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RMOW hires cultural expert for tourism plan

The municipality has hired an "expert in the field of 'place-based' cultural tourism" to aid Whistler's construction of a Cultural Tourism Development Plan, said Cheeying Ho, executive director of the Centre for Sustainability, on Tuesday.

The municipality has hired an "expert in the field of 'place-based' cultural tourism" to aid Whistler's construction of a Cultural Tourism Development Plan, said Cheeying Ho, executive director of the Centre for Sustainability, on Tuesday.

Steve Thorne of Waterloo, Ontario arrives in Whistler this June to spend 10 days assessing Whistler's cultural tourism experiences to create an inventory.

Thorne currently owns a consulting company that specializes in cultural tourism planning. Among his credentials, he helped develop the Canadian Tourism Commission's natural business strategy for cultural heritage tourism. He also holds a master's degree in cultural development from the University of Waterloo.

While in Whistler he will also give a public presentation on Tuesday, June 22 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at MY Millennium Place on cultural tourism.

The municipality is paying for the Cultural Tourism Development Plan through their 2010 Cultural Capital funding. A project advisory group with representatives from different sectors has also been assembled to oversee the plan's development, according to a Resort Municipality of Whistler press release.