Recreation’s role in ensuring tourism is a force for good

 

Webinar Summary

Tourism is an economic driver and often makes communities better places to live. The outdoor recreation community plays an important part in the tourism industry by building, maintaining and promoting opportunities for outdoor recreation. But there are challenges to having too much tourism, including not having the capacity, resources, amenities and infrastructure to manage all the users effectively. The tourism industry in BC is increasingly looking to meet those challenges and wants to work with the outdoor recreation community. During the webinar, we looked at how outdoor recreation groups and the tourism industry can work together to ensure tourists and visitors provide net benefits to communities.

Panelists:

  • Erica Hummel, Director of Destination Development and Stewardship, Destination BC,

  • Jikke Gyorki, Executive Director, Tourism Fernie,

  • Melanie Wrigglesworth, Executive Director, Fernie Trails Alliance

Watch the webinar

key takeaways:

The tourism industry is working to move beyond visitor marketing to visitor management, beyond sustainable to regenerative, so visitors and their dollars bring net benefits to the community and the environment.

  • Outdoor recreation infrastructure a key part of that - how can tourist dollars help build, improve and maintain recreation infrastructure?

  • Tourism doesn’t become a force for good on its own. Needs collaborative and strategic planning and implementation.

  • The growing demand for outdoor recreation is forecast to continue. We need to think about how to use visitors to fund maintenance and development.

  • Need a new metric for how the tourism industry measures success, beyond heads and beds.

  • Vital to find sustainable, dependable funding that links visitors to recreation infrastructure - how do we change the social norm to one where everyone feels responsible for paying to support trail work.

Why should outdoor recreation groups work with Destination Marketing Organizations (DMO)?

  • Values and objectives often align

  • Power in working together, including new and more funding

  • DMOs have expertise to support recreation

Why should DMOs work with outdoor recreation groups?

  • Recreation infrastructure key to tourism success

  • Know recreation assets better than anyone

  • Deeper knowledge of needs and wants of user group

  • Passionate and energetic volunteer base

Where to start:

  • Look for partners to collaborate with - Visitor Information Centre, Invasive Species councils

  • Start with casual meeting to talk about visions, needs, and desires.

  • Find one small project - clear outcome and benefits, long-term plan,

  • Apply for grants - many funding sources in regional and provincial tourism, economic development, etc.

Who is doing it:

  • BC Tourism Climate Resiliency Initiative

  • 4VI (formerly Tourism Vancouver Island), The Tyee article on 4VI and regenerative tourism

  • Tourism Revelstoke

Case study: Tourism Fernie

Leaders in community recognized that tourism success relies on quality and accessible trails and rivers. Need to maintain and improve them to sustain the tourism economy. Tourism Fernie rallied local stakeholders to develop a regional tourism master plan that recognized sustainable management as part of long term vision. Led to Sustainable Tourism Initiative, which identified key areas in the region that needed more attention and developed initiatives to address those pain points. AmbassadorWild program focuses on places that fall through cracks, data collection, etc. By having many stakeholders involved, clear outcomes and a long term plan, able to access more grants - $1-million, 3 to 4 year project

Case study: Fernie Trail Alliance

Key partner with Tourism Fernie. Manages 400+ km of year-round trails. Developed a matrix system for ranking trail projects. Balances importance to locals versus tourists, access, costs, user experience. Contact Melanie to learn more.

Wildlife coexistence: work with wildlife cameras and biologists to ID key areas.

  • Voluntary trail closures dusk and dawn

  • Looking at rotating seasonal closures

Trailhead project: ensure infrastructure is consistent (signage, outhouses, etc.)

  • Visitors know what to expect

Coal Creek Trail project: developing 30 km accessible loop, including access to rare fossil

  • Key component how preserve fossil, protect area from extra traffic

  • Picnic bench in prime rest places

  • Armouring of erosion spots.

Stay Connected

Don’t miss the next webinar! Stay up to date by subscribing to our newsletter. It’s the best way to hear about upcoming webinars, events or outdoor recreation news. Or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

Questions, comments, or webinar topics you would like to see? Email us at info@orcbc.ca

Support Our Work

We can’t do any of this without you! As a non-profit organization, we rely on donors to keep our programs, resources, and advocacy going so that B.C. can have enjoyable and responsible outdoor recreation opportunities. A tax-deductible donation today makes a big impact for the outdoors tomorrow.