The tourism industry encompasses a number of different sectors. These include:
- Accommodation Hotels, Motels, Resorts, Lodges and Campgrounds
- Adventure Products Land, Water and Snow-Based Activities
- Attractions Commercial (Private) and Heritage (Public)
- Services Information Centres, Restaurants, Retail outlets, and Convention Centres
- Transportation Marine, Air, Rail and Road
The focus of this TOS
analysis is on the rural (or non-urban) component of accommodation, all forms
of adventure tourism, and on non-aboriginal cultural/heritage attractions.
The tourism industry is one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world economy. In BC, tourism is already the province’s second largest industry (as measured by gross domestic product) - generating $9.2 billion in revenues with some 16,700 tourism-related businesses employing over 113,000 BC workers (making tourism the fifth largest employer). (Source: Tourism BC.) The difference between tourism’s high GDP rank and lower employment reflects the high proportion of part-time employment in the tourism industry.
As an economic sector, tourism tends to follow the general business cycle and growth has been modest during much of the 1990s. Tourism BC is forecasting somewhat improved growth into 2001, although worries continue about the slowing Canadian and American economies. In addition to the health of economies in the BC market areas, concern also exists about ongoing airline restructuring and fuel prices. The British Columbia’s economy is expected to improve providing an opportunity for domestic tourism growth.
With an ageing population generally, the continued dominance of the baby boom generation, and the added growth of the echo boom group, demand for travel will continue. Activity based travel for such experiences as adventure, culture, education and wellness are expected to grow. Within the activity category ‘ecotourism’ and ‘adventure travel’ are expected to continue the solid growth they demonstrated during the 1990s.
BC boasts outstanding scenery; a wide diversity of natural resources; and relative to many parts of the world – considerable areas of wilderness. These attributes are key to BC’s advantage in developing an international reputation as an adventure tourism destination.
However, the same land base that offers opportunities for tourism, also supports a wide variety of other resource users. With expanding economic activity, increasing populations and the subsequent increasing demand on public lands, the potential for resource use conflicts and environmental damage is heightened.
BC has spent the last several years conducting various land and resource management planning processes (including the Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan). These processes have identified new protected areas and provided direction for future natural resource management through land zonation and development guidelines. While these land use planning processes have provided a foundation, resource managers still face a considerable challenge in meeting the public’s demand for multiple-use, economic development, and the sustainable management of all natural resources on provincial crown lands.
3.1.2
DESCRIPTION OF
PREVIOUS TOURISM RESEARCH
A considerable amount of tourism research and planning has been conducted in the Quesnel study area over the last decade. The list of sources used in this analysis includes approximately 40 reports, about half of which are specific to the study area. These reports cover a range of tourism topics including:
- Trails and trail development
- Backcountry/ adventure tourism/ eco-tourism recreation opportunities
- Tourism markets and marketing
- Visitor surveys and profiles
- Recreation resources
The reports of direct relevance to this TOS are the strategies and proposed development plans. In an attempt to avoid the pitfall that affects many strategies in that they do not generate action or get implemented, a summary of the key reports and their results is provided, by category.
·
Trails and Trail
Development
The North Cariboo has a large number and a diverse mix of trails. Over the last two decades a number of trail reports, plans and strategies have been prepared. Some of these have included:
-
Alexander
Mackenzie Heritage Trail: Master
Development Plan (1985)
This plan guides MoF and BCAL decisions in regard to appropriate management along the trail, including public and commercial recreation. Any new proposals that make use of the trail would need to conform to the management objectives.
-
Strategy for the
Development of the Cariboo Section of the Gold Rush Trail (1987)
This original strategy was never fully implemented, but in 1999 the concept was revived and the work continued by the Gold Rush Trail Development Corporation. A new marketing plan was developed by Currie Andrews Communications.
-
Goat River
Recreational Trail Pre-Feasibility Study (1992)
This study assessed the recreational potential of the Goat River. The mapping and hazard evaluation information is still relevant. The historic trail has subsequently been restored and there continues to be discussion on a proposed snowmobile route.
-
The Cariboo
Commercial Recreation Opportunities Study (1992)
This was a broad brush study which identified potential areas with high recreation values. Although this information has for the most part been incorporated into subsequent studies, it provides valuable background information.
- Economic Opportunities for Cross-Country Skiing: Quesnel, Wells-Barkerville Area (1993)
This report was completed by the Cariboo Ski Touring Club and has formed the basis of their development of public recreation facilities in the Mount Murray and Moncton Bowl areas. The background information remains valuable.
-
The Wells
Trailhead Project: The Goldfields Trail
Network (1993)
The study includes a complete inventory of the trail network in the Wells-Barkerville-Bowron Lake area, information that remains useful. It has formed the basis of the work done by the Wells and Area Trails Society to develop the trail network. It is a good reference to convey the number and nature of trails in the area.
-
Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast
Trails Regional Concept Plan Outline (1994)
This regional concept plan was developed in an effort to coordinate trail development on a regional level. Although this exercise was useful, it was found that the implementation of the trail system would be very site specific. This document remains useful to demonstrate how the individual trail networks may be linked.
-
North Cariboo
Trails Association Five-Year Action Plan (1994)
Although the North Cariboo Trails Association is now defunct, much of the work to be undertaken in the action plan has been completed by the Wells and Area Trails Society.
Although significant progress has been made on trail development as noted above, a few of these plans have not been fully implemented. This has occurred for one or more of the following for one or more of the following reasons:
- Lack of jurisdictional control
- Unclear responsibility regarding development and maintenance
- Lack of funds to develop trails
- Lack of funds to maintain trails
- Conflicts between motorized and non-motorized users
- Conflicts between recreational and commercial users
- Lack of trails of international caliber
- Burn-out by the club representatives and volunteers
- Resistance by users to user-fees
- Low carrying capacity for a wilderness experience
- Alterations to the viewscapes by logging.
In spite of this list of factors affecting implementation, the most significant reasons are lack of resources to develop and maintain public trail systems, and the questionable payback from a tourism revenue perspective. This payback issue is very difficult to measure but is based on the notion that the trail is the reason, or provides the incentive, to visit the region, while revenues accrue to the service sector (accommodations, restaurants, entertainment, etc.)
·
Opportunity
Studies
A particularly interesting and detailed analysis of the area (and the rest of the province) was conducted two decades ago (1980) under the federal/provincial Tourism Industry Development Subsidiary Agreement (TIDSA). This report included a thorough analysis of tourism resources and markets, and made a number of recommendations on how to improve tourism in the region.
For comparative purposes, we have reviewed this analysis and the opportunities identified. The following is a description of these recommendations with a summary of how the region has progressed in addressing the tourism development opportunities. (It is important to note that this TIDSA report was intended to be a strategy to guide tourism development but no agency was charged with implementation and no concerted development program occurred.)
Table 3-1
Tourism Development Progress
|
Planning/Operations |
|
Progress on Recommendations |
|
Establish area as a
Regional Destination Area |
|
Destination area strategies
and designation were never implemented However the
Wells-Barkerville-Bowron Lake area have made strides through cooperative
marketing in developing recognition as a destination. |
|
Extend Barkerville
operational season |
|
Some improvement made
with earlier Spring openings and later fall closing for the interpreted
programs. Barkerville (the town) is open year-round |
|
Investigate a road
link between Barkerville and Highway 16 |
|
This has not been
done, but a link has been developed to the south linking Barkerville to
Likely. The link to Highway 16 is not
considered feasible at this time, except perhaps north through the Bowron
River to Purden, 40 miles east of PG. |
|
Develop theme
signage |
|
A network of themed
information and interpretive signs has been developed along Highway 26. The same design is also used for large
informational signs in Quesnel, Wells and Barkerville. |
|
Establish a shuttle
bus between Quesnel and Barkerville |
|
Several false
starts. Suffering from chicken/egg
syndrome. Currently Gold Safari Tours
offers a summer shuttle service but there is no scheduled service. |
|
Support heritage
conservation and restoration |
|
Wells has focused
on heritage themeing. Several key buildings
have been restored. |
|
Control growth in
Wells via OCP |
|
Wells adopted its
first Official Community Plan (OCP) in 1988.
It was updated in 2000, after incorporation. (Controlling growth is
NOT an issue at this time; attracting growth is) |
|
Explore benefits of
gaming |
|
Wells Hotel is one
of a limited number of commercial properties in the province with a gaming
licence. |
|
Create package
trips |
|
BC Rail has new
excursion products, one of which stops in Quesnel (Cariboo Prospector). |
|
Support the arts
and craft industry |
|
Island Mountain
School of Arts at Wells provides professional instruction in the visual,
literary and performing arts, as well as business services geared for the
cultural sector. Although IMA is a
major economic engine in the area, no core funding is available to subsidize
its operations. |
|
Development |
|
|
|
Expand food and
accommodation |
|
New and renovated
hotels, motor inns and B&Bs have been developed. The number and variety of
food establishments has improved. |
|
Improve appearance
of urban centres |
|
Quesnel waterfront
trails and Reid Street streetscape improvements. Upgrade of commercial
properties in Wells. |
|
Upgrade the BCR
station in Quesnel |
|
Some basic improvements
made. |
|
Develop a Fraser
River paddle wheeler |
|
No progress made. |
|
Improve recreation
opportunities |
|
Establishment of
several new provincial parks. |
|
|
|
|
·
Tourism Markets
and Visitor Surveys
A few market research projects and visitor surveys have been done in the area. These are either provincial in scope, like the BC Visitor Survey which has Cariboo information, or surveys conducted in Wells/Barkerville. The last provincial scale visitor survey was conducted in the mid-1990s. Consequently, the information the tourism industry needs to document visitor volumes, expenditures and characteristics is dated.
The Wells research targets only on Wells’ visitors and typically have had small sample sizes. Barkerville also conducts periodic user surveys which have been helpful in tracking the characteristics of visitors the historic site. BC Parks also has completed a number of visitor surveys of visitors to Bowron Lake Park.
Although not always statistically significant, the Barkerville and Wells visitor studies do provide valuable information about the numbers, demographics, and trip characteristics of the visitors to the Barkerville corridor. These figures would be useful to anyone contemplating a business opportunity in the area. Much of this visitor information has been compiled and summarized in two reports – Measuring Our Success and Measuring our Success II.
The Wells tourism survey produced the following results:
- Over 60 businesses in the Wells-Barkerville area are at least partially dependent on tourism. This represents a growth of 30% since the mid 1990s, and a 44% increase in employment.
- Accommodation capacity was 232 hotel/motel rooms and 35 B&Bs for a total of 267 rooms.
- Two-thirds of businesses are locally owned.
- Length of stay in the corridor was 2.7 nights, up from 1.3 nights a decade earlier.
- Length of stay in Barkerville was 5.2 hours
- Per diem spending was $69, with a length of stay of 4.2 days and a party size of 1.4 persons. (Source: Island Mountain Arts Case Study)
Similar visitor information is not available for the west side of the Forest District.
·
Recreation
Resources
The Ministry of Forests has completed two very comprehensive recreation plans for Quesnel Forest District entitled Cottonwood East and Cottonwood West. The vision statement states that recreation will be managed to recognize and protect recreation resources and to maintain and enhance recreation opportunities in cooperation with recreationalists and other resource users. The Key issues identified in these plans include:
East:
- Conflict between recreation user groups, particularly motorized and non-motorized
- Wildlife/recreation conflicts with Mountain Caribou
- Impact of forest recreation on heritage sites
- Commercial backcountry recreation versus public recreation
- Impact of resource extraction on viewscapes
West:
- Status of the Collins Telegraph Trail
- Historic trails that cross Indian reserves and/or private land
- Lakes management planning and Lakes Classification
- Public backcountry recreation versus commercial backcountry recreation
- Access and road development in the western portion of the District
- Wildlife/recreation conflicts with Mountain Caribou
The key policies recommended for action from these recreation plans that impact this TOS are as follows:
- Manage visual landscape/scenic quality along key rivers and trails, and around key lakes and tourism facilities.
- Develop access planning to maintain backcountry goals and consider wildlife values.
- Maintain and enhance opportunities for backcountry recreation (both public and commercial)
As these plans will guide MoF recreational activity in the area they remain important documents for future tourism development.
3.2
STRENGTH/WEAKNESSES/OPPORTUNITIES/THREATS (SWOT)
A SWOT Analysis is a business research technique used to assess development options. It focuses on the features and attributes of an area and defines their scope and merits. It identifies physical and economic factors that either help or hinder development of individual opportunities. The process provides a framework for conducting the opportunity analysis.
It is important to note that this SWOT analysis is focused exclusively on tourism development. That is, factors that may be a community or regional issue but do not relate directly to tourism development have not been included. The following is a description and definition of the four components of a SWOT analysis.
|
-
Strengths |
|
The
features or attributes of the area that make it appealing to tourists. These are the physical strengths that
could facilitate development of specific tourism developments. It also includes the social,
administrative, infrastructure and community strengths. |
|
-
Weaknesses |
|
The
factors or conditions that hinder the development of tourism. Weaknesses include conflicts with existing
use that range from incompatibility between tourism operators, between
tourism and recreation, and between tourism and resource industries. It also includes any lack of community
support, a lack of facilities or infrastructure, or a lack of natural
features. |
|
-
Opportunities |
|
The
general and specific tourism developments that result from the assessment of
strengths and weaknesses. These
opportunities are based on resource capability, plus market and financial
feasibility. |
|
-
Threats |
|
Outside
factors over which the agency or business has no control. These issues usually involve topics such
as resource management and financing. |
Our information has come from a number of sources. These sources primarily include background studies and observation of the analysts.
|
Table 3-2 Strengths |
|
·
High Quality Natural Resources -
Variety of Resources:
The area has a large volume and variety of high quality natural
resources. These resources include a combination
of wilderness and scenery, and fish and wildlife resources. The quality of these physical resources
ranges from regional and provincial significance (fishing and snowmobiling)
to international significance (Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail and Bowron
Lakes canoe route). -
Wildlife:
The area has populations of a number of big game species. The list includes grizzly bear, black
bear, mountain goat, California bighorn sheep, moose, elk, deer and caribou. In terms of birds, the area maintains populations
of bald eagles, pelicans, trumpeter swans, grebes, loons, cranes and many
species of owls. -
Fish: The area has
an abundance of sports fish in a large number of lakes and rivers. Key sport species are salmon, trout and
char. These fish resources support a
high quality fly-fishing experience. -
Wilderness: The area
provides high quality wilderness, particularly in the far eastern and far
western portions of the study area.
The roads to Nazko and Barkerville/Wells provide access to the
semi-wilderness/midcountry areas to the west and east. |
|
·
Several Significant Rivers -
Fraser River:
The Fraser River is the province’s most dominant river and it bisects
the Quesnel TOS study area. It is known
for the salmon fishery, fur trade and gold rush history, wildlife viewing,
rafting and canoeing. The river
received a “high” recreation rating
in a study done for the Ministry of Forests (Source: Preliminary List of Significant Rivers). -
Blackwater (West Road) River:
Primarily known as the corridor of the historic Mackenzie route and
First Nations grease trail, and for canoeing, fishing, hunting and wildlife
viewing. It supports I – III river
paddling grades suitable for novice to moderately skilled paddlers (soft
adventure types). -
Quesnel River:
This river drains Quesnel Lake and joins the Fraser River at
Quesnel. It is just over 100 km long
and supports paddling activities with class II – IV water. Other features include fish runs, gold
rush history, and wildlife viewing. -
Cottonwood River:
Known for its fish and wildlife populations, the lower canyon,
Cottonwood House and gold rush history. -
Nazko River:
Known for its fish and wildlife, collection of small lakes, canoeing
and wildlife viewing. |
|
·
Provincial Parks The region has one
of the province’s most unique and well-known wilderness parks –Bowron Lake
Provincial Park. It also has a number
of newly designated parks, the largest of which are Cariboo Mountains in the
east and Itcha Ilgachuz in the west.
It also has the province’s largest heritage attraction – the restored
gold rush town of Barkerville. -
Bowron Lakes Provincial Park: Bowron
Lake Provincial Park in the Cariboo Mountains contains the world famous
Bowron Lake canoe circuit. This 116
km chain of lakes, waterways and portages caters to over 5,000 canoeists
annually. The park has 48 wilderness
campsites, shelters and cabins, and reservations are required to ensure
canoeists are spread out throughout the circuit. -
Barkerville: In
the 1860s, Barkerville was reported
to be the largest city in North America west of Chicago and north of San
Francisco. Restoration of the town’s
buildings began in 1957 and today over 125 buildings have been restored. Barkerville Historic Park stages events in
the Theatre Royal and has a program of street theatre. Barkerville is the largest heritage
attraction in the province and caters to approximately 100,000 visitors
annually, of whom about two-thirds are regional residents. Their research indicates that the length
of stay has risen from about four hours to nearly one day over the last
decade. |
|
·
Community Infrastructure -
Quesnel:
Quesnel is by far the largest community in the region (estimated 2000 municipal population of 11,200 with an additional 3,000 to 4,000
in adjacent areas). It also acts as
the service centre for the surrounding trading area. It has most of the necessary government
agencies, personal services, and retail outlets. -
Wells: Wells is
incorporated as a District Municipality and has a population of 270. It has a small retail, accommodation and
services base, and has a strong artistic focus. |
|
·
History -
First Nations Culture:
The First Nations peoples traditionally occupying the area encompassed
by the Quesnel Forest District study area are the Dakelh people. They occupied territory from the
headwaters of the Fraser River in the east to the Coast Mountains in the
west. (Source: First Nations Peoples map) -
Non-Native History: The
area has had a unique blend of resource development oriented history. These include exploration by Alexander
Mackenzie in the late 1700s, development of the fur trade through the 1800s,
the Collins Overland Telegraph line to Siberia in 1866 and the Yukon Telegraph Line to Quesnel in
1901. The most significant
development, however was the discovery of gold in 1858 in the Cariboo and the
subsequent development of Barkerville. |
|
·
Location -
Centrally located:
Quesnel and the Quesnel study area are located close to the geographic
center of the province, readily accessible from the north and south. -
Climate:
The region has a four season climate with warm summers and cold, dry
winters. |
|
·
Transportation and Access -
Highway: Highway 97 bisects the region from
north to south providing access to and from the lower Mainland and Prince
George. Highway 26 goes to Wells and
Barkerville in the east, while paved road access exists to Nazko in the
west. Literally hundreds of
kilometers of forestry roads criss-cross the region. -
Rail: BC Rail
operates two services through Quesnel.
The Cariboo Prospector is the three time a week passenger service from
North Vancouver to Prince George. The
Whistler Northwind is a luxury three day excursion focusing on the nostalgic
high-end rail service of 100 years ago.
BC Rail also offer summer and winter rail tours including the
Barkerville Gold Rush Tour. -
Scheduled air service:
Air Canada provides scheduled air service to Vancouver three times a
day. The Quesnel Airport is operated
by the City of Quesnel. |
|
Table 3-3 Weaknesses |
|
·
Transportation -
Highways:
Highway 97 is a two-lane road for most of its length in the study area,
and can be slow and congested in summer.
Repairs and maintenance are also an issue both summer and winter. -
Rail:
The BC Rail excursions and packages pass through Quesnel, but the
premier tour – the Whistler Northwind - does not stop in Quesnel. -
Air Access: Scheduled
air access tends to be costly and there has been a general reduction in
domestic capacity. Air Canada has
recently reduced the number of flights to/from Vancouver from three to two a
day. |
|
·
Small Population Base -
Regional Population:
Quesnel is the only city in the region and contains most of the
region’s population. This
concentration of population creates a centralizing of services. -
Other population centers:
Wells is the only other incorporated jurisdiction in the study area and
its population is small. |
|
·
Tourism Issues -
Highly seasonal tourism market:
The area has a short traditional summer warm weather period due both
to the northern latitude and the altitude.
The long winter period also limits suitability of the area for
travellers wanting a warm weather experience. -
Small market base:
The pass-through market is limited to the north/southbound traffic on
Highway 97. The destination market is
focused on the outdoor/adventure products, arts and heritage. -
Limited number of tourism facilities:
Quesnel has a mix of tourism facilities (accommodation and food and
beverage) although many are oriented to the commercial traveller. There are few built, cultural facilities
or tourism attractions. -
Lack of visitor statistics:
Although not specific to the study area, the tourism industry is
notoriously poor at measuring its performance. This limits the industry’s ability to track its success and to
monitor trends. |
|
Table 3-4 Opportunities |
|
·
Opportunities by type -
Land Based:
Tourism development opportunities having potential based on land
resources include such activities as hiking, hunting, trail riding, and
wildlife viewing. -
Snow Based:
Tourism development opportunities having potential based on snow
resources are heli and cat skiing, cross-country skiing, ski touring, and
snowmobiling. -
Water Based:
Tourism development opportunities having potential based on water
resources are canoeing, kayaking, rafting, river touring, fishing and
wildlife viewing. |
|
·
Opportunities by market -
Pass-through market:
There is a steady flow of summer traffic along Highway 97 amounting to
a “several thousand” vehicles a day (two-way traffic). This includes tourist automobiles, RVs and
motor coaches. -
Destination markets:
The study area is not known as a destination area except for a few
specific commercial recreation activities, and for two internationally known
resources. The main activity markets
currently destined to the study area are hunters, fishers, hikers and people
interested in the area’s history. The
two key resources are the historic town restoration at Barkerville and the
Bowron Lake Provincial Park canoe route.
The biggest single draw to the area is actually travellers visiting
friends and relatives (which is a difficult market to influence). |
|
·
Opportunities by geographic focus -
Frontcountry opportunities:
These developments would cater to persons passing through the area and
those staying in the main communities.
These developments would be easily accessible and cater to a range of
geographic markets and interests. -
Backcountry opportunities:
These developments would cater to specialized and dedicated markets in
the non-roaded portions of the study area. |
|
Table 3-5 Threats |
|
·
Availability of land for development -
Implementation of the
Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan: The Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan was
completed in 1994. At the time of writing
a sub-regional land use plan was being initiated. Implementation of these recommendations should help clarify and
help resolve competing land use issues. -
First Nations land issues:
Uncertainty about First Nations land claims is a major tourism development
issue throughout the province.
Resolving First Nations land related issues is crucial to add to the
certainty of future land based developments. -
Preserving access to land for use by
tourists and commercial recreation operators:
Ensuring access to parks, rivers, lakes and future First Nations lands
for commercial recreation purposes is important to the future of land-based
tourism. |
|
·
Access -
Air access:
Air access decreased with the domestic airline merger. -
Climate and weather:
The area has a short summer and long cold winter, both of which limit
access and volumes of visitors. |
|
·
Resource Use Conflicts -
Tourism and other resource
industries: Conflicts between tourism use of the land
base and forestry and mining uses. An
ongoing issue, which will increasingly impact rural tourism, is the impact of
timber harvesting based on pine beetle infestations. -
Commercial tourism and local
recreation: Conflicts between commercial users of the
land base and independent tourists or local recreationalists. |
|
·
Development Obstacles -
Access to financing:
The central BC location of the study area, and the seasonal markets,
impact project viability and access to commercial financing options (both
debt and equity). -
Weak provincial economy:
BC’s economy has performed below the national average through much of
the 1990s. Broadly based economic
improvements are necessary (regionally and by economic sector) to foster
growth. -
Lack of relationships between local
business operators and outside investors: Expansions of existing tourism businesses
and development of new facilities, based on the identified opportunities,
would be facilitated by these partnerships. |
From the perspective of developing the adventure tourism/culture tourism sectors, the region has a number of significant strengths. In terms of the natural environment these strengths are based on wilderness and scenery, plus the variety of fish and wildlife resources. Significant wilderness and scenic features are preserved in provincial parks in the east and west portions of the region. The region has the province’s most well known river as well as several regionally significant rivers, all with valuable canoeing/kayaking and fishing opportunities. However, the region’s most significant tourism resources, both of which are nationally significant, are Barkerville and the Bowron Lake canoe circuit.
Countering these strengths are a number of weaknesses which need to be addressed in order for the industry to grow. Transportation and access are deterrents as the region is “a day’s drive” from Vancouver as a market and as an international gateway. Highway 97 is also only two lanes for much of its length through the region. Air access capacity to Quesnel has declined, while costs remain high. In terms of market issues, the market is relatively small, seasonal, and heavily based pass-through traffic. The region also has a limited number of dedicated tourism facilities.
Opportunities exist for land, water and snow-based adventure tourism activities – all of which are significant. Market opportunities exist to capture a greater number of the pass-through vehicles, as well as to create more of a destination image for the area. The more urban or frontcountry opportunities are best suited for the pass-through market, and the backcountry opportunities for the destination market.
Threats, or outside factors influencing tourism, are significant deterrents to future tourism development. Key to rural or backcountry tourism is access to the land base – for facility construction, for touring, and as scenic viewscapes. This land access is being threatened by First Nations land claims and by resource use conflicts. Pine beetle infestations are as yet minor in the region but the spread and the resulting logging is a serious concern. Continuation of the fragile economy in central BC is also affecting the area’s ability to attract investors and capital.
3.3 IMPACT OF THE
CARIBOO-CHILCOTIN LAND USE PLAN ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
In 1994 the Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan (CCLUP) was announced. It was followed by a 90 day Implementation Plan to develop technical details. The plan establishes three resource management zones and one protected area zone. Resource targets and area-specific objectives are provided for all resource uses including tourism, recreation, and fish and wildlife resources. The CCLUP was prepared to guide resource development in the region and will form overall direction for sub-regional planning (currently underway). The Quesnel Forest District encompasses the northern portion of the regional plan area, and represents about 30% of the CCLUP area. (Readers are directed to the CCLUP report for zone maps.)
The following is a description of the zones.
|
Zone |
Size |
Objectives and Targets |
|
General |
|
Forestry,
mining, grazing, tourism and recreation can proceed in all zones. |
|
Private
and Settlement |
8% |
Includes
the urban areas, predominantly around Quesnel |
|
Protected
Areas |
12% |
Includes
the parks that existed prior to the plan date, plus three new areas. Tourism activity is permitted (with
operating permits). |
|
Special
Resource Development |
26% |
Resource
development is to occur in a manner which respects sensitive natural
areas. All resource users are
permitted throughout the zone. |
|
Integrated
Resource Management |
14% |
All
resource uses are considered appropriate within this zone. Objectives aim to integrate social,
environmental and economic values. |
|
Enhanced
Resource Development |
40% |
All
resource uses are considered appropriate.
The focus is on job creation by increasing forest productivity, and developing
recreation and tourism opportunities. |
The CCLUP sets targets for various kinds of resource uses, including tourism. The tourism industry is very dependent on the area’s natural resources. The tourism targets focus on two fundamental factors:
- Maintenance of visual quality surrounding existing tourism facilities and key tourist use areas.
- Maintenance of tourism industry development opportunities in association with backcountry areas.
The Plan provides guidance for all kinds of resource use, by zone. The following table presents summary information on resource targets for tourism and for recreation. It is noted that the targets set for other resource uses such as fish and wildlife will also impact the tourism opportunities. The reader is referred to the CCLUP for these details.
Table 3-6
Tourism and Recreation Targets by Land Use Zone
|
Zone |
Area (‘000 ha) |
Tourism Targets |
Recreation Targets |
|
Special Resource Development Zones |
|||
|
Itcha/Ilgachuz |
306 |
Promote tourism
development of the western portion and focus tourism development on
backcountry activities. Maintain visual
quality in the viewshed surrounding existing operations. |
Maintain 50% in a
backcountry condition. |
|
Lower Blackwater |
102 |
Promoter tourism
development and focus tourism development on backcountry activities. Maintain visual
quality. |
Maintain 20% in a
backcountry condition. Maintain visual
quality along the Blackwater River and Mackenzie/ Grease Trail. Implement measures
included in the Mackenzie/ Grease Trail Management Plan |
|
Quesnel Highlands |
152 |
Promote tourism
development of the western portion and focus tourism development on
backcountry activities. Maintain visual quality
in the viewshed surrounding existing operations, including Barkerville. |
Maintain 30% of the
zone in a backcountry condition, including areas adjacent to the Cariboo
River and the Stanley-Cariboo Waggon Road. Maintain visual
quality in the Barkerville corridor. |
|
Quesnel Lake |
333 |
Promote tourism
development of the western portion and focus tourism development on
backcountry activities. Maintain visual
quality in the viewshed surrounding existing operations. |
Maintain 25% of the
zone in a backcountry condition, including areas adjacent to the
Stanley-Cariboo Waggon Road. Maintain visual
quality around Quesnel. |
|
Upper Blackwater |
88 |
Promote tourism
development of the western portion and focus tourism development on backcountry
activities. Maintain visual
quality in the viewshed surrounding existing operations. |
Maintain 40% of the
zone in a backcountry condition, including areas adjacent to key lakes and
corridors along the Blackwater River and Mackenzie/Grease Trail. Maintain visual
quality in areas adjacent to key lakes and corridors along the Blackwater
River and Mackenzie/Grease Trail. |
|
Zone |
Area (‘000 ha) |
Tourism Targets |
Recreation Targets |
|
|||
|
Integrated Resource Management Zone |
|||||||
|
Kluskus |
48 |
Promote tourism
development of the western portion and focus tourism development on
backcountry activities. Maintain visual
quality in the viewshed surrounding existing operations. |
Maintain 30% of the
zone in a backcountry condition, including areas adjacent to key lakes in the
western end of the zone. Maintain visual
quality around existing tourism operations. |
||||
|
Enhanced Resource Development |
|||||||
|
Baezako |
254 |
Maintain visual quality
in the viewshed surrounding existing operations. |
Maintain visual
quality in the viewshed along the Baezaeko River. |
||||
|
Nazko |
514 |
To support exiting
tourism development. Maintain visual
quality in the viewshed surrounding existing operations. |
Maintain 5% of the
zone in a backcountry condition, including portions of the Blackwater and
Nasko Rivers. Maintain visual
quality around existing tourism operations. |
||||
|
Quesnel |
341 |
Maintain visual quality
in the viewshed surrounding existing operations. |
Maintain 5% of the
zone in a backcountry condition, including portions of the Quesnel and Fraser
Rivers, and areas on Dragon Mtn.. Maintain visual
quality in the viewshed of Dragon Mtn.. |
||||
|
Cottonwood |
219 |
Maintain visual
quality in the viewshed surrounding existing operations. |
Maintain 5% of the
zone in a backcountry condition, including portions of the Cariboo River and
along trails. Maintain visual
quality along the Cariboo River and Barkerville highway. |
||||
|
Beaver Valley |
425 |
Maintain visual
quality in the viewshed surrounding existing operations. |
Maintain 5% of the
zone in a backcountry condition, including portions of the Quesnel River and
around key lakes. Maintain visual quality
in the viewshed of the highway corridor and key lakes. |
||||
|
Batnuni |
86 |
Maintain visual
quality in the viewshed surrounding existing operations. |
Maintain 5% of the
zone in a backcountry condition, around key lakes. Maintain visual
quality in the viewshed of the highway corridor and key lakes. |
||||
Although tourism is permitted in all zones, the key focus for adventure/ecotourism development will be in the Protected Areas and Special Resource Development Zones. These zones are the most appropriate because resource extraction activities are either not permitted or the impacts (on viewscapes particularly) are to be planned for and controlled.
It is noted that the ongoing pine beetle infestation could cause changes in harvesting plans. This could cause major impacts to potential tourism development areas and to related viewscapes.
3.3.3 LAND AND RESOURCE ISSUES
IMPACTING TOURISM
The SWOT analysis and the Land Use plan information have resulted in a number of issues affecting rural tourism development. These are categorized below.
·
The Study Area
has three distinct zones.
The Fraser River corridor zone reflects the river, highway and railway corridor running north-south through the center of the region. It includes the City of Quesnel and contains most of the area’s population and tourism facilities.
The Eastern zone contains Wells, Barkerville and the Bowron Park canoe circuit. The tourism themes/activities that are applicable in the zone include gold rush heritage, snow-based activities, lake and river based recreation, mountain-based activities, and arts and culture.
The Western Zone includes all of the area to the west of the Fraser River. It is very sparsely populated with the largest community being Nazko. Themes/activities applicable to this area are hiking, heritage, wildlife viewing, fishing, and lake and river recreation.
·
Forest
development has a major impact on tourism.
Increased areas of logging are significantly reducing the extent of natural-appearing semi-primitive and primitive terrain. This reduces the opportunities, qualities and extent of wilderness and backcountry adventure recreation and tourism, for commercial, guided and public activities. Similarly, forest development has fragmented natural-appearing landscapes into small, isolated pockets. Finally logging and road development, if not properly managed, can impact on fish and wildlife resources by negatively altering habitat.
However, forest harvesting and road development also increases backcountry access for a wide range of recreation and tourism pursuits. Increased access typically means a larger percentage of the population can now access and use these areas for recreation and tourism uses. Indeed road deactivation and closures has recently become an issue in some areas, as the public has become accustomed to greater access.
The forest service has an established network of rustic recreation sites (camping, day-use, lake access) and trails. Issues related to these facilities are: (i) the recent establishment of fees for use of many sites; (ii) the primitive condition and small size of many of the sites that do not meet the expectations of some user groups; (iii) the number of recreation sites are limited. Historic trails are un-managed and often closed to the public where they cross Indian Reserves and private land.
The lack of resolution of native land claims impedes land use allocation and long-term planning, and results in an uncertain future. This in turn can limit the establishment of tourism and recreation facilities and investments in commercial recreation-tourism development. Making progress on land claims will be beneficial to rural tourism development over the short and long term.
·
Tourism
development is concentrated in two areas.
Recreation and tourism activities are concentrated at the most highly developed destinations and facilities. This is best seen in the Wells-Barkerville-Bowron areas. Activities are concentrated at the developed campsites, at Barkerville and the Bowron Lakes chain where there is threat of overcrowding and degradation of the experience of users.
There is a lack of alternative areas in the region developed to a similar extent as the Barkerville area. Alternative, major destinations would provide varieties of experience and more dispersed use. Several development locations are suggested in the product analysis chapter and are depicted on the accompanying maps.
Recreation and tourism activities, if not properly managed, can affect sensitive biophysical features (alpine terrain, wetlands and wildlife populations) as well as heritage resources (archaeological sites and European-settler artifacts).
There is potential for conflicts between different recreation-tourism user groups, especially between motorized and non-motorized activities; i.e., (i) snowmobiling and ATV use versus cross-country skiing and snowshoeing; (ii) motor boating VS canoeing; hikers versus ATV users; (iii) commercial VS public use of backcountry areas. Continuing management of these issues will be required at the sub-regional planning level.
Restocking programs have been reduced and quality fishing opportunities (fly-fishing only, catch-and-release) are being lost. Fishing continues to be popular activity and the region is well known as a fishing destination. Fishing opportunities need to be maintained.
Regulations, red tape and lack of security of land tenure limit interest in investing in commercial recreation opportunities. Speeding up the acquistion process would assist the commercial sector.
Several new parks have recently been created which expand the amount of protected land in the region. Management plans need to consider both public recreational access and use by commercial operators.
Highway 97 is the only highway access to the region, and it is only two lanes Expansion to four lanes and continuing maintenance is required. The backcountry road networks are generally devoid of services (fuel, food, accommodation) or distances between services are great.
There is need for expanded and more integrated transportation into and within the region. Suggestions include scheduled and charter bus services between Quesnel and Barkerville-Wells, enhancement of rail service on the BC Rail, and upgrading air service and airport facilities at Quesnel.
3.4 SUMMARY OF
FACTORS AFFECTING TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
The focus of this analysis is on adventure tourism and cultural tourism. As components of the tourism industry, they probably represent about 20% to 30% of total tourism spending (accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, retail and other travel services make up the remainder).
A considerable amount of tourism research and planning has been conducted in the Quesnel study area over the last decade. Significant progress has been made in expanding the tourism industry, although much remains to be done. Key reasons that tourism growth has been spotty are the area’s distance from markets, the small population and related number of tourist facilities, limited number of significant attractions, and intervening opportunities closer to the population centre markets. There has also been a lack of resources to develop tourism facilities and to market the area.
In terms of tourism strengths, the region has high quality natural resources, several major rivers, some high profile provincial parks, two population centres, a rich history, and a central location. Weaknesses exist in the areas of transportation and access, small population base, seasonality, and limited number of facilities. Opportunities exist in land, snow and water-based adventure tourism; products catering to the pass-through market and the destination market; and both front and backcountry products. Threats include land availability, access, resource use conflicts, financing, and the weak provincial economy.
General land based issues affecting tourism development include forestry activity (particularly harvesting to deal with the pine beetle infestation), First Nations land claims, fish and wildlife management, and crown land development processes.
The product analysis process has included ten products of which six are land-based, two snow-based and two water-based. The objective of this process required that ten products be selected, which precluded analysis of any other products that may offer potential. Based on land use zoning, the most suitable areas of future resource based tourism are the protected areas and the special resource development zones. Future tourism development has been specifically targeted in the CCLUP to the SRDZs and backcountry areas.
Continue to Section 4
Back to Table of Contents