Who We Are & What We Do
Sunshine Coast Tourism (SCT) is a non-profit “Destination Marketing Organization (DMO)”, established in 2008 to promote British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, from Howe Sound to Desolation Sound, as a premier year-round travel destination for regional, national and international travellers.
Our primary role is to:
- Raise awareness of and inspire visitors to come to the Sunshine Coast
- Help create the conditions locally that ensure visitors have a positive and remarkable experience when they get here
Led by a volunteer Board of Directors and managed by a small team of passionate and dedicated staff, we are supported by our stakeholder partners, as well as our local, provincial and Indigenous governments who all see the value of growing the tourism economy and working together to market the Sunshine Coast in a way that no one business could achieve individually.
Our success in attracting responsible visitors to the Coast means more customers for our local businesses – accommodators, restaurants, shops, events, attractions and more. In essence, we help bring the people to the Coast, and our local businesses benefit from their patronage.
How We Do It
As the Sunshine Coast’s DMO, we engage with other provincial and national tourism organizations and industry associations to keep on top of trends in the global tourism marketplace. We understand the different types of travellers, what they want in the way of travel experiences — and what the Sunshine Coast has to offer them. This knowledge helps us target our activities and is critical to our ability to help grow the Sunshine Coast’s tourism industry.
As a local organization, we also work closely with our regional governments, business associations, community groups, local businesses and others on initiatives that enhance our community and tourism opportunities.
Here are just some of the ways our activities help create a thriving Sunshine Coast tourism economy and support local businesses:
Destination Marketing
Our marketing and promotional activities have created a “brand”, or identity, for the Sunshine Coast as a laid-back coastal community inspired by nature, with exceptional outdoor recreational offerings and rich in art, culture, food, drink and soul-soothing retreats. We bring the brand to our target audiences through a variety of mediums including print and digital advertising, social media, website content, print collateral (like maps and guides), trade shows, and more.
Industry Advocacy
We participate on local committees to represent the interests of the tourism sector by helping influence conditions for more favourable visitor experiences
Community Development
We support community development through our participation on committees focused on the creation of community enhancements and initiatives that will benefit residents and visitors alike.
Visitor Services
We operate the Gibsons and Sechelt Visitor Centres where our Visitor Services teams provide a friendly welcome, promote local businesses and attractions, and provide visitors with the information they need to create memorable experiences.
Local Employment
We employ a small team of regular and part-time staff, and through the Canada Summer Jobs program provide employment, mentoring and training for students at our Visitor Centres, giving them valuable hands-on experience and insight into the tourism and travel industry.
Industry Intelligence & Education
We have access to and share tourism industry data and intelligence to help Sunshine Coast businesses understand the broader tourism marketplace, and offer a variety of workshops and training opportunities to help local companies plan for and promote their own businesses.