Tourism – Alex Buri

Tourism

Director Report

It’s been a busy summer and great to finally spend significant lengths of time in the territory, getting to know the communities and outlying regions. The two goals this summer have been to evaluate the tourism potential of key areas and to engage with communities to incorporate their thoughts and feedback on developing and managing tourism.

Alex Buri

Tourism Director For site visits, we have focused on evaluating the more accessible and well-known regions off the main road corridors of Highway 37 and Telegraph Creek Road — Spatsizi, Ice Mountain, Sheslay/Nahlin, and the Lower Iskut River. Viability assessments were based on evaluating ease of access, the cost to develop, visitor demand, and the area’s significance and importance to Tahltans. For example, one option could be to develop the hot springs along the Iskut River which are close to the highway and could be used by both Tahltans and visitors alike for numerous purposes. While scouting these regions based on feedback and guidance from membership, we are looking for areas that could not only be suitable for tourism but those that should be protected and highly managed, as well, for cultural or environmental reasons.

Along with the site visits, we held in-person community meetings in May and plan to hold a second round of meetings early this fall along with an online survey to be sent out to all members. During the Annual General Assembly (AGA), we also conducted an in-person survey with just under sixty people polled. Based on feedback collected thus far, a few ideas and concerns have stood out:

• The need to focus on tourism management, not just development. For example, regulating visitor numbers and access to sensitive areas;

• The importance of reopening historic trails and creating access to the backcountry for Tahltans to promote more use and occupation; and,

• The desire to maintain the unique quality of life in the communities in the face of any tourism development.

In terms of tourism investments and acquisitions, we currently have two opportunities in front of the Board and hope to be making a decision soon on our first strategic investments. When it comes to investment opportunities, we are looking at transportation companies, lodges, retreat centers and facilities that could be used both for visitors and Tahltans alike. Any investments we make now will be designed to fit into our overall tourism strategy that will be submitted to the Board this winter, outlining key initiatives for the next three years.

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