The District of Sechelt says it plans to give a new three-year contract to run the Visitor Information Centre (VIC) to Sunshine Coast Tourism (SCT) by direct award.
The tourism agency was the only bidder when the district went searching for a new operator after the Community Services Society opted to end its agreement with the district on Dec. 31, 2018 after 14 years.
The initial $40,000 contract with SCT is set to expire at the end this year.
In its Sept. 17 notice that it would directly award the new contract, the district said, “SCT has unique knowledge and experience in tourism marketing and visitor services [and] knowledge and experience in Sunshine Coast tourism marketing is a must for this contract.”
It also said Sunshine Coast Tourism has managed the VIC well.
“Under SCT management the number of visitors [has] increased, VIC ranking on traveller sites has improved, the page visits to the Sechelt pages on the SCT website has increased and there is a more cohesive service in attracting visitors and then providing visitor services when they arrive,” the notice said.
The contract, estimated at $50,000 per year, includes options for two one-year extensions.
Anyone with objections to the direct awarding of the contract has until 2 p.m. Sept. 30 to submit the objections in writing to: [email protected].
