Travel Media Newsletter

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Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, takes sustainability to another level as an international leader in environmental initiatives, ecological wellbeing, and driving and supporting economic development of the community. The destination has achieved tourism’s prestigious Biosphere Certification, joining an elite group of international tourism destinations recognized for their commitment to principles of environmental sustainability, cultural diversity, and equity and social responsibility. Destination Greater Victoria completed a rigorous and collaborative assessment in relation to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.

In celebration of Earth Day and the growing interest in reducing the travel industry’s carbon footprint, please find information below for your consideration on how to visit Victoria responsibly and some of the work the destination is taking to help the environment and community thrive. Find more information on sustainability in Victoria here.

Notable Sustainability Accomplishments & Timeline:

In addition to Biosphere Certification, Victoria has achieved numerous designations, awards, and more. Below, please find some of the biggest accomplishments, as well as some recent and timely achievements.

• December 2017 - City of Victoria launched the Climate Leadership Plan, which is a roadmap to reducing community-wide emissions by 80% and making the switch to 100% renewable energy by 2050.
• December 2018 - Destination Greater Victoria (DGV) co-founded the annual IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism conference, bringing together industry leaders from around the world to discuss the challenges and impact of global travel and to mitigate the effects of over-tourism.
• December 2020 - Zero Waste Victoria was approved by the city, which is the destination's plan to reduce landfill waste by 50% by 2040.
• February 2021 - DGV was the first major destination marketing organization (DMO) or convention and visitors’ bureau (CVB) in North America to achieve carbon neutral designation. The Victoria Conference Centre also achieved carbon neutral designation in 2021.
• October 2022 - DGV became the first major DMO or CVB in North America to achieve a Climate Positive designation from Ostrom Climate and Synergy Enterprises.

Getting To and Around Victoria

Efforts to reduce environmental impact at Victoria International Airport (YYJ) have been ongoing for more than a decade, having reduced its emissions by 22%, reduced emissions per passenger by 19%, and achieved the Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 2 for emission reductions. In 2023, the airport will debut a new native species pollinator garden, featuring more than 2,000 flora planted in 1,100 square metres of garden to help pollinators thrive. For those arriving to Victoria from Seattle or from various destinations throughout Canada, there is the option to travel by seaplane with Harbour Air, which is the world’s first fully carbon neutral airline. In just the last few months, The Harbour Air ePlane announced that the first direct all-electric point-to-point test flight has been completed, operating on 100% electricity. This is a major milestone in the advancement of all-electric commercial flights and hopes to be rolled out later in 2023. Once on the ground, eco-friendly road trips via an electric vehicle are available through Tesla Tours or travel via bus with Wilson’s Transportation, who has converted a portion of their fleet to electric and was also the first fleet transportation business on Vancouver Island to be green-certified. 

What to Do

Whale watching is a popular outdoor activity in the destination. Prince of Whales is celebrating 30 years in 2023, offering climate positive tours to travelers. In 2022, Eagle Wing Whale & Wildlife Watching Tours won numerous sustainability awards from both the National Marine Educators Association and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC). The brand was also the first in the industry to join “1% for the Planet” to adopt carbon neutrality and to implement a per-guest wildlife fee to support research and conservation efforts. Additionally, Orca Spirit provides carbon neutral tours and has received multiple awards for their ocean-friendly practices. It is also the only whale watching company in Victoria to use ultra-quiet, ultra clean Yamaha four-stroke engines that create minimal disturbance to marine wildlife. Off the water, pay a visit to The Butchart Gardens, which is a quintessential Victoria experience featuring beautiful flowers, as well as an impressive list of environmental initiatives, such as composting programs and extensive use of non-chemical weed control methods. The Malahat SkyWalk is the ultimate natural high, as visitors walk to a spectacular lookout more than 800 feet above sea level. Built in partnership with the Malahat Nation, SkyWalk is committed to environmental stewardship and sustainability in its structures and day-to-day operations.

Where to Stay:

The Inn at Laurel Point is British Columbia’s first carbon neutral hotel, the first of many! Additionally, the hotel's restaurant - Aura Waterfront Restaurant + Patio - has implemented 34 initiatives to reduce their environmental impact. Parkside Hotel & Spa, Oak Bay Beach Hotel, and Chateau Victoria have all received Biosphere certification, having completed the rigorous process, demonstrating their deep commitment.

Where to Eat

Diners won’t want to miss a meal at Big Wheel Burger, which is Canada’s first carbon neutral fast food restaurant using compostable packaging, produce grown from community gardens and more. Seafood-lovers can stop by the Floating Fish Store, which is North America’s first 100% OceanWise seafood store and restaurant, serving the freshest local seafood. For delicious cider, the 10-acre Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse houses over 1,300 apple trees and has become one of the top agri-tourism destinations on Vancouver Island with a mission of sustainability, sociability and community involvement. Grab a brew at Phillips Brewing & Malting Company, which is a responsibly-brewed craft brewery with numerous environmental initiatives including CO2 recapture, water reduction and glass repurposing. For farm fresh honey, visit the Country Bee Honey Farm, which helps promote healthy bees and a healthy planet, while offering visitors local honey, wildflower tours, farm visits and more.

Please follow this link for a selection of photos, courtesy of Destination Greater Victoria.

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