A new agreement between Thompson Rivers University and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association has been hammered out.

The new Memorandum of Understanding involves TOTA providing mentoring and referrals to TRU students.

“Together, we are empowering students with invaluable resources, mentorship and opportunities to innovate within the dynamic tourism sector,” said Ellen Walker Matthews, President and CEO of TOTA in a release.  “This collaboration not only enriches the educational experience but also fuels entrepreneurial spirit, driving forward the future of tourism in our region.”

Director of the TRU Tourism Innovation Lab, David Carter, says it involves students who enter into their summer entrepreneur programs, in which they develop small, tourism-based businesses.

“TOTA has committed to coaching the students while we go through the classroom portion, but also committed to supporting them once they are into the summer portion, and potentially, as they develop those businesses even further in the field,” noted Carter.

He says the students who have come through the summer program have developed some creative ventures.

“We had a sunset dinner on the beach…was a cool idea. We had a Mario party go-carting. We’ve had things like Ayurveridic wellness spas,” said Carter.

The summer tourism entrepreneur program is financed by grant money provided through TRU.

However, Carter says there is hope that in the future, Thompson Okanagan Tourism might be able to provide some additional cash into their program as well.

TOTA has renewed funding for the Tourism Excellence Award it first established in 2014 to provide a $1,500 annual scholarship for the top academic student on the Bachelor of Tourism Management Program.