TOURISM MASTER PLAN PURPOSE & PROCESS
ENGAGEMENT
The gathering and incorporation of input from the tourism sector and community is critical for the development of an informed plan. Tourism planning participants ensure a lasting and successful plan is developed with the commitment, support and energy for implementation. In order to achieve this outcome an effective and meaningful engagement process was developed to encourage broad and diverse participation using a number of engagement activities. Activities included open houses, a unique project website, surveys, focus groups, interviews, meetings and presentations. Participants were asked to help identify benefits, concerns, visions, priorities and project ideas. The majority of this engagement process took place in the fall of 2018, with the TMP Task Force continuing to meet throughout 2019. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the TMP Task Force further evolved this Plan as it transitioned into the TMP Champion Group, tasked with implementation.
Engagement participation included the following:
Task Force- made up of members of the tourism community, as well as City staff and other related organizations. The Task Force of thirteen members met over a period of 10 months and: 1) Collaborated on the structure, content and engagement process relating to Fernie’ s Tourism Master Plan; 2) Worked to ensure that concerns and aspirations of the general public and organizations are consistently understood and considered in the TMP.
Resident Survey- attracted 583 total participants, surpassed the goal of 400 and achieved a response rate of over 10 % of the local population. Of the 583 respondents, 360 went on to complete the long-form survey. Of the 360, 80 indicated working directly in tourism and 280 indicated not working directly in tourism.
Business Survey- completed by 113 individuals with over 90 % indicating they were owner / operators or senior managers with the organization.
Open House- events in September 2018 and January 2019 were attended by between 60-85 local individuals each to learn more, ask questions and provide input.
NGO Survey- received 20 responses from local groups who among other things shared future project ideas that may be beneficial to tourism.
Focus Groups- with 11 different sectors and 80 people representing: Chamber of Commerce; Accommodation providers; Retail / Food and Beverage; Tourism Activity providers; Festivals & Cultural tourism groups; Parks and Environmental organizations; City of Fernie Senior Staff; Developers and Real Estate; Tourism Fernie Board; Trails and land user groups; and Elk River stakeholders.
One-On-One Interviews- with representatives from Teck, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, the Ktunaxa First Nation, City of Fernie, Parastone Development, College of the Rockies, Island Lake Lodge, and the Regional District of East Kootenay.