InnFocus Summer 2023

We had an opportunity to interview the Honourable Minister
Lana Popham, British Columbia’s new Minister of Tourism, Arts,
Culture and Sport recently to give our readers a chance to learn
more about her and her priorities for the tourism industry.
Please give a brief introduction of yourself along
with your past positions in government and private
enterprise.
​I was first elected as MLA for Saanich South in 2009. Over the
next 8 years, I was appointed the official Opposition critic for
Agriculture and Food, and as the official Opposition critic for Small
Business, Tourism, Arts and Culture. In 2017, I was elected into
Government and became BC’s first woman Minister of Agriculture
and stayed there for five years. In 2022, I was moved into my new
role of Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.
Prior to politics I was a farmer. I co-founded and operated
Barking Dog Vineyard, the first certified organic vineyard on
Vancouver Island, but also was also very active in my community
and dedicated much of my time, and many years, to community
service. This included Saanich’s Planning, Transportation and
Economic Development Committee, Peninsula Agricultural
Commission, and Vancouver Island Grape Growers Association.
Growing up on Quadra Island gave me a unique perspective on
sustainability, food security, and tourism economies, and because
of that I have been an advocate for local food producers and
small businesses for as long as I can remember.
What are you hoping to achieve as British
Columbia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture
and Sport?
BC’s visitor economy creates opportunities for people throughout
our province. Many visitors are looking to have travel experiences
that reflect the importance of sustainability, the value our natural
environment, and respect for reconciliation. My ministry’s
stewardship of the industry is rooted in the principles of diversity,
inclusivity, reconciliation, and partnerships, and our goal is
to rebuild visitor revenues to 2019 levels by 2024 by working
with everyone involved in this incredible sector. Our Strategic
Framework for Tourism reflects industry and government’s
shared vision for building the tourism industry back to be even
more competitive than it was before, with a clear focus on our
shared goals and three important pillars: People, Planet, and
Prosperity.
So much work is being done right across the province by
thousands of people who make their livelihoods in this sector.
My job as Minister is to support the work being done by those
who are contributing to a greener future by achieving sustainable
growth across all four seasons and all regions of the province.
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InnFocus 13