Destination BC (DBC) offers numerous learning resources for tourism-based businesses, including the 8-week Tourism Digital Academy. The comprehensive online program is designed for business owners or marketing team members looking to build their digital marketing knowledge and skills to an intermediate level.

Program participants will learn practical, actionable guidance through self-guided and live sessions covering SEO, website usability, content, email marketing, analytics, and more. You’ll leave the program with the confidence and knowledge to put your digital marketing plan into action. 

Applications are now being accepted for the next two intakes of the program—October 8 to November 27 or October 15 to December 4—which will begin at the beginning of October. The program schedule, as outlined on the DBC website, is as follows: 

  • One interactive live session each Wednesday during business hours (up to 2 hours total per week).
  • Additional interactive live session on the Tuesday of Modules 1 and 8 only, during business hours (up to 45 minutes each).
  • Self-directed pre-recorded videos to watch on your own time before attending Wednesday’s live session (up to 3 hours per week).
  • Homework assignments (up to 5 hours each week); done on your own time each week, with a Sunday deadline.

Eligibility and Application: 

The program is free for all participants. To be eligible, you must:

  • Be a BC-based tourism business, whose product or service is regularly available for purchase within BC (community tourism and sector organizations are also eligible);
  • Have an active business website;
  • Demonstrate through the application form a minimum level of digital marketing experience; and
  • Be able to dedicate up to 10 hours per week to the program, up to two hours to attend live classes during business hours, up to three hours to watch self-directed videos on your own time, and up to five hours to apply learnings to your marketing plan as you go.

Those who prefer to work independently can access a free, self-guided version of the course for up to six months. The program includes a marketing plan template so businesses can easily develop their plan after reviewing the course material. 

Tourism industry members can also find additional resources and tools in DBC's Learning Centre to help build their knowledge and skills in various areas, including digital marketing, social media marketing, accessible tourism, and more. 

Further education opportunities, as well as advisory services, can also be accessed at no charge through Small Business BC, thanks to DBC's partnership with the organization. Visit DBC's website for more information on how to access these services.  

If you have questions about the Tourism Digital Academy, please email Beth Sangara.