toidentify and take advantage of tourism development opportunities forcommunities.”

Richard Porges is the Director of Research Services at Tourism BritishColumbia. Research Services has completed a number of projects designedto support community and regional tourism development including a studyof the Characteristics of the Nature-Based Tourism Industry in BritishColumbia, the Northern Rockies - Alaska Highway Visitor Study, andvisitor surveys at several Visitor Info Centres around the province.

The Community Development Institute was created at UNBC in 2004. Byundertaking research, sharing information, and supporting educationoutreach, the Community Development Institute at UNBC is interested incommunity capacity and community development issues in northern BC’scommunities.

Contact:
Don Manson, Community Development Institute, UNBC - 250.960.5018
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC - 250.960.5622