Don’t politicize tourism kiosk
Editor:
Re: Tourism White Rock takes over kiosk, Dec. 27.
The South Surrey chamber of commerce lost management of the kiosk information booth.
White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin and council decided to give this marketing and public-relations responsibility to Tourism White Rock. This decision was announced at council’s year-end meeting.
According to Mayor Baldwin, this idea was under consideration for some time. The stakeholders involved here are the South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce, Tourism White Rock and White Rock council.
The kiosk historically was managed by the chamber. It is a road-driven information centre for visitors and tourists.
The chamber is the first line of contact for tourists/visitors to obtain accurate and formal information, like accommodation, eateries and local attractions based in White Rock.
The benefits to tourism are vested in long-term marketing and business prospecting in order to sell and showcase our fair city in the future. This can be one to five years.
By removing the kiosk from under the jurisdiction of the chamber and placing it under the arm of Tourism White Rock, council is politicizing the organization.
Its operations and functions should be independent of the city manager’s office.
This decision seems premature and not well thought out, as the financial director is unable to say what the savings will be when the move is finalized and the tourism director was on vacation and unavailable for comment for the article.
Orvis Noel, Surrey
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