Nov 12, 2008 | Industry, Uncategorized
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts in partnership with BC Parks and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is pleased to release the Draft Trails Strategy for British Columbia. This Draft Strategy, describes an action plan that enables the development of a world-renowned network of sustainable trails, accessible to all, which fosters social, cultural, health, economic and environmental benefits for trail users, communities and the Province. In fact, this is the Vision for the provincial trail program described in the Draft Strategy. It has been developed through collaboration and consensus by a multi-agency stakeholder and government Trail Strategy Committee and outlines broad, strategic, provincial level goals that the Committee feels are fundamental to a sustainable, world-class trail...
Aug 21, 2008 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Uncategorized
Adventure tourism operators, community leaders, land managers, park planners, bicycle industry representatives and trail advocates will gather October 26-28, 2008 at the Talking Rock Resort near Chase, BC (approximately 1 hour east of Kamloops on Highway 1) to discuss topics associated with mountain bike tourism. Topics include market research, economic impact, liability and risk management as well as developing bike friendly communities and services, partnerships and funding for trails, mountain biking tourism business opportunities and marketing community based mountain biking...
Feb 18, 2008 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Uncategorized
A new resource handbook for communities, land managers and mountain bike stakeholders is planned that will assist in the development and enhancement mountain bike tourism opportunities and experiences in British Columbia. The document will be based on the BC context and will feature best practices from a wide range of key stakeholders from around the province as well as from other jurisdictions. The project is supported by The British Columbia Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts and will be published under Tourism British Columbia’s Business Essentials Program. The handbook will be researched and written by Jimmy Young (Tourism Planning Group) with the assistance of Martin Littlejohn. The handbook is expected to be completed and available for distribution Tourism BC by August 2008. Click here to view the current...
Apr 11, 2007 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Uncategorized
What’s on your ‘DO LIST’? April 11, 2007 If you do only one thing this summer, at least say, “Yeah, I put my entry in for the Bike Parks BC Ultimate Road Trip” Two winners and a friend of their choice will take in an 8 day and 7 night all expenses paid road trip to three of the world’s premier lift accessed bike parks in British Columbia, Canada. The trip begins in Vancouver on July 15 and finishes at Crankworx in Whistler on July 22, 2007. The winners will be accompanied by current Masters Downhill World Champion Shaums March and former Canadian National Downhill Champion Mike Jones of MMR Camps. Winners will arrive in Vancouver and then travel to Mount Washington on Vancouver Island, then onto Sun Peaks in BC’s interior and finally back to Whistler located in the Coast Mountain range. In addition to the amazing riding, each resort has put together a schedule of activities that will showcase everything the each resort has to offer, including extra activities, high-end accommodation and great restaurants. Marin Bikes will supply their latest freeride bike, the Quake XLT, For the 8 days of riding and other sponsors will also supply products, giving the winners the feeling of being a full pro team rider for the 8 day trip. If you don’t win the Grand Prize there is always the chance to win a spot prizes from sponsors like Bike Parks BC, Marin Bikes, Dangerboy Components, Fox, Kenda, Clif Bar, Hayes Brakes, WTB, E-13, ODI and others, Spot prizes will be drawn every two weeks during the build up to the...
Jan 18, 2007 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Uncategorized
VANCOUVER - Mountain bike trails in the Sea to Sky region generated $10.3 million in visitor spending this summer and there is room for further development, according to a study conducted by the Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA) in partnership with the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA). That figure jumps to $38 million when the Whistler Bike Park and Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival are included in the analysis. Download the Sea to Sky Mountain Biking Economic Impact Study (PDF - 275 KB) “The study at last provides us with some credible data on the economic benefits of mountain biking,” said Jimmy Young, MBTA Director. The MBTA, in cooperation with community partners and the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts undertook a pilot study to measure the economic impact of mountain biking along the Sea to Sky Corridor - which includes Whistler, Squamish and the North Shore - between June 3 and September 17, 2006. The study found that mountain biking draws visitors to Sea to Sky communities and generates significant overnight stays. Overall, 20% of non-resident riders stayed overnight in Sea to Sky communities, staying an average of 4.8 nights and having an average party size of 2.8 people. “The data supports the premise that if you build innovative trails combined with scenery and services the world will beat a path to your door,” said Rob McSkimming, VP Product Development Whistler Blackcomb. Not surprisingly, Whistler receives the greatest benefit from mountain bike trails in the region as the Resort Municipality of Whistler funds and maintains a sanctioned trail system and is able to feature mountain biking...
Oct 26, 2006 | Industry, Uncategorized
Since January of 2006 a working group comprised of various stakeholders with an interest in the issues surrounding mountain biking on crown land in British Columbia have met several times with staff from the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. The mandate of the group was to come up with a policy that would address the key issues and identify a process that would allow for mountain bike trails to become authorized under a consistent policy framework by the province. On October 26th a draft policy was released along with a background document detailing the key issues and objectives, the main policy features and the process undertaken to create the policy. The issues include trail location, unsafe structures, and user and resource conflicts. The objectives reflect the desire to allow mountain biking to continue on crown land using improved management practices and to support economic opportunities for tourism. The draft policy will be implemented on a pilot basis with several communities around the province over the next two years. The pilot communities identified are: Squamish, Chilliwack, Burns Lake, Terrace, Nelson, Invermere, Kamloops and Williams Lake. Click here to view the current operational policy document (updated May...
