ECOTOURISM - big part of a sustainable Clayoquot economy
Ahousaht First Nations village on Flores - start of Wild Side Heritage trail boardwalk.
Some Tourism Facts to Ponder
"The backcountry/wilderness zone is fragile (and) rapidly diminishing..."
"Few other areas of the planet still are fortunate enough to retain high calibre areas of pristine country."
Adventure Travel in Western Canada: Product Development Strategy. Tourism Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 1988, p. 20.
The Wilderness Committee has worked with First Nations in Clayoquot Sound to build ecotourism potential by constructing a system of trails that rivals the world-famous West Coast Trail in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
by James MacGregor, President of Ecoplan:net Ltd.(Ecological Planning for the Enviroment and Tourism)
Ecotourism is a relatively recent travel sector that seeks to contribute to the protection of cultures and natural areas, provide economic benefits to local communities and operate in a manner that is environmentally responsible. Rapid growth has enabled it to assume close to 10 percent of the travel industry, placing its current value at several billion dollars.
Tourism growth in Tofino has been substantial. Studies conducted in the 1980s indicated that there were approximately 250,000 visitors per year to the Tofino area. In 1995, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve recorded 1,090,050 visitors.
Although several Tofino tour operators have recognized the potential of the region and developed whalewatching, sea kayaking, and wildlife viewing packages, tourism in Clayoquot Sound provides little or no benefit to the First Nations people of Opitsaht, Ahousaht, and Hotspring Cove. In fact they probably receive less than one percent of regional tourism revenues. They are also concerned about current lack of controls.
“Tourism has a very good potential in this area if monitored very carefully. But it can also be very destructive to the environment that we live in.” Joe Martin, Tla-o-qui-aht, owner-operator of Clayoquot Whaler, from speech at Symposium on Alternatives to Industrial Logging in Clayoquot Sound, July, 1995.
Clayoquot Sound's relatively easy vehicle and air access to the large ecotourism markets of the Pacific Northwest and northern California could generate millions of dollars for the First Nations of the region. However the potential benefits of ecotourism will only be realized if there are high quality, educational and environmentally sensitive tourism products. These must be innovatively packaged and provided by trained personnel who understand the needs of today's well-travelled ecotourists. In addition, a certain level of infrastructure is required such as eco-lodges, charter boats, interpretive centres, trails and rainforest walks.
If only 5,000 ecotourists (24 people per day over a seven-month season) take a three-day all-inclusive First Nations' packaged tour (e.g., staying at First Nations hotels and guest houses and going on First Nations' guided flights, boat trips and whalewatching, wildlife-viewing and interpretive hiking tours) at a reasonable rate of $200 per day, it would generate $3 million per year for First Nations businesses in Clayoquot Sound.
