3. Funds to support needs – user pay systems, more government support and funding 4. Manage volume / behaviour through more monitoring / enforcement / regulations 5. Increase respect / etiquette through education, communications, signage 6. Protect the natural environment. Wildlife corridors. 7. Purchase logging lands – better logging regulations
The 149 Area A rural residents also provided comments on the most simple, fast and cost-effective actions to consider. The top responses were:
• More collaboration to work on needs / issues
• Amenities, signage, communications, education
• Road maintenance
• Create / expand / upgrade official camping areas
• More enforcement / monitoring
• Fee collection for trail use, camping, motorized trail use
Some final / official comments by respondents:
• Thanks for asking
• I think something to consider is that the up and coming recreational areas are also areas where full time families live and also share roads with, especially and backcountry access roads within close proximity to Fernie. I think it’ s ok to promote these areas but to also consider the impact of the local DRAFT
residents of these areas and how it may impact them. Hartley Lake Road is not maintained by main roads, it is taken care of on a private contract and the budget was made in consideration when traffic was less. The road is getting no extra attention yet the traffic has increased dramatically.
• Every community has NIMBY ' s driven by different reasons. Education is key for recreational users and respect for the community.
• I have lived in rural towns that have been destroyed by too many recreational users and visitors- hopefully Fernie can learn from the mistakes of others
• Loggers, miners, and ski bums all have to get along
• Unless people have to pay to use an area, they have less regard for the negative impact they have
• I strongly believe we need to embrace tourism in the most creative and sustainable way. New sports and water usage would be a great addition to the elk valley.
• Back country use should be available to everyone. Non-residents and locals as long as its safe to do so. If the city, province, RDEK are advocating back country tourism safety has to be the # 1 priority.
SECTION 3- RDEK‘ AREA A’ BUSINESS SURVEY – 17 participants
The Area A Business Survey attracted 17 responses. Though a limited response number feedback from the over 100 businesses that participated in the Tourism Master Plan survey is also supporting this project.
About the 17 businesses:
• 70 % participants were the owners of the businesses, 30 % were the General or Senior Managers
• 50 % are in Fernie, 45 % located throughout the Elk Valley, 5 % outside the area but do business in the valley
• 18 % were accommodators, 45 % land / water / activity operators, balance in real estate / development / retail / F & B / services / events
• 75 % have operated their business for 10 or more years
• 60 % indicated at least 75 % of their revenues are attributed to tourism and travel industry, 18 % indicate at least 50 %
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