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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

Agenda 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

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BC’s Tourism Environment • 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

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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 4

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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 7

Improving the well-being of local people • Tourism British Columbia – Community Tourism Foundations® • supports & guides BC communities in developing customized, research-based multiyear tourism plans with help of professional facilitators • provides multi-year funding assistance to communities for implementation of specific tourism marketing initiatives 8

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 9

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 10 • Interpretation

The Extent of BC’s Parks • 850 provincial parks & protected areas – (~ 24 m. annual visits)

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

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Beyond the Parks • Most adventure tourism takes place outside parks (kayaking, river rafting, heliskiing, guided hikes, horseback riding, etc.)

• Contrasted with large, vibrant and multicultural cities – Opportunities for green tourism experiences – Ecotourism experiences 12

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 or were already using 13

Tourism Business Development • 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 14

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_guideli nes_recreation_may06_v2.pdf

– Management Plan • Minimal impact • No-trace camping

– Permits 15

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 16

Visitor Experience • • • •

Minimal footprint Permits Interpretation Experiential tourism

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The Challenges • 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 18

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 19

More Opportunities • Tourism Action Plan (TAP) - Feb. 2007 – 33 actions, including; – Green certification – Green business awards http://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 20

The future • Sustainability for future generations • Strong government commitment • Tourism business delivers the promise

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

Thank you for your time.

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