(duplicate) TravelMole Interview: Caroline Fisher, project manager, the Wilderness Tourism Association of British Columbia

Various segments of tourism may have been up and down since 9-11, but nature tourism remained the strongest component in the industry, says Caroline Fisher, project manager, the Wilderness Tourism Association of British Columbia. “Here, it’s been growing about 11%, but from figures I see worldwide, it’s been the fastest segment of tourism internationally,” she told TravelMole. What’s behind that? “I think people are becoming more interested in doing things outdoors. They want to get back to nature. They don’t want to just go to a theme park. They’re more interested in educational values,” she said. Her four-year-old organization represents both private and public companies. WTA is involved in various activities to promote the well-being of wilderness tourism. The organization’s goals include environmental protection as well as economic growth. The organization is also an advocate on key wilderness tourism issues and is currently preparing a report showing how tourism is a catalyst for the new economics of rural communities. With a beautiful natural background, British Columbia is popular for all types of outdoor activities, including camping, fly fishing, seeing marine wildlife, hiking and skiing, among others. “We have world class kayaking operations,” added Ms Fisher. BC used to have a few small zoos, but no more. Ms Fisher said they’re not necessary because of the abundance of animals in the wild at parks and other places. As for theme parks, BC even has a few of those to entice visitors. Though Ms Fisher points out they’re small and no rivals for Disney World. Report by David Wilkening