dHzmedia

By Bruce Constantineau

VANCOUVER - With a quarter-billion dollars worth of new developments slated for completion by early 2010, tourism spending in Osoyoos, B.C., should sizzle like a Canada Day long weekend.

Destination Osoyoos executive director Glenn Mandziuk said the south Okanagan town expects annual tourism revenues will shoot up to $126 million by 2015 from $65 million this year. The number of visitors is forecast to jump to about 500,000 from 350,000.

"We're going to attract higher-yield visitors with more money to spend on things that will create a premium quality experience," Mandziuk said in an interview.

Wineries, golf courses, restaurants, retailers and others will benefit from the investment boom dominating the local economy, he said.

A total of four tourism-related projects near Osoyoos Lake, either planned or underway, will transform the area into one of the most popular getaway destinations in B.C. The projects include:

- The $75-million Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa being developed by Bellstar Hotels & Resorts. The first phase of 30 villas and 64 suites is next to the Osoyoos Indian Band's Nk'Mip Cellars, Canada's first aboriginal winery. The 124-suite second phase is due for completion by late 2009 or early 2010.

- The $65-million Watermark Beach Resort is set on almost two hectares of waterfront, formerly occupied by a fruit-packing plant. Osoyoos Shoreline Development Ltd. expects to complete 30 townhomes and 123 other units by March 2009.

- The $45-million Walnut Beach Resort, with 112 units on a 1.3-hectare site. The Lakeshore Development Corp. project is expected to be completed in 2008.

- The $80-million Indigo development on a 1.5-hectare beachfront site being developed by the Kingsway Group. The project still requires final approval, but developers plan a 150-unit, six-storey concrete building that could be completed by the spring of 2009.

Mandziuk said Osoyoos has long been known as a summer "sun and fun" destination, but the new facilities should spread visitation over a longer period, as wine festivals now draw a lot of visitors to the region in the spring and fall.

He noted Tourism BC recently opened a new $2.5-million visitor information centre in the area to address "growing and emerging markets."

Vince Taylor, who is marketing the Indigo project, said Osoyoos is changing to appeal to well-heeled visitors. Prices at Indigo are expected to range to $1.4 million from about $349,000.

"Osoyoos used to be about bad motels and guys in Fortrel pants with big bellies and hibachis," he said. "But this isn't your granddaddy's Osoyoos anymore. You're looking at prices of $1.4 million now. Heck, you could have bought the whole town for that 10 years ago."

Taylor said development around Osoyoos is going "crazy" because people have finally figured out all it has to offer -- including great weather, a long golf season, the warmest lake in Canada, and the country's top wine region.