{"id":1579,"date":"2020-09-18T16:38:27","date_gmt":"2020-09-18T16:38:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/introtourism2e\/chapter\/recreation-and-adventure-tourism-in-bc\/"},"modified":"2021-06-04T21:22:00","modified_gmt":"2021-06-04T21:22:00","slug":"recreation-and-adventure-tourism-in-bc","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/introtourism2e\/chapter\/recreation-and-adventure-tourism-in-bc\/","title":{"raw":"5.2 Recreation and Adventure Tourism in BC","rendered":"5.2 Recreation and Adventure Tourism in BC"},"content":{"raw":"Studies have shown that nearly all residents of BC partake in some kind of outdoor recreation activity during any given year.\u00a0Approximately 85% of those participants indicate that these recreational activities were very important to them (Tourism BC, 2013).\n
\n\nSpotlight On: Outdoor Recreation Council of BC<\/strong>\n\nThe [pb_glossary id=\"2819\"]Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORC)[\/pb_glossary] describes itself as \u201cpromoting access to and responsible use of BC\u2019s public lands and waters for public outdoor recreation\u201d (Outdoor Recreation Council of BC, 2014). The Council promotes the benefits of outdoor recreation, represents the community to government and the general public, advocates and educates about responsible land use, provides a forum for exchanging information, and connects different outdoor recreation groups. For more information, visit the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC website<\/a>.\n\n<\/div>\nIt is estimated that there are approximately 2,200 outdoor\/adventure tourism operators in BC.\u00a0In 2001, this accounted for 21,000 jobs and $556 million in direct wages.\u00a0The last sector-wide study in 2005 estimated that business revenues in outdoor adventure tourism accounted for approximately $854 million in annual business revenues (Tourism BC,\u00a02013). Given the growth of adventure tourism over the last decade, it is likely these numbers have risen.\n
\n\nTake a Closer Look: Outdoor Adventure Sector Profile\n<\/strong>\n\nOutdoor Adventure: Tourism Sector Profile<\/a>, <\/em>a report produced by Destination BC, includes information on the size, type, and characteristics of tourism companies in this sector.\n\n<\/div>\nThis section covers two\u00a0key types of recreation and tourism, with a focus on British Columbia:\n
    \n \t
  1. Land-based recreation and tourism<\/li>\n \t
  2. Water-based recreation and tourism<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIt's not possible to detail all the recreational activities available in BC, but by the end of this section, you will have an understanding of some of the key unique activities available in the province.\n

    Land-Based Recreation and\u00a0Tourism<\/h1>\n

    Golf Courses and\u00a0Resorts<\/h2>\nA 2009 economic impact study found that more than six million Canadians participate in the game of golf each year, making this sport the number one outdoor recreational activity in Canada based on participation. Golf also directly employs more than 155,000 people and contributes more than $11 billion directly to Canada\u2019s gross domestic product. BC has over 300 golf course facilities, and with over $2 billion annually in direct economic activity, the golfing industry in the province is the fourth largest in Canada (Strategic Networks Inc., 2009).\n\nGolf is a significant tourism attraction in BC; in 2007 the province was chosen as the \"Best Golf Course Destination in North America\" by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (Destination BC, 2014c).\u00a0 Part of the draw is the diverse environment; golfers can choose from lush coastal forests to desert environments, and many courses have a viewscape of mountains or the ocean.\n\nA 2006 study by Destination Canada formally the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) detailed both demographic and economic factors related to the Canadian golf industry. Significant findings included that there were more than 3.4 million golf travellers in Canada annually, and that of those travellers, approximately 34% travelled to BC. In addition, the Canadian golf participation rate (for the total Canadian population) was 21.5%, which is among the highest golf participation rates of any country in the world. Golfing provides an opportunity to attract significant tourism revenue as the average golf traveller has a much higher than average income level, with up to 50% of all golf travellers earning $100,000 or more per annum (Tourism BC, 2009b).\n
    \n\nSpotlight On: British Columbia Golf Marketing Alliance<\/strong>\n\nThe [pb_glossary id=\"2507\"]British Columbia Golf Marketing Alliance[\/pb_glossary] is a strategic alliance that represents 58 regional and destination golf resorts in BC. The purpose of the alliance is to grow the game of golf in BC and achieve recognition nationally and internationally as a leading golf destination. The alliance supports and distributes information about research, lobbying efforts, and golf industry events. For more information, visit the Allied Golf Association of BC website<\/a>.\n\n<\/div>\n

    Mountain Resorts and\u00a0Nordic Centres<\/h2>\nResorts in British Columbia range\u00a0from smaller eco-lodges to large ski areas.\u00a0Mountain resorts and nordic centres are part of the larger resort tourism sector, which in 2004 was valued at $1.9 billion (Tourism BC, 2011c).\n

    Mountain Resorts<\/h3>\nBC's many world-class facilities and high-quality snow conditions provide mass appeal for downhill skiing and snowboarding. Many of mountain resorts have diversified to offer summer operations, including mountain bike parks, hiking, and sight seeing. Mountain resorts in BC can be separated into two principal categories: destination resorts and regional resorts. [pb_glossary id=\"2593\"]Destination mountain resorts[\/pb_glossary] are often significantly larger and offer a greater range of amenities such as on mountain accommodation and food services; they are also generally marketed to out-of-area and international visitors. Examples of a destination resort would include Whistler Blackcomb Ski\u00a0Resort<\/a>. On the other hand, [pb_glossary id=\"2875\"]regional mountain resorts[\/pb_glossary] are usually smaller in size and capacity, have fewer amenities, and often cater more directly to the local community (Tourism BC, 2011c) such as Whitewater Ski Resort<\/a> in the Kootenay Rockies.\n
    \n\nSpotlight On: Canada West Ski Areas Association<\/strong>\n\nSki areas in Western Canada (Alberta and BC) are represented by the [pb_glossary id=\"2513\"]Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSAA)[\/pb_glossary], which has a diverse mandate that includes marketing, advocacy, environmental stewardship, and risk management.\u00a0For more information, visit\u00a0the Canada West Ski Areas Association website<\/a>.\n\n<\/div>\nThe aggregate economic value of destination mountain resorts is significant; one\u00a0study by Tourism BC found that 13 of these resorts\u00a0were responsible for generating approximately 1.1 billion in revenue, or 8% of the total provincial tourism revenues in 2008.\u00a0Additionally, they provided the equivalent of 14,267 full-time equivalent jobs (Tourism BC, 2011c). Furthermore,\u00a0BC\u2019s top mountain resorts have received many prestigious awards (Tourism BC, 2011c, p. 11):\n