British Columbia’s role in developing and promoting ecotourism experiences

Valerie Sheppard, Senior Tourism Development Officer, Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, British Columbia

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PART 1• Overview of BC’s tourism environment• Promoting well-being of local communities• Promoting conservation of natural environment

PART 2• Tourism Business Development• Tourism Business Promotion• Challenges• Opportunities• The future

Agenda

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• 95 million hectares (almost = the area of Texas & New Mexico combined)

• 94% is Provincial Crown land (2% covered by fresh water)

• 1% is Federal Crown land (including Indian Reserves, Defence Lands, Federal Harbours)

• Only 5% is privately owned land

BC’s Tourism Environment

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BC’s Tourism Environment

• BC accounts for 10 % of Canada's land surface

• Great diversity of landscape/seascape• Urban/rural differences

• Diverse ecosystems= Opportunity for diverse tourism experiences= Potential for conflicting

tourism/industrial/residential interests

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Ecotourism - Definition

“Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."

International Ecotourism Society

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Improving the well-being of local people

• Provincial Government– Ministry of Agriculture& Lands, Ministry of

Tourism, Sport & the Arts, Integrated Land Management Bureau• Expanding and diversifying economy• Sustaining environment (condition of

tenure/sale)• Promoting health and well-being of residents

and communities

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Improving the well-being of local people

• Tourism British Columbia– Community Tourism Foundations®

• supports & guides BC communities in developing customized, research-based multi-year tourism plans with help of professional facilitators

• provides multi-year funding assistance to communities for implementation of specific tourism marketing initiatives

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Improving the well-being of local people

• First Nations– 198 First Nations Bands– Great Bear Rainforest – 15.5 million hectares

• Klemtu Tourism – Gwaii Hanaas National Park

• Ranked #1 park by National Geographic Traveler Magazine

– Aboriginal Cultural Tourism Blueprint Strategy for BC

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Conserving the Natural Environment

• Role of BC Parks• Conservation Officers

–44 offices around province–Field services, inspections, investigations,

public outreach, human/wildlife conflict response

• Permits–Business–Visitors

• Interpretation

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• 850 provincial parks & protected areas – (~ 24 m. annual visits)

• Over 13.09 million hectares now set aside– (13.8 % of total province)

The Extent of BC’s Parks

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Beyond the Parks

• Most adventure tourism takes place outside parks (kayaking, river rafting, heli-skiing, guided hikes, horseback riding, etc.)

• Contrasted with large, vibrant and multi-cultural cities– Opportunities for green tourism experiences– Ecotourism experiences

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Tourism Business Development

• Role of Ministry of Tourism, Sport & the Arts– Tourism Development Branch

• Enabling the development of all tourism, including ecotourism• Growth and diversification – Sustainability, planning, advocacy• Greening of businesses• Bridging gaps between academia & business

– Adventure Tourism Branch• 1998 – commercial recreation management program developed• existing or new recreation operators and tourism businesses had

to acquire tenures for the provincial Crown lands they needed orwere already using

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• Ministry of Tourism Sport, & the Arts– Recreation Sites & Trails Branch

• oversees more than 1,200 recreation sites & 600 trails located on Crown land outside of parks

• sets and administers policy for recreation sites and trails

• works with partners such as recreation clubs, forest companies, First Nations, local governments, contractors and other groups to manage and maintain recreation sites and trails

Tourism Business Development

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Tourism Business Development• Role of BC Parks

– Wildlife Guidelines for Backcountry Tourism/Commercial Recreation in British Columbia

• Guidelines define results, desired behaviours, indicators, limits activities for backcountry

• http://env.gov.bc.ca/wld/twg/documents/wildlife_guidelines_recreation_may06_v2.pdf

– Management Plan• Minimal impact • No-trace camping

– Permits

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Tourism Business Promotion• Role of Tourism BC

– Super Natural British Columbia®– Promoting tourism domestically & internationally– Communicating different kinds of experiences &

matching customers to those experiences– Outdoor Adventure Campaign

• Ecotourism experiences – Media Relations

• Highlight sustainable tourism practices• Opportunity to influence through media relations

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Visitor Experience

• Minimal footprint• Permits • Interpretation• Experiential tourism

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• 2007 Climate Action– BC’s GHG emissions 33% by 2020– Carbon neutral by 2010

• 2005 Premier’s tourism revenue challenge– $18 billion by 2015

• 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games– Sustainability commitment– Hydrogen highway btw Vancouver & Whistler

The Challenges

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The Opportunities

Industry:•Council of Tourism Associations (COTA)

Foresight: Shaping & Sustaining a Vision of Tourism in BC

http://www.cotabc.com/sustainability

Government:•Green Tourism Forum (Government & Industry Collaboration)

•October 29, 2007 in Vancouver

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More Opportunities• Tourism Action Plan (TAP) - Feb. 2007

– 33 actions, including;– Green certification– Green business awardshttp://www.tsa.gov.bc.ca/tourism/docs/tourism_action_plan.pdf

• New action #34 – Sept. 2007– Carbon measurement tool– Carbon Offsetting– Green business workshops– Green certification program for all tourism sectors– Greening resorts conference

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• Sustainability for future generations

• Strong government commitment

• Tourism business delivers the promise

The future

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Conclusion“Responsible travel to natural areas that

conserves the environment and improves thewell-being of local people."

Thank you for your time.