Tourism Utopia for Small
Resource Communities
Is it Real?
LGMA June 2014 Vancouver
Revelstoke Economic Transition
Determine success factors for resource based
communities to transition successfully
towards tourism
Research communities
Åland,
Finland
Kangaroo I
Australia
Ucluelet BC Weyarn
Germany
Beloi, East
Timor
Hurunui NZ
Northeast
Iceland
Nice France
Rondane
Norway
Traditional
Resource
Fishing,
Shipping
Agriculture
(sheep)
Fishing,
Forestry
Agriculture,
Farming
Agriculture,
Agriculture
Fishing
Fishing
Reindeer
husbandry
Case study tag
line
dream fades
away
betrayed
community
Community
changes heart
Changing but
staying the
same
A
community
story
power struggle
Embraced
transition
Dark Window
Syndrome
peaceful Coexistence
Local Values to
preserve
Natural
Capital
Ecosustainable
Village
Heritage
Culture
Agriculture
values
Employment,
wealth
Local Ambiance
Natural
capital
Successful?
yes
Unique natural
capital
(environment)
no
yes
yes
TBD
no
yes
yes
yes
Type of
Tourism
Cruise,
Destination,
Eco
Resort
Destination
resort Eco,
Sustainable
Rural,
Cultural
Cultural, Ecosustainable
Natural (hot
pools) rural
Destination,
Eco-tourism
International
Residential
tourism,
Destination
Eco-tourism,
rural
Successful?
1 Yes, 2 no
With conflict
1 no, 2 yes
Yes
TBD
conflict
yes
yes
yes
Stakeholder
Engagement
Non
structured,
Gov’t led.
TOMM
community
stakeholder
indicator
Participatory
planning and
deliberative
democracy
Story telling
Government
process and
politically
driven
Participatory
using GIS
modelling
Residential,
Resort
Rural, Eco,
Farm
Successful?
Largely yes
no
No at first,
successful
with local
engagement
Community
Vision
process,
complex
decision
making
Yes, but time
consuming
Appears to
be, but not
yet fully
observed
no
yes
n/a
yes
Hurunui NZ
Success Factors
• Identify and Preserve
Local Values
• Define the
Community’s Tourism
• Effective Stakeholder
Engagement
• Measure
Local Values
• Positive Attitudes Critical
• Personal Benefit
– Engage Supporters
– Acknowledge and address Negative Aspects
• Community Values
– instilling local values
– Restrict Development to maintain
community values
Pave Paradise…
I like Revelstoke's small town feel,
we must protect it.
Agree
Neutral / Other
Disagree
440
44
25
86%
9%
5%
Tourism is beneficial to
Revelstoke.
Agree
Neutral / Other
432
47
Disagree 30
85%
9%
6%
Revelstoke needs more resorts.
Agree
Neutral / Other
Disagree
16%
84
24%
122
303
60%
Define your community
• What epitomizes your community
• Look at community values
• Don’t make assumptions, ask citizens
There is too much emphasis on skiing
and snowboarding and not enough
on other recreation in the area.
Agree
Neutral / Other
Disagree
288
116
105
57%
23%
20%
What best describes tourism in
Revelstoke?
Response
Chart
Percentage
Count
Rural tourism
2%
11
Resort tourism
26%
134
Adventure tourism
37%
190
Sustainable tourism
6%
33
Traditional tourism
7%
35
Other:
12%
63
I do not know
9%
45
Total Responses
511
Tourism has always been in Revelstoke;
it is really not much different today.
Agree
Neutral / Other
Disagree
27%
135
17%
91
283
56%
Effective engagement
• Make or break for success
• Complex interpersonal relationships
– Magnified in smaller communities
• Listen
• Honest and genuine process
– Engagement tools do not equal engagement
– Traditional vs Innovative
What word best describes how you
feel about Revelstoke's future?
Hopeful / Optimistic
Neutral
Anxious / Pessimistic
319
52
62%
10%
141
28%
Revelstoke is becoming a better place to live.
Agree
Neutral / Other
Disagree
196
111
38%
22%
202
40%
Revelstoke needs to promote tourism more.
Agree
256
50%
Neutral / Other
124
24%
Disagree
129
26%
Revelstoke needs more resorts.
Agree
Neutral / Other
Disagree
16%
84
24%
122
303
60%
What is the most important factor for Revelstoke's
economy to successfully transition from a resource
based economy to one based on tourism?
Response
Percentage
Count
14%
16%
72
82
Protecting existing
businesses
14%
73
Lowering taxation
11%
57
Other:
15%
8%
22%
74
41
110
Promoting tourism
Protecting Revelstoke's
heritage
Do not know
Revelstoke should not
become tourism based
Chart
Total Responses
509
Who should lead in this economic transition?
Mayor & Council
Province
Chamber of Commerce
161
20
4%
11%
55
Community Groups
Private Enterprises
Other:
31%
97
19%
13%
68
110
22%
MEASURING AND ASSESSING
SUCCESS
Revelstoke's economy should transition to tourism
Response
Percentage
Count
Quicker
11%
57
Slower
10%
28%
53
141
It should not be
happening at all
11%
57
Other:
8%
43
I do not know
10%
21%
53
107
The current speed is
perfect
In my opinion the
transition has already
happened
Chart
Total Responses
511
Revelstoke is becoming a better place to live.
Agree
Neutral / Other
Disagree
196
111
38%
22%
202
40%
Has tourism helped Revelstoke's
economy in the past 5 years?
Helped
No Difference/
Other
Made it Worse
239
57
62
67%
16%
17%
Success Factors for Small Resource
Communities Transitioning to
Tourism
1. Identify and preserve local values
2. Define your communities Tourism
3. Effective Stakeholder Engagement
4. Measure and Celebrate Success