Tourism Nanaimo

Tourism Nanaimo is the City's designated Destination Management Organization (DMO), helping to shape a vibrant, sustainable visitor economy that benefits residents, businesses and visitors alike.

Working collaboratively with the City of Nanaimo, Snuneymuxw First Nation, local businesses, and community organizations, Tourism Nanaimo leads destination marketing, destination development, visitor services, business events attraction, sport tourism and industry engagement. These efforts promote Nanaimo as a destination while supporting the experiences, events and tourism opportunities that make the city a welcoming place to visit.

Through research, strategic investment and partnership, the organization helps strengthen Nanaimo's tourism sector while supporting the community's long-term economic and social well-being.

Overview Tourism Nanaimo Society

Tourism Nanaimo was re-established by the City of Nanaimo in 2022 as an independent, not-for-profit society responsible for the strategic development, management, and promotion of Nanaimo's visitor economy. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors representing key sectors of Nanaimo's tourism industry, including Snuneymuxw First Nation. As the community's designated Destination Management Organization, Tourism Nanaimo works with the City and tourism partners to advance shared community and economic development goals.

Municipal and Regional District Tax Renewal Process

Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT)

The Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) is a 3% tax applied to eligible short-term accommodation stays throughout Nanaimo. Collected from overnight visitors, these funds are reinvested locally to support destination marketing, destination development, visitor services, research, and initiatives that strengthen Nanaimo's visitor economy.

Tourism Nanaimo administers the community's MRDT program under a five-year agreement approved by the City of Nanaimo and Destination BC in alignment with industry best practices. The program is guided by Tourism Nanaimo's 2025–2030 Strategic Business Plan, annual tactical plans, and Destination Development Strategy, ensuring investments align with long-term community priorities and provincial program requirements.

In 2018, affordable housing was added as a permissible use of MRDT funds, allowing designated recipients the flexibility to invest in initiatives that respond to local housing needs. The City of Nanaimo has taken advantage of this provision, allocating a portion of MRDT revenue to support affordable housing initiatives within the community.

Together, these programs help ensure that tourism continues to generate lasting benefits for residents, local businesses, and the community as a whole.

Team Nanaimo

Adopting a collaborative "Team Nanaimo" strategy, the organization aligns closely with the City to enhance sport tourism, meetings, conferences and business events, guided by the objectives outlined in City Plan: Nanaimo Reimagined. Working closely with industry partners in accommodation, conference, and experience opportunities round out the “Team Nanaimo” approach in all areas of hosting. This includes ongoing efforts to host, permit, and support a variety of public events such as festivals and sports tournaments.

Tourism Nanaimo supports identifying opportunities for improvement of adaptable facilities and public spaces that accommodate events year-round and enrich Nanaimo's cultural and recreational landscape. The city's ongoing development and enhancement of the Sport Zone/Stadium District are key components of this strategy, ensuring that Nanaimo can host a diverse range of events that contribute to community wellness and meet broader tourism goals.

The Value of Tourism

Tourism is an important driver of Nanaimo's economy and helps support a vibrant, resilient community. Visitor spending creates demand for local accommodations, restaurants, retailers, transportation providers, attractions, arts and cultural organizations, recreation businesses, and event organizers. This supports jobs and small businesses across many sectors of the local economy. Across Canada, one in ten jobs is supported by tourism-related economic activity, demonstrating the industry's broad contribution to communities of all sizes. In Nanaimo, 63% of the workforce is touched by tourism activities (transportation, accommodation, arts & entertainment, retail, food and beverage).

Beyond leisure travel, tourism helps strengthen the community by attracting conferences, sporting events, festivals, and cultural experiences that generate year-round activity, support local amenities, and foster community pride. In 2025 alone, conferences hosted in Nanaimo generated an estimated $16 million in economic impact, while the inaugural Sport Hosting Grant helped deliver $3.9 million in economic impact from 14 multi-day sporting events.

The City of Nanaimo supports a destination management approach that balances economic opportunity with community well-being. By working collaboratively as Team Nanaimo, tourism is developed in a way that supports local prosperity, celebrates Nanaimo's unique identity, and enhances quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

Resources:

Plans and Strategies

• 2026 Tactical Plan
• Destination Development Strategy - Executive Summary
• Destination Development Strategy - Full Implementation Plan
• Information Booklet for Accommodation Providers (March 2024)

Reports

• 2026 Community Shared Value Report

Toolkits

• Meeting Planners Toolkit
• Sport Hosting Toolkit
• Social Media Toolkit

Governance

• Tourism Nanaimo Bylaws
• Tourism Nanaimo Constitution

To learn more about Tourism Nanaimo, visit TourismNanaimo.com