Their have been several factors that have contributed to the continual growth of the industry in BC. The main driving force behind the industry has been the downsizing in other industries such as the fishing and logging industries. Commercial fisherman who traditionally would go out and fish with nets have become whale watching tour guides or are now offering fishing charters. Forestry workers are now showing tourists BC's beautiful forests instead of chopping them down. These trends are also evident on a global level as many African nations are preserving their jungles and developing thriving eco-tourism industries.
Fear of terrorism and outbreaks such as SARS have had an impact on the Eco-tourism industry as well. People seem more inclined to take domestic trips and explore parts of their own country.
Another of the attractions to Eco-tourism is its" appeal to a broad demographic. Eco-tourism trips can be done on any budget. From the backpacker special to expensive reclusive resorts there is something to suit everyone.
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BC's Eco-Tourism Industry.
BC has some of the best eco-tourism destinations in North America if not the world. Whistler Mountain is a great example of not only a great eco-tourism destination but also of how business has embraced the eco-tourism concept. Whistler is a world renowned skiing and snowboarding destination, traditionally; extremely busy in the winter and very slow in the summer. That is until they marketed the resort as a year round destination. Now, mountain bikers, hikers, and rock climbers enjoy Whistler's beauty year round.
One of the many eco-tourism opportunities that Whistler offers is an amazing 14 day nomad adventure camping tour to the Canadian Rockies, Whistler Village and a Cariboo dude ranch. Visitors can see wildlife like bear, moose, elk and mountain sheep in their natural environment. They can also learn about aboriginal people and history via two cultural exchanges.