My partner and I were talking the other night about industry in BC and diversifying our economy.

One of the things that comes to mind as possibly having untapped potential is tourism. Now I know BC already has plenty of tourists, but I wonder if we couldn't make it even more tourist-friendly.

For example, I imagine navigating and traversing the mountain roads of the interior is offputting to almost everyone except locals and other Canadians/Americans used to mountainous terrain, so there are some areas (like the Kootenays) that are extremely difficult to access. Additionallly, it takes a long time to get anywhere in BC, with no good transit options. Flights are expensive, buses take longer than cars and train service is expensive/nonexistent. All things that might discourage tourists from coming to see some of the more remote regions outside of the GVA. I feel like BC could really see a surge in tourism if there was an interconnected transit system province-wide (or at least to tourism-friendly areas) like they have in Japan.

Another thing I feel could encourage more tourism is more resorts. Places like Tofino and Haida Gwaii would be perfect places for resorts because the climate in those places is pretty consistent year round. Places like the Okanagan could invest and develop in resorts that offer a variety of activities depending on the season, such as boating, diving, parasailing, rock climbing, ziplining and of course swimming/relaxing on the beach.

What do you think? Is BC tourism-friendly enough? Would you support the government investing in tourism as a way to improve the economy?