Tourism in FERNIE
2017 Accommodation Revenues up 18 %
$ 100 + million in annual visitor spending in 2014-2015
Average spend of $ 580 per overnight visitor to Fernie
Value of Tourism
Understanding tourism’ s contribution to a community is central to developing an informed tourism planning approach, strengthening the support of community stakeholders and local government, and encouraging an appreciation of tourism’ s economic benefits and development potential.
Tourism Fernie, in partnership with Destination BC( DBC), the crown corporation responsible for marketing the Province of British Columbia as a tourist destination, conducted this Value of Tourism in Fernie Study.
Developed through DBC’ s Research, Planning & Evaluation Department, The Value of Tourism Model is a program that provides a structured, consistent approach to estimate the volume and value of tourism in a community.
UNDERSTANDING TOURISM
Fernie has begun a Tourism Master Plan process. Learn more at TourismPlanFernie. com
The World Tourism Organization defines tourism as‘ a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business / professional purposes.’
• Tourism generates many types of revenues for a region, including business income, wage earnings, share earnings, rates and taxes.
• The money is then circulated and re-spent again and again in the community via indirect spending, such as staff and business owners spending their pay cheques on rent, mortgage, groceries, entertainment, clothing, recreation, sports equipment etc.
• Tourism spending helps to shift wealth from urban to rural areas with city dwellers visiting small towns.
• Tourism helps build attractive and livable communities and supports investment in Fernie’ s culture, heritage, recreation opportunities and environment as they are essential for a successful tourism economy.
• Tourism creates a platform for positive economic development by positioning Fernie as a great place to live, work, play and invest.
• Undesirable changes, such as adverse impact on trails or other community resources, need solutions through collaboration and effectively managing growth and use.
Number of annual visitors 307,000
in 2014-2015
% of leisure visitors from
Average length of stay for overnight visitors 3.4 nights
Average Daily Room Rate $ 191.67
Did you know? 2nd Home Owners are a key segment of Fernie’ s tourism economy and represent 30 % of all residential properties in town and almost 50 % in surrounding Fernie, including the resort
2nd home owners contribute $ 16 million in‘ annual visitor spending’ alone. Visitor spending for 2nd home owners is related to dining out, partaking in activities, shopping and local transportation. It does not include the millions of dollars non-local 2nd home owners spend on real estate, construction and other larger local purchases
87 % of visitor spending in Fernie is associated with
53 % of the 307,000 visitors,
the overnight visitors
AB 49 % Overseas 12 % BC 16 % USA 8 % Other Canada 15 %
Fernie’ s 2 % Hotel Tax & RMI Funding has contributed
$ 9 million towards tourism marketing, programs and
infrastructure since 2007
Year-round accommodation occupancy is over 50 % with the slowest months being April, May, October & November
Fishing tourism in Fernie – Guided anglers visiting Fernie account for an estimated $ 2.7 million in visitor spending per year
143,000 same-day travellers enter and leave Fernie within a 24 hour period and account for
13 % of Fernie’ s total
visitor spending
93 % of Fernie businesses surveyed in the Fernie Chamber of Commerce’ s BRE Report indicated that tourism was the economic driver with the greatest growth potential
132 businesses in Fernie are directly or closely associated with the tourism industry, 16 % of the regions tourism businesses
Tourism Fernie | www. tourismfernie. com | 2017