tourism kamloops office

Create an account / Login

Travel reviews

Kamloops, British Columbia (Destination BC)

Worth the detour

Kamloops is home to an incredibly diverse landscape of sagebrush-covered hills, ravines, wide open grasslands, rugged mountains, forested valleys and pristine lakes that attract visitors from around the world, who come to hike, fish, play golf, observe wildlife, go mountain biking, and more.

The city offers spectacular landscapes, with massive colourful mountains, lush farmland, the North Thompson and South Thompson Rivers that converge in the heart of the city and are used to transport logs, not to mention the over 100 lakes within a 1-hour drive of the city that make it a top fishing destination. Kamloops has even given its name to the famous Kamloops Rainbow Trout!

Whatever your budget or travel style, Kamloops is a great place to relax and spend some quality time.

For more information about Kamloops, visit the Tourism Kamloops website.

Where to sleep ?

Rocky Mountaineer Train

Festivals calendar

Kamloopa pow wow.

Date: coming soon

Location: Kamloops

Description: The Kamloopa Pow Wow is among one of the largest and best attended celebrations of Indigenous culture and heritage in Western Canada. It is a festive expression of the Secwepemc people’s heritage and a vibrant display of storytelling, song, and dance in traditional regalia.

When to visit

Very Favourable
Unfavourable

Conveniences Abound

(Translated by Google) transition city.

unwelcoming city

Download our travel guide, top 5 canadian road trips, western conquest, wonders of canada, the west by rv, legendary landscapes, authentik travel blog, 10 adventure activities to do in quebec in autumn, tipping in canada: how does it work, top 10 most beautiful national parks in canada, visit niagara falls in 24 hours, lac-des-cygnes hike (the ultimate guide), the best road trip to experience indian summer, quiz about quebec, top 5 sugar shacks in quebec, visiting ontario in 10 must-see places, renting a cottage in quebec: top 10 canadian cabins, hike to waber falls in la mauricie national park [with map + photos], bonaventure island cruise: our practical guide, canada travel: 5 tips for a successful trip, visiting wells gray park in british columbia: the complete guide, best 7-day road trip in quebec, visit halifax: our 10 must-see attractions, all-inclusive travel to canada: our expert advice, 10 must-see photo spots in toronto, electric car rental in canada: the complete guide, the 5 best places to go dog sledding in quebec, the best 10-day east coast of canada road trip, top 5 luxury hotels in quebec, hiking the acropole-des-draveurs trail, authentic quebec: gems to visit during indian summer, the best western canada tour, top 5 parks to visit in quebec during indian summer, campervan rental in canada: 3 tips to save big bucks, top 10 romantic spots in canada, the best vancouver island road trip, lake agnes tea house hike in banff (the complete guide), the best 10-day itinerary in canada, how to plan your canada road trip, visiting montreal: top 10 things to do, how to ruin your trip to canada in 5 easy steps, top 10 most beautiful landscapes in western canada, top 10 instagram spots in western canada, best quebec tour for families, montreal neighbourhoods: which ones are a must, top 5 lakes in the canadian rockies, 5 iconic photo spots in old quebec, the best 2-week road trip for exploring quebec and ontario, yoho national park: the complete travel guide, top 10 winterscapes in quebec, travel to canada: all the entry procedures, free trip to western canada... in 10 photos, the best van road trip in quebec, where to eat in quebec city , top 5 places to enjoy the colours of indian summer, top 10 places to canoe in quebec, van rental in canada: the 5 best #vanlife models, top 10 most beautiful lakes in quebec [with map + photos], the 5 most beautiful parks in western canada, how to use the google maps gps offline while travelling , western vs eastern canada : which to choose , 10 things to do in western canada before you die, where to eat in niagara falls , the 10 most beautiful sunsets in canada, what to pack for a trip to canada, vancouver island travel guide, the saint-félicien wild zoo from a to z, top 5 most beautiful waterfalls in western canada, 5 ideas to entertain the kids on a canada road trip, the best 2-week quebec road trip, reopening of canada's borders: a how-to guide, top 10 hikes in the canadian rockies, how much does a trip to canada cost in 2022, the ultimate western canada rv road trip, what to do if you encounter a bear , the best 10-day itinerary in the canadian rockies, top 10 most beautiful fall landscapes in quebec, 5 fall activities to enjoy the indian summer, how can you protect yourself from ticks and lyme disease, the complete guide to gaspésie national park, the complete guide to whale watching in tadoussac, the complete guide to vancouver's stanley park, what to do in sandbanks, 5 good reasons to opt for an rv for your family road trip, arrivecan : everything you need to know, the quebec beer route, where to sleep in montreal , travel to quebec for cheap : 5 tips to save big bucks on your trip, visit ottawa in 24 hours, the ultimate quebec family road trip, what souvenirs to bring back from canada, travel to canada and covid-19: everything you need to know, cell phone and internet in canada, northern lights: when and where to see them, visit quebec city in 2 days, how to stay protected from mosquitoes while in canada, 5 must-do winter activities in quebec, quiz on canada, banff : johnston canyon trail (the complete guide), visit vancouver in 2 days, 20 best photo spots in montreal, icefields parkway between banff and jasper [the ultimate guide], what to do in case of an unexpected problem while travelling in canada, visit victoria in 24 hours, 5 hair-raising adventures in quebec, top 5 hikes in western canada, 5 national parks to discover in quebec, 10 things to do in canada... before you die, the ultimate western canada road trip, visit montreal in 2 days, rv rental in canada: 5 tips to save big bucks, 5 good reasons not to visit western canada in 2020, top 4 must-sees on vancouver island, the 7 wonders of western canada, the ultimate gaspésie road trip, top 5 quebec whale watching cruises and tours, top 10 most beautiful villages in western canada, car hire in canada : 5 tips to save big bucks, 10 must-see attractions in jasper national park, thousand islands : the must-sees for a 24h visit, top 10 scenic routes in western canada (with maps + photos), how do i get an electronic travel authorization (eta) for canada, the ultimate quebec rv road trip, top 10 most beautiful lakes in western canada, top 10 attractions in banff national park, visit toronto in 24 hours, the ultimate maritimes road trip, 5 tips for finding the cheapest flight to canada, travel guide to the canadian rockies.

1.1 History
1.2 Climate
2.1.1 Airport
2.1.2 Airlines
2.2 By train
3.1 By public transit
3.2 By taxi
3.3 By ride hailing
11.1 Newspaper
11.2 Hospital

<a href=\"https://tools.wmflabs.org/wikivoyage/w/poi2gpx.php?print=gpx&lang=en&name=Kamloops\" title=\"Download GPX file for this article\" data-parsoid=\"{}\"><img alt=\"Download GPX file for this article\" resource=\"./File:GPX_Document_rev3-20x20.png\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/GPX_Document_rev3-20x20.png\" decoding=\"async\" data-file-width=\"20\" data-file-height=\"20\" data-file-type=\"bitmap\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" class=\"mw-file-element\" data-parsoid='{\"a\":{\"resource\":\"./File:GPX_Document_rev3-20x20.png\",\"height\":\"20\",\"width\":\"20\"},\"sa\":{\"resource\":\"File:GPX Document rev3-20x20.png\"}}'/></a></span>"}'/> Kamloops is a city of 98,000 people (2021, 114,000 in the metro area) in the central interior of British Columbia . It is billed as the Tournament Capital of Canada. It has hosted Strauss Canada Cup of Curling, Skate Canada, World Fly Fishing Championships, Tim Horton's Olympic Qualifying Bike Race, and World Junior Hockey Championships.

"Kamloops" is the anglicised version of the Shuswap word "Tk'əmlúps", meaning "meeting of the waters"; it is where the North Thompson and South Thompson rivers join to form the Thompson. Shuswap is still spoken in the area by members of the Tk'emlúps Indian Band. Kamloops is also where rail and road routes across the Rockies meet; the Trans-Canada Highway and CPR rail route come from Calgary via Banff while one branch of the Yellowhead Highway and the former CNR route come from Edmonton via Jasper .

Industries in the Kamloops area include ranching, some forestry, and a copper mine (in Logan Lake). Royal Inland Hospital is the city's largest employer. Thompson Rivers University serves a student body of over 25,000 including a diverse international contingent mainly from Asian countries.

50.654833 -120.367931 1 Kamloops Visitor Info Centre ( Tourism Kamloops ), 1290 Trans-Canada Hwy ( take Exit 368, accessed from Hillside Way ), ☏ +1 250-372-8000 , toll-free: +1-800-662-1994 , [email protected] . ( updated Sep 2020 )

In 1811 David Stuart, sent out from Fort Astoria, a Pacific Fur Company post, spent a winter there with the Secwepemc people. Alexander Ross established a post there in May 1812 - "Fort Cumcloups". See fur trade for background information.

The gold rush of the 1860s and the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which reached Kamloops from the West in 1883, brought further growth, resulting in the City of Kamloops being incorporated in 1893 with a population of about 500. The logging industry of the 1970s brought many Indo-Canadians into the Kamloops area, mostly from the Punjab region of India. In 1973, Kamloops annexed Barnhartvale and other nearby communities.

The January mean temperature is −2.8 °C (27 °F). That average sharply increases with an average maximum temperature of 4.3 °C (40 °F) in February. The temperatures drop below −10 °C (14 °F) about 20 days per year.

Summers are warmer than in many places at lower latitudes, with prevailing dry and sunny weather. Daytime humidity is generally under 40% in the summer, sometimes dropping below 20% after a dry spell, which allows for substantial nighttime cooling. Occasional summer thunderstorms can create dry-lightning conditions, sometimes igniting forest fires which the area is prone to.

Kamloops lies in the rain shadow leeward of the Coast Mountains and is biogeographically connected to similar semi-desert areas in the Okanagan region, and a much larger area covering the central/eastern portions of Washington, Oregon and intermontane areas of Nevada, Utah and Idaho in the US.

Train stations at the north end of Kamloops. While there is an old train station in downtown Kamloops, it is now a steakhouse and no longer serves passenger trains. The Rocky Mountaineer train passes through here on its way to and from Banff and Lake Louise, but does not stop.

Both major highways in western Canada pass through Kamloops. Highway 1 ( Trans-Canada Highway ) comes from Vancouver , passes through the Fraser Valley to Hope , then up the Fraser Canyon to Lytton , and through Cache Creek to Kamloops. East of Kamloops it goes through Salmon Arm , Revelstoke , the Rogers Pass and Golden in BC, then on to Banff and Calgary in Alberta .

Highway 5 ( South Yellowhead Highway ) leads to Kamloops from Jasper and Edmonton . This road is a branch; the main Yellowhead Highway (#16) runs east-west from Prince Rupert through Edmonton to Portage la Prairie . Highway 5 is not part of the signed Trans-Canada Highway system.

Highway 5 ( Coquihalla Highway portion of Yellowhead Highway) provides a much quicker route from Vancouver to Kamloops (4 hr by car). This freeway takes you through Hope and Merritt ; it is considerably less scenic than the Trans-Canada route. The downside of the high-altitude road is that it can become dangerous in the winter as sudden weather changes may make the road icy, snow covered or impassible. Check the road conditions before you set out.

Daily between Kamloops and Vancouver with stops in Merritt , Hope , Chilliwack , Abbotsford , and Surrey . Travel time to Kamloops from Vancouver is 4.5-4.75 hours, from Abbotsford is 3.25 hours, and from Hope is 2 hours.
Daily between Kamloops and Kelowna with stops in Chase, Sorrento, Salmon Arm , Enderby , Armstrong , and Vernon . Travel time to Kamloops from Kelowna is 2.25-3.25 hours (some trips do not make all stops), from Vernon is 1.5-2.25 hours (some trips do not make all stops), and from Salmon Arm is 1 hour 20 minutes.
Between Kamloops and Prince George with stops in Savona, Cache Creek , Clinton, 70 Mile House, 100 Mile House , Lac La Hache, Williams Lake , Quesnel , and Hixon. Travel time to Kamloops from Cache Creek is 50 minutes, from 100 Mile House is 2.25 hours, from Williams Lake is 3.25 hours, from Quesnel is 5 hours, and from Prince George is 6.5 hours.
Thompson Valley Charters , ☏ +1 877-769-3287 . In partnership with Ebus, operates twice per week service between Kamloops and Edmonton with stops in Barriere, Little Fort, Clearwater , Avola, Blue River, Valemount , Mount Robson Provincial Park , Jasper , Hinton , and Edson . Travel time to Kamloops from Clearwater is 1.75 hours, from Valemount is 3.75 hours, from Jasper is 5 hours, from Edson is 7 hours, and from Edmonton is 9.5 hours. ( updated Mar 2022 )

Inter-city buses stop at the Petro Canada truck stop:

50.65968 -120.3975 4 Kamloops Travel Centre ( 5 km from downtown on Trans-Canada Highway ), ☏ +1 250-374-6263 .

By public transit

Yellow Cabs Kamloops , ☏ +1 250-374-3333 . ( updated Jul 2022 )

By ride hailing

Kabu . ( updated Jul 2022 )
Uber . ( updated Jul 2022 )

50.67469 -120.3364 5 Kamloops Museum and Archives , 207 Seymour Street , ☏ +1 250-828-3576 . ( updated Mar 2023 )
Kamloops is also well-known for its public art including numerous pole carvings and murals.
50.695 -120.374 2 MacArthur Island Park , Island Parkway ( accessed from the southern end of 12th St or the western end of MacKenzie Ave ). Large park with many sports facilities (sports fields, curling and skating rinks), skatepark and short 9-hole golf course. There's a paved trail around the perimeter of the island that provides views of the river and city. ( updated Nov 2015 )

50.6783 -120.3388 3 Riverside Park , 100 Lorne St ( between Lansdowne St and the river, next to the Interior Savings Centre ). Where the North and South Thompson rivers meet. Stroll along the beach, swim or bring the kids to the playground and water park. There is a water park for children and an enclosed swimming area on the river. The Thompson is, however, swift and cold and the swimming area is not always patrolled. ( updated Nov 2015 )
50.67452 -120.40032 4 Kenna Cartwright Nature Park ( access trails near Aberdeen Mall or Walmart ). Hiking and mountain biking trails up Mount Dufferin with great views of the city. ( updated Aug 2020 )
50.65904 -120.33306 5 Peterson Creek Nature Park ( access trails from downtown near 6th Ave ). Hiking trails under the Trans-Canada Highway and up to Bridal Veil Falls. ( updated Aug 2020 )
Climb -- While not as popular among the rock climbing crowd as Squamish or Penticton , there are several areas that offer climbing in the Kamloops area. Climbing information can be found in a free online guide available at CLIMBKamloops.ca .
Ski -- Sun Peaks is a 45-minute drive north of Kamloops along Highway 5.
Golf (approximately 11 18-hole courses, with "Tobiano" being the latest opened June 2007)
Mountain bike -- With the hilly and mountainous terrain that varies from wide open to thickly wooded, Kamloops is one of the more popular locations for mountain bike riding in western Canada.
Kamloops Brewery Tours .

50.655099 -120.371332 1 Aberdeen Mall , 1320 West Trans Canada Hwy , ☏ +1 250-374-3400 . A large two-floor upscale mall. It has quite a few attractions, mainly clothes stores. Navigation is also somewhat easier than other malls. ( updated Dec 2021 )
50.696996 -120.35921 2 Treasures , 12-700 Tranquille Rd ( Inside the Northills Shopping Centre ), ☏ +1 250-376-4643 , [email protected] . 10am-5pm . Treasures sells native designed items such as wraps, gloves, boots, blankets and wallets. For jewellery they sell abalone/glacier pearl, B.C. jade, hematite/Alaska black diamond, gold plated stainless steel, etc. If you want knives, lamps, or other interesting items they have that too. ( updated Dec 2021 )
50.6756 -120.3277 1 Frick and Frack Tap House , 577 Victoria St ( across from the casino ), ☏ +1 250 851-2030 . Tu-Th 11:30AM-11PM, F-Sa 11:30AM-midnight, Su-M 11:30AM-10PM . Lively atmosphere with a large menu, including a kids menu. There are a variety of beers on tap (mostly Canadian beers, with a couple of imports). Starters $10-20, mains $15-30 . ( updated Nov 2015 )
50.6773 -120.2869 2 Harold's Family Restaurant , 1771 Trans-Canada Hwy , ☏ +1 250 372-2135 . M-Sa 6AM-9PM Su 7AM-9PM . A local favourite for breakfast, lunch or dinner. This place doesn't look like much but has a great feel, awesome service, and tasty home cooked meals. $7-16 (breakfast), $10-20 (lunch & dinner) . ( updated Nov 2015 )
50.69177 -120.35932 3 Jamaican Kitchen , 451 Tranquille Rd . Good Jamaican food on the north shore. Several vegan options. ( updated Aug 2020 )
50.67586 -120.33756 4 Peter's Pasta , 149 Victoria St , ☏ +1 250 372-2135 . Tu-Sa 5PM-9PM . All pastas and sauces are handmade on-site. Peter is often present and is always happy to answer any questions or even just make pleasant conversation. Very popular with the locals — arrive early as they do not take reservations. ( updated Nov 2015 )
50.67654 -120.33283 1 Red Collar Brewing & Distilling Co , 355 Lansdowne St , ☏ +1 778-471-0174 . ( updated Mar 2023 )

There are a range of lower end and mid-range chain motels in Kamloops, particularly on Columbia St West (exit 369 if heading east on Hwy 1, Summit Dr exit 370 if heading west).

50.67605 -120.32873 1 Delta Hotels Kamloops , 540 Victoria St , ☏ +1 778-766-4071 , toll-free: +1-800-663-2837 . In the heart of the city. On-site restaurant and lounge, outdoor rooftop pool, hot tub, modern fitness centre. From $160 . ( updated May 2018 )
50.67257 -120.31399 2 Scott's Inn and Restaurant , 551 11th Ave , ☏ +1 250-372-8221 . In a quiet residential area. On-site family restaurant, pet-friendly rooms, free parking, airport shuttles, high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi access, indoor pool, hot tub, laundry machines. From $124 . ( updated May 2018 )
50.6719 -120.3531 3 Knights Inn Kamloops , 625 West Columbia St , ☏ +1 250 374-6944 , toll-free: +1-888-372-7487 . Fairly basic clean rooms although a bit dated. Most rooms have a small fridge and microwave. $70 and up . ( updated Nov 2015 )
50.6738 -120.3674 4 Thompson Rivers University Residence & Conference Centre , University Dr ( enter campus at Westgate (McGill & Hillside), at the traffic circle take the third exit (North Gate) and the residences will be on your right ), ☏ +1 250-828-8999 , toll-free: +1-877-225-8664 , [email protected] . Check-in: 4PM-midnight , check-out: 11AM . Offers accommodations for groups and individuals on the TRU campus from May through Aug. Two and four bedroom options. Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast and fitness center. The rooms have kitchenettes, full kitchens are also available on the 2nd, 5th and 10th floors. Excellent transit connections to all areas of the city direct from campus. $99 for double occupancy, $10 per additional person . ( updated Mar 2023 )
Kamloops This Week . ( updated May 2023 )
Vancouver is approximately 355 km (220 miles) to the south west via Hwy 5. There are trains, flights from the Kamloops airports, as well as two major highways connecting the two cities.
Sun Peaks - an alpine ski resort 50 km north of Kamloops.
Cariboo-Central Coast , BC's cowboy country and dude ranch region is a one-hour drive west of Kamloops

Has custom banner
Has map markers
Has mapframe
Airport listing
Go listing with no coordinates
Do listing with no coordinates
Pages using duplicate arguments in template calls
Has routebox
Has Geo parameter
Thompson-Nicola
All destination articles
Usable cities
Usable articles
City articles
Pages using the Kartographer extension

Incentive Programs
Incentives Overview
City Centre Revitalization Tax Exemption
Heritage Tax Incentive Program
North Shore Revitalization Tax Exemption
Hotel/Motel Revitalization Tax Exemption
Daycare Revitalization Tax Exemption
Unique Advantages for Business
Advantages Overview
Affordable Real-Estate
Diverse Economy & Strong Infrastructure
Investment-Friendly Climate
Job Training Programs
Low Cost of Doing Business
Skilled & Educated Labour
Quality Lifestyle
Lifestyle Overview
Arts & Culture
Community Profile
Community Profile Overview
Work in Kamloops
Demographics
Labour Statistics
Major Employers
Public Safety
Transportation
Industries Overview
Agriculture
Green Energy
Manufacturing
Transportation & Logistics
Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare Professionals Overview
Opportunities
Program Partners

Tourism in Kamloops: An Industry Snapshot

Kamloops is a popular destination for tourists year round. The mild climate and beautiful natural setting make it ideal for outdoor recreation enthusiasts as opportunities abound for world-class hiking, mountain biking and skiing. The world-renowned Sun Peaks Resort. Harper Mountain and over 200 lakes are located within an hour of the downtown core. The city itself boasts 82 parks, modern fitness facilities, skating arenas, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and swimming pools. There is also a thriving arts community with live theatre, galleries, museums and a symphony orchestra.

The City’s Business Operations and Events Section is responsible for ensuring all sport, cultural, and community events are delivered as smoothly as possible in a way that is engaging and inclusive. While enhancing the health and wellness of citizens and highlighting the many positive attributes the community possesses, the team builds on the Canada’s Tournament Capital brand to attract new and exciting tournaments, deliver expert service, and support our grassroots programs. Throughout 2019, the team supported individuals, non-profits, and private groups through 240+ events that took place in City facilities.

TOURNAMENT CAPITAL EVENTS AT A GLANCE - 2021 Total number of events: 13 Out-of-town participants: 3,739 Economic impact: $1.3 Million

The City of Kamloops has long recognized Sport Tourism as an economic generator for the city and to that end made becoming Canada’s Tournament Capital one of its top goals in City Council’s Strategic Plan. In March of 2002, the City officially registered its trademark as “The Tournament Capital of Canada”. With close to $50 million invested in new and renovated sports facilities, Kamloops is a proven location for hosting tournaments and events.

In 2013, Kamloops hosted 114 tournaments, held numerous cultural events, and welcomed thousands of participants and spectators to the city. The city has hosted several world-class sporting events such as the 2014 Tim Hortons Brier, 2014 North America Central America and Caribbean Under 23 Track & Field Championships, and 2014 Four Nations Cup – Women’s International Hockey.

Competitive Advantages

A growing sector.

Tourism in Kamloops is growing and has an increasingly important role in the local economy. 2019 welcomed 1.9 M visitors with a spending of $303 M. A 6% revenue growth, representing a $500 M economic impact.

Sports Facilities

Kamloops is a proven location for hosting tournaments and events with close to $50 million invested in new and renovated sports facilities.

Tournament Capital Centre

A 135,000 sq. ft multi-sport facility which includes:

A 200 metre, six lane indoor track, specialty designed jumps and throws area
15,000 sq. ft of gymnastics space
Three hardwood courts for basketball, volleyball, badminton and other court activities
8,000 sq. ft of public fitness rooms
3,000 sq. ft of public meeting rooms space for athletic conditioning and training

Sandman Centre

Built on the shores of the South Thompson River, easy access to Riverside Park, and only two blocks from the downtown core, the centre has a seating capacity of 6,400 and almost 20,000 square feet of exhibition space.

Riverside Park

Variety Kids Centennial Water Park Tennis and Pickleball courts Swimming Lawn Bowling

McArthur Island Park

MacArthur Island Park is a 51 hectare island with multiple sports facilities and parks, located on the north bank of the Thompson River. The facility includes:

Kamloops Skatepark
McArthur Island Sports and Events Centre
McArthur Island Youth Centre
Tennis Courts
LawnBowling
Canada Games Ball Field (12)
Soccer (9 pitches) & fieldhouse
Xeriscape and Butterfly Garden
Bike and walking paths
Boat launch
Lawn Bowling
Norbrock Stadium
Canada Games Ball Field
Soccer (9 pitches)
17 baseball diamonds
McArthur Island Golf Course
Xeriscape Demonstration Garden

Charles Anderson Stadium

Includes well maintained baseball fields, tennis courts, a soccer pitch and plenty of free parking. The facilities at the park include two lit diamonds with 375 seating each, announcers building/media centre, concession/storage/dressing room facilities, two additional full-size diamonds (300ft>), soccer field and three outdoor tennis courts.

Kamloops Tennis Centre

Eight outdoor courts, five of which are lit, and five indoor courts under the bubble in winter.

Kamloops has a vast landscape with plenty of room in which to play and engage in an array of recreational opportunities, all while enjoying over 2,000 hours of sunshine annually. Housing is affordable and the cost of doing business is competitive, plus the area boasts exceptional schooling options and healthcare services. Employee retention is high in Kamloops with employees citing an affordable, quality of life in the region as a major plus.

Incentives for the Tourism Industry

Tournament capital grants.

The Tournament Capital Grant, provided by the City of Kamloops, is eligible to all amateur sports organizations. The maximum allocation of funds is $500 for a Provincial Tournament, $1,000 for a Western Canadian Tournament, $1,500 for a National Tournament and $1,500 for an Invitational Tournament. More information

PacificSport Grants

The PacificSport Travel Grant gives financial aid to athletes and coaches travelling for training and competitions. More information

Tourism Resources

Canada’s tournament capital program support.

The City of Kamloops has support services from dedicated City staff that assist in bringing tournaments and sporting events to Kamloops. More Information

Tourism Kamloops Accommodation Directory

Access all accommodation information from motels and inns to hotels and B&B’s. More Information

Tourism Organizations

Tourism kamloops.

Tourism Industry Association of B.C. (TIABC)

The Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) advocates for the interests of British Columbia’s $22.3 billion visitor economy (normalized year). As a not-for-profit tourism industry association, TIABC works collaboratively with its members – private sector tourism businesses, industry associations and destination marketing organizations – to ensure the best working environment for a competitive tourism industry. More Information

Wilderness Tourism Association (WTA)

The BC Wilderness Tourism Association was born out of a need to have an organization that would be focused on land use issues faced by nature based tourism operators. It has its roots in a previous organization called the “Wilderness Tourism Council” a group who represented approximately 850 nature based businesses during the 1980’s. Today, the WTA works to improve communications between tourism operators, governments and other industry sectors with respect to wilderness conservation and access to wilderness tourism opportunities. More Information

Testimonial

“Kamloops rocks as the place to live! It’s a place that is engaged in healthy living and activity. With the amazing world-class facilities and coaching, Kamloops continues to produce many high performance athletes to the world stage in their respective sports. With the assistance of PacificSport, Canadian Sport Centre Pacific and the many other partners we believe Kamloops offers many benefits for our stakeholders.”

- Carolyn Boomer , General Manager, PacificSport Interior B.C.

Please Contact Venture Kamloops for additional information or build your own customized report with our Report Builder .

Did you know? In 2018, Kamloops was identified as one of only four BC markets where homes for sale align with local earnings.

NL News Poll
Air Quality
NL Mornings with Jeff and Bill
BC Food & Wine Radio
It’s Your Shot
Contest Rules
Advertise With Us
Stingray Media Solutions

Local News Now

Tourism numbers return to pre-pandemic levels in kamloops, but with 2024 a question mark.

Photo of a hiker/via Tourism Kamloops

Tourism Kamloops is looking at a spending blitz in the coming months to try to keep revenues from falling back down — despite solid returns in 2023.

As part of a Year in Review report to Kamloops Council, Tourism Kamloops CEO Monica Dickinson notes that overall tourism impacts have shot above pre-pandemic levels, with overall numbers hitting 1.96 million this year, up from the 1.92 million visits before COVID hit in 2019.

At the same time, the report from Tourism Kamloops shows the overall economic impact from tourism is projected at 522 million this year, well above the 499 million generated in 2019 before COVID hit.

However, Dickinson says without major events next year, like Memorial Cup or Scotties this year, they’re looking to spend a significant portion of their current 3.2 million dollar surplus on a number of promotional activities.

“We have just launched with an agency to start that conversation of refreshing and rejuvenating our brand, and building a brand new website,” Dickenson told council Tuesday.

Stats provided to Kamloops city council Tuesday/via Tourism Kamloops

Despite this, Dickinson concedes many in the tourism sector in Kamloops have been expressing concerns about what 2024 holds.

“Our industry partners are nervous. We’re hearing words like uncertainty, concern and dire conditions are major sentiments when asked to reflect on the future,” said Dickenson. “We know that 2024 is lacking major events. And with the economic instability, people are not prioritizing travel as eagerly.”

The same report also shows people in Kamloops are somewhat skeptical about the city’s ability to continue to attract visitors through the tourism infrastructure that’s currently available.

Asked this year whether “Kamloops has sufficient infrastructure and attractions to be considered a desirable tourism destination,” 48.2 percent of people voted “no” in a survey conducted by Tourism Kamloops this year, with 51.8 percent voting yes.

This is down from the 64 percent in 2022 who felt Kamloops has the proper infrastructure to continue to attracting more visitors.

“[The] 2023 results demonstrate that little progress has been made regarding the perception that Kamloops has the necessary infrastructure to be considered a desirable tourism destination,” said the Tourism Kamloops report .

Trending News

Other sites we recommend.

Explore Kamloops, BC

Where are you leaving from?

Destination

Where are you going?

When are you travelling?

* Select both dates for round trip

How many people are travelling?

Select Travellers

Select traveller type, news & articles, you can now manage your own trips online, ebus has a lot to be thankful for, let ebus take you to the battle of alberta – cfl style, kamloops overview.

Kamloops is in south-central, British Columbia, part of the Thompson Valley region. Kamloops is well known for hosting sporting events and tournaments giving it the name the “Tournament Capital of Canada”.

Kamloops is right in the midst of the peaks and valleys of the Canadian Rocky Mountains so there are lots of hiking and biking trails and campgrounds for outdoor adventures.

Kamloops is a great place for a family vacation, a destination business conference, weddings, or just to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Come visit soon!

Weather in Kamloops

Kamloops weather is warm in the summer, and mild in the winter.

*All weather is shown in Celsius

QUICK LINKS

Stop information, kamloops sahali mall, address 945 columbia st w, kamloops, bc v2c 1l5, hours of operation.

Mon – Sun

7:45 – 17:00

*The mall is closed on Sundays and holidays, passengers will need to enter the office through the back door.

Please note that boarding of the 5:45 KAM<>KEL will be performed coach-side by the driver.

The Kamloops ticket office is at the Sahali Mall on Columbia street. The office is inside the mall across from Inky’s and Hair Clips. The pick-up and drop-off point is at the office’s back door by the NE entrance to the mall.

Parking Information

There is no overnight parking at this location.

Transit Information

BC Transit services the City of Kamloops and multiple bus routes drop off at Sahali Mall. You can find more information on the BC Transit website: https://www.bctransit.com/kamloops/home

Sign Up For News

Subscribe for news.

Discover Fall in Kamloops!

See our top 10 things to do this season