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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Nanaimo Tourism Passport is a new Tourism Nanaimo initiative designed to help local tourism staff and volunteers rediscover the incredible experiences our region has to offer.
This program invites tourism industry partners to explore Nanaimo like a visitor, experiencing local attractions, activities, and hospitality offerings firsthand. The goal is to help our front-line teams confidently share authentic recommendations and insider knowledge with guests.

There are two components to the program: the Passport Challenge and the Privilege Pass. Participants must complete a set number of activities within the challenge timeframe to qualify for a Privilege Pass. The privilege pass unlocks access to industry specific discounts for one year as long as industry employment is maintained. 

  • Participants: Tourism/hospitality staff and volunteers
  • Goal: Complete 5 of the 7 activities across participating partners to earn a Privilege Pass
  • Duration: May 19 – June 5, 2026
  • Passports: Distributed by the Tourism Nanaimo Visitor Centre and provided to participants

How it Works

On May 19th, tourism staff and volunteers will be able to collect their passport from the Nanaimo Visitor Centre. They will require proof of employment or volunteer status (examples include a business card, employee I.D, or letter from the employer/volunteer supervisor). The Tourism Nanaimo Visitor Centre staff will have a list of qualifying businesses. To inquire if your business is on the list, please contact Karly at karly@tourismnanaimo.com. 

Once the qualifying individual has picked up and signed their passport, they will have two weeks to complete 7 of the 9 activities in the passport. They will be required to present a piece of I.D at each challenge stop to ensure the passport participant is present for the challenge.\

Upon completion of the challenge, participants will return their passport to the Visitor Centre to be verified by staff. Once they have been verified, they will receive their Privilege Pass Card. Details of the privilege pass will be available online, including the associated deals the card includes.

2025 Passport Challenge Partners

Nanaimo Museum Logo

Nanaimo Museum

Vancouver Island Military Museum Logo

Vancouver Island Military Museum

Nanaimo Art Gallery Logo

Nanaimo Art Gallery

PROGRAM DETAILS

PRIVILEGE PASS

The Privilege Pass is the reward component of the 2026 Tourism Challenge, designed to recognize participants who complete at least 5 of the 7 featured activities. Once the passport has been completed and verified by the Tourism Nanaimo Visitor Centre, participants will receive a digital Privilege Pass, unlocking a year of exclusive industry offers and experiences across Nanaimo. These benefits are provided by participating tourism and hospitality partners and are intended to encourage ongoing exploration and enjoyment of local experiences. .

Details

  • Valid for 1 year from the date of issue. 
  • Offers may include:
  • Discounted hotel rooms or meals
  • Attraction tickets or special experiences
  • Partner-specific offers (see attached partner list)
  • All offers are subject to conditions (blackout dates, guest limits, etc.).
  • Privilege pass holders must provide photo I.D when using their privilege pass.

Inability to produce photo I.D may result in inability to claim benefits within the privilege pass

Full list of participating partners to come
 

Tourism Nanaimo
info@tourismnanaimo.com (250) 751 1556

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Land Acknowledgment

We acknowledge with gratitude that our work takes place on the territories of the Snuneymuxw, Snaw-naw-as, and Stzuminus people. Tourism Nanaimo is committed to advancing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, with a focus on those directly tied to the tourism sector. We support Call to Action 92 by actively seeking meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities, ensuring that tourism contributes to economic reconciliation and respects Indigenous rights and protocols. We support Call to Action 79 by ensuring that Indigenous histories and living cultures are shared in close collaboration with First Nation governments, honouring their guidance on how their stories and teachings are shared.

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