The beaten track: Visitor management in BC parks and protected areas

Parks and protected areas are a valuable asset for the Province of BC that provide a number of economic, health, and social benefits. Demand for these areas in certain locations, however, has grown over the past number of years to the point where capacity challenges have led to negative externalities in terms of visitor utility and ecological degradation. This project investigates these capacity challenges related to overcrowding and visitor management in the area of Southwestern BC. The project includes an intercept survey of park visitors at three different sites in the study area, as well as a review of the recreation literature and interviews from experts and stakeholders. Three options are proposed that address visitor management challenges and seek to find a sustainable solution. Options are analyzed with a set of criteria to highlight their trade-offs before recommendations are provided.