Open Letter from BC Wilderness Tourism Association to Pacific Salmon Forum

Press Release
February 23, 2009
Canadian Corporate Social Responsibility News

The BC Wilderness Tourism Association (WTA) has prepared this response to the February 5, 2009, release of the long anticipated report and recommendations from the Pacific Salmon Forum. As an industry sector that depends on scarce natural resources, including a resilient wild

salmon resource, the PSF Report and recommendations are of extreme importance to us.

The WTA mandate is to ensure a sustainable future for BC’s wilderness tourism industry. We represent the hundreds of small businesses that offer nature-based tourism activities throughout British Columbia. Wilderness tourism (or nature based tourism as it is commonly called) is a key

contributor to BC’s GDP and a significant private sector employer in BC. In 2008, direct tourist expenditures on nature-based tourism products in British Columbia was approximately $1.5 billion dollars and provided for the equivalent of over 22,000 full time jobs. All BC communities feel the impact of wilderness tourism in their economies. A large percentage of these businesses are small, localized businesses that provide stability, diversification and job creation, whether it’s in the wilderness, in or near municipalities, or on First Nations settlement lands.

See full press release on CSRwire.ca