Ensure neutral airport information on HelloBC — add Abbotsford (YXX) alongside Vancouver (YVR)
Purpose. I’m requesting that you direct Destination BC to correct an imbalance on HelloBC’s “Getting Here & Around” page by listing Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) alongside Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
Webpage in question: https://www.hellobc.com/plan-your-trip/getting-here-and-around
Issue. The page presently names YVR as “the main gateway” and does not mention YXX at all, despite serving the same Metro Vancouver/Fraser Valley catchment and being a common, lower-cost North American gateway. This editorial omission influences traveller behaviour and appears inconsistent with neutral, province-wide visitor information.
Why this matters in law and policy.
Statutory mandate. Under the Destination BC Corp. Act, the corporation’s purposes include marketing BC and supporting tourism development across the province—not privileging a single gateway within one region. Listing both airports aligns with this mandate. BC Laws
Heightened neutrality in VCM. The Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region is uniquely managed by Destination BC (the other regions are industry-led). That structure increases the need to avoid perceived bias toward the largest urban node and to reflect the whole region, including the Fraser Valley. Destination BC
Administrative-law reasonableness (Vavilov). Public bodies must act reasonably, with decisions and communications that are justified and responsive to their statutory purposes. A consumer page that highlights YVR while omitting YXX—another major regional gateway—invites a reasonableness concern and is easily remedied by neutral, side-by-side presentation. SCC Decisions
Endorsement risk. HelloBC’s own terms disclaim endorsement of specific businesses or links. Singling out YVR while excluding YXX risks the perception of a public endorsement; a neutral listing of both airports better aligns with the site’s legal posture. Super, Natural BC
(Public-interest note: The Competition Bureau’s 2025 market study finds that increased airline competition benefits consumers; clearer visibility for multiple gateways is consistent with that objective.) Competition Bureau Canada
Proposed copy for HelloBC (concise and accurate).
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Fly to either British Columbia gateway within the Vancouver, Coast and Mountains Tourism RegionArrive via Vancouver International Airport (YVR)—the primary long-haul hub with extensive non-stop service from Europe and Asia—or Abbotsford International Airport (YXX), a low-cost North American-focused gateway serving the Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver and Whistler / Sea-to-Sky. Choose the airport that best fits your route, schedule, and budget. Super, Natural BC
Requested action. Please direct Destination BC staff to update the “Getting Here & Around” page within 30 days using the copy above (with neutral links to both airport websites), and to adopt an editorial guideline that when two or more gateways serve the same catchment, all are presented even-handedly. Super, Natural BC+1
Thank you for your attention to a simple fix that improves fairness, legal defensibility, and traveller usefulness.