The Sunshine Coast Tourism Partnership (SCTP) is a working committee of the Sunshine Coast Community Economic Development Society (SCCEDS). The SCTP is a volunteer alliance of community groups, organizations and local businesses with an interest in tourism development.

The Sunshine Coast Tourism Partnership (SCTP) recognized the need to manage the tourism sector as a community rather than as individuals or separate organizations. Through cooperation and collaboration, the tourism industry has united to develop the tourism industry sector as part of an economic diversification strategy for the lower Sunshine Coast. A key strategy is "external" or off-coast marketing to promote the region, the "Sunshine Coast," under a unified brand.  Individual efforts have greater impact when coordinated together, thus extending market reach.

The Sunshine Coast Tourism Partnership steering committee formed in 2000 and has been meeting on a regular basis to create an alliance with tourism stakeholders to establish a destination marketing organization (DMO).  The SCTP requested Community Futures Development Corporation of the Sunshine Coast (CFDC-SC) to facilitate this process.  Phase one of the project determined the need to establish a destination marketing organization. During phase two funding was secured to produce a tourism inventory, a business plan and a strategic marketing plan. The final phase, implementation, has been started with projects such as the regional branding, Recreation Map, new travel guide with Vancouver Coast and Mountains, Sustainable Funding Study and this web portal.

Key Accomplishments

A Protocol Agreement was set out as the general framework for the implementation of a development strategy.  The partners agreed that implementation of the Tourism Development Partnership should be accomplished through a formal permanent organizational structure that provides for representation from each party.  The following organizations have signed the Tourism Protocol Agreement in support of this tourism partnership. Tourism Protocol Agreement

1. Capilano College, Sunshine Coast
2. Coast Cultural Alliance
3. Community Futures Development Corporation of the Sunshine Coast
4. Gibsons & District Chamber of Commerce
5. Gibsons Economic Development Partnership
6. Gibsons Landing Business Association
7. Pender Harbour and Egmont Chamber of Commerce
8. Pender Harbour Growth & Development Partnership
9. Pender Harbour Tourism Partnership (dormant)
10. Roberts Creek Business Association (dormant)
11. Sechelt & District Chamber of Commerce
12. Sechelt Downtown Business Association
13. Sechelt Economic Development Partnership
14. Spirit of BC Community Committee, Sunshine Coast
15. Sunshine Coast B&B and Cottage Owners Association
16. Sunshine Coast Community Services / Sechelt Visitor Information Centre
17. Tourism Powell River
18. Vancouver Coast & Mountains Tourism Region