Ecotourism and forestry: a study of tension in a peripheral region of British Columbia, Canada

Abstract

ABSTRACTEcotourism is often highlighted as a way to diversify a local economy, especially in peripheral areas experiencing a decline in its traditional economic base. However, not all stakeholders may be supportive of such a shift, which can contribute to tension about development priorities. The Robson valley, a peripheral region in British Columbia, Canada, provided a unique opportunity to study the nature and extent of such tensions because the area is simultaneously experiencing a downtown in its traditional forestry sector and the emergence of a significant ecotourism attraction. Using semi-structured interviews, we examined key informants’ perceptions of current economic conditions and potential future benefits of ecotourism opportunities. Within this context, informants broadly discussed opportunities for ecotourism and forestry and, in the process, expressed tensions between the two sectors. Rather than leading to direct conflict, the tensions contributed more to a sense of lack of support for ecotourism, which was associated with entrenched institutional legacies of the area’s traditional economic base. While arguments against ecotourism centred on its perceived limited economic contributions, the range of tensions reflected a broad set of ideological positions. A better understanding of these tensions may help to anticipate potential conflicts, improve communications, and, hopefully, mitigate conflicts.