Regenerative Tourism Strategies within Kelowna BC to Promote Destination Development and Environmental Sustainability

For many communities, the tourism industry is an important and integral part of their cultural, social, and economic capital. It provides many jobs, salaries, and wages within local communities contributing to overall gross domestic product. While this industry creates opportunity and revenue there are also negative environmental impacts that cannot be ignored. The tourism industry is reliant on a healthy, pristine and accessible environment however this same industry is actively contributing to environmental degradation. This is why tourism strategies that work towards environmental sustainability alongside destination development are crucial for the survival of the industry. Regenerative tourism is a strategic tourism model that values environmental protection over economic profit and revenue by implementing community specific strategies at the local level. Using Kelowna, British Columbia as a case study, research will be conducted to uncover the limitations and possibilities of implementing regenerative tourism strategies. Using semi-structured interviews with community members in the tourism industry, there will be an inventory of local and specific regenerative tourism strategies. These will be used to assist Tourism Kelowna in the implementation of its destination development plan under goal number two, aiming to foster the sustainable growth of the destination.

Faculty Supervisor:

Donna Senese

Student:

Partner:

Tourism Kelowna

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia - Okanagan

Program: