Tourism stakeholder perspectives on land use plan implementation

This paper examines the degree to which shared decision-making (SDM) processes used in the development and implementation of land use plans benefited the backcountry tourism industry in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region of British Columbia. Based on the perspectives provided by key informants from the region, the research suggests that the employment of SDM methods provided several overriding opportunities for the tourism industry. These included creating easier and more effective venues for resolving problems and improving stakeholder relationships; effectively involving tourism stakeholders in land use planning; and building awareness of the importance of tourism amongst other land uses in the region. However, the respondents also felt that the SDM processes had been relatively unsuccessful in creating an institutional environment that supported the implementation of the land use plans created. Several recommendations are made to improve the application of SDM processes particularly in the implementation phases of land use planning.