Presentations
The TRIP team gives presentations to different groups on aspects of tourism development. For examples of some of our previous presentations, see the list below. If you are interested in having one of the TRIP team do a presentation on an aspect of tourism development in your community, contact the project coordinator to discuss your needs further.
- Adoption of sustainable practices by rural operators in BC
Sustainable tourism development has been a topic of considerable research and policy reflection across Canada for the past two decades. In British Columbia, sustainability has moved from the halls of academe to the board rooms of provincial tourism ministries and industry associations. In the fall of 2008, the Province announced a new BC Partnership for Sustainable Tourism at the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference. The partnership will bring together all stakeholders in an effort to position the province as a leader in tourism sustainability in the next decade. One of the goals is to enable sustainability to take place in part referring to the need to remove or limit barriers that impede the adoption of sustainable practices in the industry. The purpose of this study was to determine a) the barriers to sustainability in rural small tourism enterprises (STE, b) their level of influence, and c) potential strategies for limiting their influence. A focus group was conducted to develop a survey instrument that identified barriers and motivations for sustainability in the rural context. Using this instrument, a sample of STE's from all sectors of tourism was chosen to participate in the study.
To view a copy of this presentation, click here.
- Innovators in rural tourism
While the concept of innovation is often associated to the adoption of technology, innovation occurs whenever new ideas must be generated to adapt to external circumstances. These ideas largely emerge from within organizations where they can be diffused to other contexts, or they are borrowed from outside areas and infused into the organization in similar or modified forms. The challenges associated with operating a tourism enterprise in a rural context are numerous. Many of these are geographic in nature for rural STE's have to attract or pull visitors over greater distances which requires unique products and high marketing investments. Similarly, the operating rural STE's requires inputs from other communities which increases costs and carbon footprints. The purpose of this study was to assess the level and type of innovation taking place among small tourism enterprises (STE) in rural British Columbia. Over a period of three years, researchers visited STE's across the province and profiled sixty innovators across all sectors of the industry. Each profile described the issue, innovation, impact and lessons learned by the STE. Taken in aggregate form, these profiles were analyzed to produce insights about rural tourism operators. Innovation examples grouped into themes such as partnerships, marketing, product development, research and tracking, visitor experience, environmental stewardship, planning and profit maximization. Ideas were most often generated from within the organization with the purpose of either product differentiation, enhancement of visitor experience or expression of core business values. The study demonstrates that STE's are generating numerous and valuable examples of innovation that may be diffused and then replicated or modified in other Canadian rural areas to enhance competitiveness.
To view a copy of this presentation, click here.
- What makes the development of tourism in rural areas different?
The development of tourism in rural areas of Canada has been delayed due to the dominant use of the "urban lens" in policy formation, support programs and research practices. While the global literature on rural tourism is abundant, the presence of Canadian citations are often limited to descriptions of parks and protected areas or outdoor recreation. The majority of the Canadian geographical landscape is comprised of rural, remote and aboriginal communities. Many of these have experienced one or more types of stresses leading them to be called "communities in transition". The transition for many means the diversification of economy through new industries such as tourism. In order to support this transition effectively requires the use of a rural lens to ensure that one size fits all, urban-centric initiatives are not delivered to rural communities. The purpose of this paper is to describe the realities of tourism development in the rural context in British Columbia. Using grounded theory and five years of field research throughout rural BC, the findings demonstrate that the rural context matters and should be considered a key variable in understanding and supporting tourism development. The paper describes the rural context in BC including population shifts, access to technology, and current external threats. It then outlines observations of the realities of tourism development in rural areas gained from talking with community leaders and operators. Finally, strategies to improve support programs in rural tourism development are provided and research priorities are identified.
To view a copy of this presentation click here.
- Heritage Tourism Innovators in BC
This presentation was given at the one day workshop hosted by the Ministry of Tourism Sport and the Arts on Heritage Tourism. It profiles innovators in rural BC that are utilizing their heritage assets in ways that are working.
- Tourism Research Innovation Project (TRIP): Enhancing tourism development in rural BC
This presentation provides an overview of the evolution and activities of the tourism research innovation project (TRIP). It highlights observations about tourism development in rural communities, the initiatives that the TRIP team are collectively undertaking and some of the outcomes to date (August 07).
