B.C. tourism operators vie as fight over back country land use increase

Friday, May 26, 2023

The Ministry of Forests administers B.C.’s tenure system, today granted companies right to produce timber in public forests or helicopter clients to a distant peaks so they can bike down.

However as groups fight to use limited land available, conflicts are constantly increasing in the area.

The co-chair of the Adventure Tourism Coalition, Scott Ellis, said that the backcountry of B.C. has been a Wild West for long time, where the large corporation’s interests surpass ski guides, sport fishers, outfitters, and other smaller tenure holders.

He said that adventure tourism is kind of a late addition to the list.

Among provincial ministries, poor communication with different mandates mining, forestry, tourism and environment, denote the fact that a ski guide might reach the destination in fall to find their land completely logged, or a kayak guide is compelled to alter their way after rocks are removed by mining.

Ellis explained that the indecision made many quitting, said, who is the executive director of the Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. as well. He has talked to many small operators who are under pressure to protect their financing as their term renewal applications were postponed or shortened, was concentrated from five years to one year.

He also added that they’re requesting for precision, confidence to appreciate who they’re supposed to have talks with.

Tenure applications made under the adventure tourism policy of B.C. are decided by the forests ministry.

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