Sustainable tourism: oxymoron or a vision for the future?
It was a question debated at TEDx Whistler last week, which brought together British Columbia and international speakers when this mountain resort is playing host to the world with the 2010 Olympic Games.
"Tourism can be a double-edged sword, no question about it," said Mark Angelo, chair of the Rivers Institute at the B.C. Institute of Technology. But done right, he said, and by embracing the principles of sustainability, it can be successful, contributing to social, economic and environmental improvements.
The dichotomy is not lost on Whistler, which by its nature (as an international destination that sees people jetting in to enjoy the slopes), is at odds with many of the values of sustainability. It is behind the decision by Whistler's centre for sustainability, host of conference, to focus on sustainability in tourism.
TEDx Whistler was a one-day independent conference modelled on TED, a non-profit organization that brings together thinkers from the areas of technology, entertainment and design.
"TEDx Whistler's theme combining tourism and sustainability was carefully chosen to reflect and inform Whistler's 'community-wide vision to be the premier mountain resort community as we move toward sustainability,' " conference organizers wrote in describing the Olympics-timed conference. "In Whistler, we understand the current dichotomy of being an international destination for global visitors and one that is committed to a sustainable future."
While it may seem like an uphill battle in a place accustomed to steep challenges, Whistler's sustainability centre is undaunted by the task encompassed in the municipality's 2020 community sustainability plan.
"The interesting thing about Whistler is that a lot of things that were said can't happen here -- the Olympics being one -- have happened," Naomi Devine, Whistler's sustainability coordinator, said in an interview. "Now the question the community faces is: Can we be a premier resort as we move toward sustainability?"
With the community five years into its sustainability plan, Devine is optimistic for the future. "We are trying to answer that difficult question [of sustainable tourism]," she said. "If we can't do it in Whistler with our resources, our drive and our political leadership, then where are we going to be able to do this? We don't claim to be sustainable. We are trying to figure out how to become that way. You try things and you measure to see if you are being successful."
It's a massive community undertaking, with 17 task forces covering 17 strategy areas of the 2020 plan. In the five years since it began, the plan has generated 607 actions, with 489 of those accepted by partner organizations and 70 per cent of them complete.
Perhaps the most visible result of the process at these Games is the athletes' village at Cheakamus Crossing. Built on principles of environmental sustainability, it also addresses the luxury resort's problem of being too expensive for people to live where they work. More than 90 per cent of the units in the athletes' village will be resident restricted housing after the Games, meaning they are only available for people who work in Whistler. "The target is that 75 per cent of people who work in Whistler should be able to live in Whistler and as of 2009, even before Cheakamus Crossing, we are at 78 per cent," said Devine.
The Games have also forced people out of their cars and into buses and while the 24-hour frequency of service will disappear when the event is over, Devine said it gives people some idea that transit could replace cars for local driving.
"Right now Whistlerites have an opportunity to see what it's like getting around without their car," she said. While the top level service will disappear, Devine said "maybe that's where we have to be in the future."
If people are frustrated by transit service, they won't want to give up their cars, she said.
"If you take this seriously we need to start seriously considering solutions like that," she said of the Olympics' stepped up service.
Among conference speakers, Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, talked about the success of his company in following a triple bottom line: Incorporating people, planet and profit. "It's all about doing the right thing," he said. "I'm a believer that when you do the right thing, people find you, people follow you, people are attracted to your company outside the product you offer and people are engaged at a higher level."
For G Adventures, that includes such measures as funding new schools in third world countries.
"The conundrum of tourism is for the world's 40 poorest countries, tourism is the second largest source of foreign exchange after oil." said Tip, adding those countries will be most affected by a slowing in tourism.
gshaw@vancouversun.com
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