Written by Gordon Hoekstra
Citizen staff
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Wednesday, 01 July 2009 |
A group charged with finding ways to diversify the B.C. Northern Interior's economy to offset the impacts of the pine beetle epidemic released its tourism strategy on Tuesday.
A key to growing the tourism sector -- which the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition believes has plenty of potential -- is for communities to collaborate on a broader strategy. For example, it could include marketing a wider array of activities and experiences available in the region than are available in individual communities, said Elizabeth Andersen, manager of the coalition.
Those that were involved in developing the tourism agree that the natural setting of north-central B.C. -- the coalition's region stretches from Valemount in the east, west to Smithers, and north to Mackenzie -- is world class.
Coalition chairman Don Basserman, a Prince George city councillor, noted that just recently he had seen two grizzlies south of Vanderhoof.
Basserman also pointed to the hiking available in Mount Robson near Valemount, snowmobiling on Mount Morfee near Mackenzie and skiing at Hudson Bay Mountain in Smithers.
To that list can be added back-country hiking, canoeing and kayaking in an uncrowded natural setting. "That's the beauty of what we have up here," stressed Basserman.
As part of its strategy, the coalition's dozen suggestions include:
- Tourism needs to be taken into consideration in land and resource management decisions, particularly important in a region that is expected to see natural resource development increase over time in mining and oil and gas development, as well as forestry.
- Improve highway services for travelers for travelers in the region by developing or enhancing rest stops, viewing areas and tourism information.
- Improve air, bus and rail access to and within the region.
- Develop or enhance the region's trail networks to attract more summer and winter users.
- And increase investor awareness of high potential sites for tourism opportunities.
During research for the strategy, it was learned that investors which might investigate larger, destination-type projects had limited awareness of the region and its potential.
The province put up the money for the community coalition, and the region's MLAs say they are ready to help implement the tourism strategy.
Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond, the province's newly minted transportation minister, said she will be working to ensure that Europeans can fly directly into the Prince George Airport.
Forests Minister Pat Bell said he particularly likes the strategy's focus on collaboration. He noted the region's spectacular back-country could, perhaps, become a kind of anchor attraction as is the wine country in the southern Okanagan. "We often don't appreciate what we have," observed Bell.
The Omineca coalition will bring together its earlier strategies into one economic diversification plan for the region this summer.
As a result of the beetle epidemic, the mid-term timber supply is expected to drop 33 to 45 per cent in the vast northern and Interior regions, with communities like Burns Lake estimated to take an even harder hit, in a 2007 analysis from the B.C. Ministry of Forests.
The decline in mid-term timber supply -- up to 60 years -- is expected to begin within five years in some areas.
The Canadian Forest Service has estimated that a conservative 22-per-cent decrease in the timber supply, will cause 600 job losses in Burns Lake and Houston. In Prince George, a conservative 17-per-cent decrease in the timber supply would cause a job loss of 2,900.
Unlike the Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition, the Omineca coalition has decided not to put a price tag to its strategy. The Cariboo-Chilcotin group, representing communities south of Prince George, has said $500 million will be needed to help diversify that area's economy.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 01 July 2009 )
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