Jun 21, 2018 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Partners, Trends
Regional economic impact study shows major growth of mountain bike tourism in Sea to Sky Corridor. Vancouver, BC – June 21, 2018 – Whistler, Pemberton, Squamish, and North Vancouver receive a significant share of the estimated 9.2 million overnight visitors that come to the Vancouver, Coast and Mountains tourism region each year according to Destination BC’s Regional Tourism Profile. An increasing number of visitors are coming specifically for mountain biking from other parts of BC, Alberta, the US and Overseas. BC has gained legendary status as a mountain biking destination from being featured in countless videos, photographs, and media articles in print and online publications over the past two decades. Mountain biking has transitioned from being a fringe sport into a mainstream recreational activity, following a similar growth pattern as skiing and snowboarding. Mountain biking is being embraced by communities throughout the province who see its value both as a local recreation asset as well as a tourism generator. The Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA), in cooperation with community partners and Destination British Columbia, has released the overall results from the 2016 Sea to Sky Mountain Biking Economic Impact Study. The overall results include a comparison with the previous study completed in 2006 using the same methodology. The results show: Mountain biking visitor expenditures in the Corridor has increased by nearly 100% since the 2006 study, rising from $31.7 million in 2006 to $70.6 million in 2016. The number of jobs supported by mountain bike tourism has grown from 309 in 2006 to an estimated 687 jobs in 2016 with wages totaling $35.9 million. Taxes generated by mountain bike...
Apr 10, 2017 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Partners
Revelstoke, BC April 10, 2017 – What do mountain bikers look for in a destination? Great trails, mountain scenery, friendly towns with a passion for outdoor adventure…sounds like Revelstoke! This September 13th to 15th, Revelstoke will host the fourth bi-annual Mountain Bike Tourism Symposium attracting mountain bikers and industry professionals from across the province and beyond. Revelstoke is one of Canada’s most up and coming mountain resort communities, appealing to keen outdoor enthusiasts and extreme sport seekers. Surrounded by the Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges, getting out of doors here is mandatory and extremely convenient. “Revelstoke is a great central location in BC, less than 6 hours away from just about anywhere in the province. We are seeing huge growth in our mountain biking sector, and we are beyond thrilled to host the symposium here this year.” – Meghan Tabor, Tourism Revelstoke With recent upgrades to the alpine classic, Frisby Ridge trail, and the brand new jump trail on Boulder, “The Rooster,” delegates will be thrilled with what the community has to offer. Aside from enjoying the incredible riding opportunities, delegates will learn and share their experiences on a variety of issues impacting the mountain bike tourism sector. The main theme for this year’s event is “stewardship”. With the growth of mountain biking in past decade and the anticipated increase in mountain biking visitors to BC in the foreseeable future, the mountain bike sector recognizes the challenges that local trail advocates face in caring for the trails. Finding effective ways to support trail maintenance efforts and increase local capacity is crucial to long term sustainability and success. Tourism Revelstoke,...
Apr 4, 2017 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Partners, Trends
VANCOUVER – April 4, 2017 A new study supported by the District of Squamish finds that mountain bike trails in Squamish attracted $9.9 million in visitor spending in 2016. Mountain biking is a significant outdoor activity in the District of Squamish, with 25,180 riders taking over 202,000 rides in 2016. Of note, more than 20,000 riders and 99,000 rides were made by visitors from outside of the community, providing a significant boost to the local economy. For the avid mountain biker it is no surprise that Squamish has become a sought after destination. With over 150 kilometers of maintained mountain bike trails surrounded by stunning mountain and coastal scenery it’s no wonder that it has been featured in many published articles and videos, played host to numerous events and media crews, and is now home to a number of professional riders, bike and adventure related businesses and tourism companies. The District of Squamish’s tag line sums it up perfectly, “Hard wired for Adventure.” The results of the 2016 study illustrate the significant growth in mountain bike tourism for Squamish over the past decade. In 2006 a similar study was conducted which determined that mountain bike visitors spent $2.3 million in the community. This quadrupling of tourism spending over the past 10 years can be attributed to many factors. A major one has been the provincial policy introduced in 2008 to allow approved mountain bike trails on Crown Land under the Forest and Range Practices Act. Once trails are approved communities can then begin to promote them for local recreation and tourism. Mountain bike tourism is likely to continue to...
Sep 1, 2015 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives
September 1, 2015 SIMPCW (Chu Chua) – people from throughout the McBride to Barriere Corridor will have an opportunity to learn how to build world-class single-track trails for hiking and mountain biking. The workshop will take place on Saturday and Sunday September 12 & 13 at the Simpcw Nation community Hall (500 Dunn Lake Rd, Barriere, BC) from 9am to 4pm. The workshop is open to any group or individual interested. There are no fees to attend. The Simpcw First Nation received $45,000 from the BC government to identify how Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities can collaborate and pursue new opportunities in the region’s growing mountain bike and tourism industry. Other communities such as the Thompson Nicola Regional District and the Simpcw Nation have contributed to the project. The trail building workshop is also being supported by MNP and Recreation Sites & Trails BC. The trail building workshop will allow Simpcw members, as well as representatives from communities and community organizations from throughout the area, to learn about sustainable trail building and maintenance techniques and practises. The workshop will provide the skills and capacity for local communities to build trails throughout the McBride to Barriere Corridor. The workshop will be facilitated by Mark Wood from the Arc’teryx NSMBA North Shore Trail Builders Academy. The Academy is a program operated by the North Shore Mountain Bike Association providing training in modern trail building techniques to assess, build and maintain trails focused on long-term sustainability and a positive user experience. Labour Market Partnerships are a component of the Employment Program of BC’s Community and Employer Partnerships fund for projects that share labour...
Feb 26, 2015 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Uncategorized
Williams Lake, B.C. Feb. 26, 2015 – Williams Lake will have an incredible opportunity to showcase its trails as the city welcomes hundreds of mountain bikers and industry professionals from across British Columbia to the Provincial Mountain Bike Tourism Symposium this fall. From Oct. 2nd to 4th, the city will host a diverse group of industry professionals including media, destination marketers, commercial operators, land managers, government and industry representatives, professional riders, and mountain bike advocates. The City of Williams Lake and the Cariboo Regional District have a long history of supporting mountain biking, and recognize the positive economic impact mountain bike tourism has on our region. A partnership between local governments and the Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium and the Williams Lake Cycling Club continues to develop mountain biking infrastructure and promotion in the Cariboo. This partnership, coupled with world class single track, a dedicated local riding community, continued trail maintenance, and a strong relationship with Recreation Sites and Trails BC, helped create the winning bid to host the Provincial Mountain Bike Tourism Symposium in Williams Lake this fall. Eleven communities from throughout BC submitted proposals but unique Cariboo qualities helped Williams Lake win the bid. Hosting this event will have multiple benefits to the community of Williams Lake and the Cariboo Region through heightened media attention, positive economic impact, and opportunity to showcase the continued hard work and support that has built Williams Lake into a world class mountain bike destination. In addition to the conference itself, the weekend will include guided rides, a social evening, and a film screening. Mayor Walt Cobb is pleased to have Williams Lake...
Jan 26, 2015 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Partners, Uncategorized
New collaborative effort will help create opportunities for communities along the Yellowhead Corridor Vancouver, BC – January 26, 2015 – The Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA) in partnership with the Northern BC Tourism Association and the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition is pleased to announce the release of a new strategy to support further development of mountain biking in the region. Northern BC is recognized for its vast wilderness and outdoor recreation opportunities and is increasingly gaining attention as a mountain biking destination. “Mountain biking represents a new opportunity to attract visitors to our region and collaboration among the key stakeholders will be critical”, said Clint Fraser, acting CEO of the Northern BC Tourism Association. Mountain biking advocates living in communities along the Yellowhead corridor have been building and maintaining trails for mountain biking for over a decade. “Valemount, Prince George, Burns Lake, Smithers, and Terrace have already created some amazing trail networks”, said Martin Littlejohn, Executive Director of the MBTA, “however, the capacity of the local mountain bike clubs and advocacy groups is limited by funding and volunteer support. We are recommending collaboration at a regional level among local governments, regional districts and other regional agencies to support mountain bike development for the social and economic benefits that it can provide.” Key recommendations include support for trail maintenance, entry level trails and skills parks for beginners and families, consistent signage, programming for youth, greater involvement with the tourism sector, and the creation of a regional brand. The Northern BC Mountain Bike Recreation and Tourism Strategy was supported by the following communities and organizations: Omineca Beetle Action Coalition...
