Tourism in the Beaver Hills Region

Outline Overview of Tourism in BHI Current Tourism Initiatives Future Tourism Research, Planning, and Development Opportunities

Overview of Tourism in Beaver Hills Region Seamless integration with the BHI vision, mission, and guiding principles. Developing and managing tourism & recreation in an environmentally, socially/culturally sustainable manner while optimizing economic benefits for communities within the BHI region.

Overview of Tourism in Beaver Hills Region Sense of place based on natural capital

Overview of Tourism in Beaver Hills Region Heritage Appreciation Development Plan for the Beaver Hills

Overview of Tourism in Beaver Hills Region Unique highlights include: –Elk Island National Park –Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area –Miquelon Lake Provincial Park –Natural Areas and ESAs –Ministik Lakes Game Bird Sanctuary –Beaverhill Lake

Overview of Tourism in Beaver Hills Region Other unique highlights: –Waskahegan Trail –Strathcona Wilderness Centre –Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village –Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival –Blackfoot Ultra Marathon –2007 Western Canada Summer Games – – Ag/rural tourism – – Aboriginal tourism – – Ecotourism

Current Tourism Initiatives UofA Research –Examine economic values through the identification of the benefits and costs of tourist travel and recreation activities that are common to Beaver Hills. –Identify non-monetary values of tourism/recreation. –Useful reference document to initiate discussion on planning policy and tourism/recreation development decisions.

Tourism Research, Planning, and Development Opportunities Assessment of existing and potential tourism/recreation operations (complementary to HA Dev Plan) –Spatial inventory of tourism/recreation activities, operations and trails (GPS) –Inventory of trail plans, tourism/rec studies, policies, plans, and bylaws impacting tourism/rec development –Identify tourism/rec opportunities and constraints –How can we promote and further develop appropriate tourism/recreation in the BHI? –Map of existing and potential activities and operations for planners

Tourism Research, Planning, and Development Opportunities What is the economic and non- monetary value of tourism and recreation in the BHI region? Feasibility analysis BHI develop a vision and plan to achieve defined tourism/recreation goals. BHI- a model for sustainable tourism development in Alberta??

Tourism in the Beaver Hills Region