Cheers Okanagan! We have reason to toast: the Okanagan Valley, dubbed by some as Napa North, and by others as the Tuscany of Canada, is a top travel destination for 2009, in the eyes of TripAdvisor. The compilation of 10 of North America’s most alluring wine destinations was decided on in a survey of over 1000 Americans, 48% of which said they planned to visit a vineyard this year.
“As the only Canadian wine region on this list, this is a true badge of honour for the Okanagan Valley and its cities,” says Nancy Cameron, CEO of Tourism Kelowna. “TripAdvisor is a well-regarded information website with reviews of destinations from travelers, and it has enjoyed over 30 million unique visitors to the website for the last 2 months in a row.”
Kelly Reid of Penticton & Wine Country Tourism agrees. “The TripAdvisor accolade comes on the heels of some significant editorial about the Okanagan Valley in publications such as Sunset Magazine and Endless Vacation magazine. Furthermore, it promotes movement throughout the Okanagan, which is a benefit to the players in the valley-wide tourism industry.”
“TripAdvisor is certainly one of the most recognizable and influential travel media brands on the global stage,” adds Miles Prodan, Regional Media Relations Specialist with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association. “This vote of confidence places the region among the most desirable wine destinations to visit in 2009/2010 with the TripAdvisor audience.”
Other wine destinations that were named in the round-up by TripAdvisor were Napa Valley, Sonoma, Willamette Valley, Yakima Valley, Roseburg, Finger Lakes, Traverse City, North Fork, and Oak Grove. For further information on Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley, visit www.tourismkelowna.com; www.tourismpenticton.com; www.lifeisgood.travel.
See full TripAdvisor press release regarding this top 10 list at www.tripadvisor.com/PressCenter
As a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), Tourism Kelowna invests in advertising, promotion, and sales strategies that build consumer demand for the destination resulting in increased visitation and spending. It also operates the Visitor Centres of Harvey Avenue at Ellis Street and of the Kelowna International Airport. The primary funding source for Tourism Kelowna continues to be the Additional Hotel Room Tax that is collected by local accommodators.
