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Regarding City Council's vote to approve a tourist information centre on a prime waterfront location downtown. It is obvious this decision was made purely from a financial standpoint. I am assuming the tax revenue is the reason why this choice was made? Because there is no other reason for building this building in this location.
No consideration was given to tourists or it wouldn't be built in an area which is hard to park in at the best of times. With fewer parking spots available in Kelowna it makes this even more difficult. If someone who is driving really wants to go to the proposed location they will likely find street parking or park in the parkade several blocks away and then walk to the centre. Not really helpful to tourists. We all know what it's like to park downtown during summer.
Essentially you are counting on walk in traffic who more or less stumble on the location.
But aside from that, most people under 50 are Internet savvy enough that they don't require a walk in location to get more information about a location. They will do their research online likely before they even get to the city. Anyone under 30 has probably never been in a tourist information centre, and of course those driving or pulling recreational vehicles can't get into that location, so what's the point? Why waste such a potentially beautiful area, that could tie 2 parks together nicely, with another building?
If we must have a new tourist info centre may I suggest using the old McDonald's location on the highway (if there isn't already a plan for it)? It's relatively easy to get into from both sides of the highway, even for RVers. There is ample parking, and, let's face it, that area of town near the highway needs a face-lift.
So rather than going against the plan of recovering waterfront for our citizens (remember the 2008 Citizen Survey? Where community access to waterfront park space is one of the top three things that make Kelowna a livable city?), why not put this info centre somewhere that has less of an impact, and easier to get to?
Rob Sullivan
