By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

New Tourism Van Isle boss has big plans for Nanaimo

Oct 27, 2017 | 4:37 PM

NANAIMO — Tourism Vancouver Island’s new CEO has a plan to unify the tourist communities in the mid-island, including Nanaimo.

Anthony Everett will take the CEO mantle on Jan. 3, 2018, taking over from Dave Petryk.

Everett says while he’s still assessing the various destinations on Vancouver Island, his immediate goal is to draw on his tourism experiences in northern B.C. to strengthen the bond between cities such as Nanaimo and Parksville.

“We really got communities to work together so (tourists) felt that there was a connection between them. We were all working together to move that visitor through our communities and have an excellent experience.”

With stronger ties between tourism destinations on the island, Everett said boosting numbers is also a major target.

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In Nanaimo, only six cruise ships were expected to visit the Nanaimo Port Authority dock in 2017, well below the 25 to 30 ship goal they’d set.

Everett said the tides may soon turn for cruise ship tourism in Nanaimo.

“From what I understand, Victoria is rapidly reaching capacity when it comes to cruise ship passengers, so maybe that’s an opportunity. Nanaimo is perfectly poised to capture people that travel up and down the island for a vacation destination.”

It’s unclear how much involvement Everett will have handling tourism in Nanaimo. Currently, TVI covers destination marketing for the City on a one-year, $470,500 contract until Feb. 1, 2018. The contract was awarded after Tourism Nanaimo was removed as an aspect of the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation, which was eventually shut down entirely.

Previously, the City said they hoped to transition to a new tourism entity in 2018.

Comment from the City about the transition process and progress were unanswered by deadline.

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