As of June 2011, there were two visitor information centres in the area.
The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce visitor centre was at 2040 Cliffe Ave. in Courtenay. It can be contacted at 250-334-3234 or 1-888-357-4471 (toll-free) and the website is www.comoxvalleychamber.com/visitor-centre.
The Cumberland Visitor Centre was at 2680 Dunsmuir Ave. It can be contacted at 250-336-8313 or 1-866-301-4636 (toll-free) and the website is at www.cumberlandbc.org.
However, construction has been underway since late 2010 on a regional gateway visitor centre, which is intended to consolidate the two existing centres. The new facility is expected to open sometime in 2011.
Made possible by $3 million in federal funding and $745,000 in provincial funds from the Island Coastal Economic Trust, the Vancouver Island and coast visitor Centre is being built on land in Cumberland donated by Trilogy Properties Corp. at the upper end of the Comox Valley Parkway (Exit 117 off the Inland Island Highway).
It will be the largest visitor information centre on Vancouver Island, according to the Comox Valley Economic Development Society.
Again according to CVEDS, the intention is to create a strategic gateway and destination visitor centre, supported by a visitor experience exhibit gallery that will:
• Generate tourism-based economic benefits for the North Central Vancouver Island and coastal region;
• Promote and facilitate greater collaboration among tourism operators and attractions and improve their capacity to package and deliver recreational services;
• Provide a venue to showcase regional industries;
• Support the awareness and promotion of the Island and Coastal First Nations with an emphasis on the K’ómoks First Nation.
To get updates, visit http://vicdiscoverycentre.com/project-update.