Tourism has grown as a part of the process of settlement. The tourist has filled the role of observer, promotional agent, investor, settler and customer. The settlement process in turn generates new tourism. The tourist seeks change from the familiar, a rest, a sport, or many seek new experiences, new cities and new lands. The proportion of the population who participate in tourism, their wealth, time, and the modes of transportation have grown considerably. The implications of tourism are felt throughout the range of responsibility for land use planning. The role tourism has played, could play and should play has received little attention. The potential of tourism must be identified, projected, planned for and implemented in future development planning. Tourism is basically a movement of people. Our concept of studying people has rested heavily on a census of resident population, and considerable data has been accumulated. However little is known about movements of people in general, and tourist movements in particular. Projection of tourist movements into the future is therefore difficult. This study examines the hypothesis that "current sources of data are sufficient to estimate the numbers and origin of tourists entering an area, and that it would be possible to project such data objectively." The Province of British Columbia was selected as a case study. We know very little of the quantities and characteristics of tourists in British Columbia. Tourists entering the Province by automobile in the summer months have been examined in a single survey. There is a need to know more about tourists travelling at other times of year, by other means of transportation, travelling within the Province, and of changes over time. While we have overall estimates of tourism they lack detail and refinement. Planning agencies have paid little attention to tourism as yet. There has been only one study of tourism by a planning agency. Where it has been considered, the objective has been to preserve an environment and to locate tourist facilities convenient for tourists and to minimize the intrusion into the community. Changes in the quantities and characteristics of tourism appear to be inevitable. However the degree of change is not easy to determine. Population growth, increasing leisure time, growing personal income, and increased mobility appear to be the factors most likely to shape future patterns of tourism. A. twenty per cent reduction in working time appears to be feasible by the end of the century. This increased leisure time could result in a three-fold increase in annual vacations. Combined with a two-fold increase in population, this could lead to a six-fold growth in tourism. However, it-is doubtful whether all the increase in leisure time would be devoted to tourist activities. All methods available for projecting future tourist volumes have some value, but none are entirely satisfactory. A certain amount of "judgment" is required in any form of projection. As yet we have very little to act as a basis for such judgment. Existing data is minimal, and our analytical knowledge of many aspects of tourism is limited if not non-existent. However, we have estimates of total volumes of tourism in British Columbia from year to year. They provide a general picture of the importance of tourism within the study area. An examination of the future shows that tourism will grow, and may grow very considerably. Thus we can conclude that the hypothesis is valid at the broadest level. Improvements in data collection and our knowledge of the characteristics of tourism will permit refinement of projections of tourism, and consequently, will permit planning at a more detailed level. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

The objectives of this study are threefold: 1. to provide an understanding of the need for rural land use planning; 2. to describe and compare British Columbia's, Alberta's, Ontario's and Saskatchewan's current system for rural land use planning; and 3. if applicable, suggest improvements to B.C's rural planning process as a result of the research conducted. A historical review of the need for rural planning and land use controls has been conducted in conjunction with research into present day trends. In addition, regional district officials from around the province were contacted in order to obtain their views on rural planning in B.C. This research establishes the need for rural planning, but raises questions about the public's perception of the planning process. To obtain information on alternative planning processes, research is conducted on rural planning in Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. This information is then evaluated through a comparative analysis with the planning process used prior to Bill 62 and the new Rural Land Use Bylaw. The evaluation concludes that the Rural Land Use Bylaw is preferred over the pre-Bill 62 planning legislation. Incorporating what has been learned in previous chapters, this study concludes by presenting suggestions for amending the existing legislation in order to further simplify the planning process. Additional areas for new research are also detailed in order that planners can strive for a more flexible and responsive planning process to serve the rural public. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Exploring planning methodology for BC's resource-based communities, this paper investigates rural community transition and proposes a planning framework based on enhancing the survival capacity of communities facing the pressures and challenges of economic and social change. Utilizing both primary and secondary research methods (including a review of relevant literature, government publications, and a pilot of the proposed method in Zeballos, British Columbia), this analysis is intended to contribute to the practicing planner's tools for working with rural communities in economic and social transition. The study first examines the context of British Columbia's forestry-dependent communities. It explores the literature around successful community development efforts and also around stable and resilient communities and identifies Fourteen Characteristics of Surviving Rural Communities. It then proposes a planning method that is responsive to these characteristics, with a goal to both build awareness of the community's inherent survival capacity and to foster it through a 'learning-by-doing' process. It also examines the role of the planner in working with these communities. Working with the community of Zeballos, the pilot process revealed several insights about planning with transitioning communities. These communities are not alike, they are shaped by a range of factors and face diverse influences. Yet all require a willingness to accept and embrace change and they require support in managing change. Best efforts to plan for an achievable transition strategy requires considerable forethought in preparing a planning methodology that serves the community's needs and enables the community to shape goals toward achievable outcomes. For communities in transition, enhancing local capacity to survive and manage change may be as important as selecting any specific transition outcome, for it has been shown that it is in the way that communities determine and implement their transition strategy that determines success in the effort.

This thesis explores Recreational Carrying Capacity (RCC). The investigation looks at the theory of RCC, and trends in recreational use and management to make a first estimate of the RCC of Garibaldi Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada. An extensive literature review is used to synthesize the social, ecological and managerial factors called for in RCC theory; and to summarize relevant aspects of park policy and recreation trends. This review serves as a foundation for adapting a RCC model from the literature. The model is then used to estimate the RCC of the developed backcountry areas of Garibaldi Provincial Park. The emphasis of the thesis is on the ecological component of RCC: a bio-climatic zone inventory, a soil capability survey, and a visual impact assessment are all undertaken to build an estimate of the ecological sensitivity of the study area. The model also uses social influences and BC Parks policy to assist in the formulation of the RCC for the study area. The RCC estimates derived are not precise because of weaknesses in the data base. Nevertheless, the estimates do indicate that the most desirable areas for recreation within Garibaldi Park have reached or exceeded the capability of the biophysical resources of those areas to sustain the recreational activities undertaken. As important as the RCC estimation is the identification of biophysical limitations of the study area. These limitations call for careful site selection in the development and management of Garibaldi Park to protect the biophysical resources which attract recreational use. If the model is to be of greater assistance in park planning and management then more precision is required in the investigation. Increased precision requires dividing the broad bio-climatic zones into sub-zones or micro-zones to allow site and route selection for managing the study area. RCC theory and the RCC model used are useful as planning tools because of the comprehensiveness required by the theory and the explicitness of the values used within the model. However, this comprehensiveness demands a large data base which is not available in the case study of Garibaldi Park. This points to the need for further research if RCC theory and the model used are to be of utility to park planning in B.C. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Exploring planning methodology for BC's resource-based communities, this paper investigates rural community transition and proposes a planning framework based on enhancing the survival capacity of communities facing the pressures and challenges of economic and social change. Utilizing both primary and secondary research methods (including a review of relevant literature, government publications, and a pilot of the proposed method in Zeballos, British Columbia), this analysis is intended to contribute to the practicing planner's tools for working with rural communities in economic and social transition. The study first examines the context of British Columbia's forestry-dependent communities. It explores the literature around successful community development efforts and also around stable and resilient communities and identifies Fourteen Characteristics of Surviving Rural Communities. It then proposes a planning method that is responsive to these characteristics, with a goal to both build awareness of the community's inherent survival capacity and to foster it through a 'learning-by-doing' process. It also examines the role of the planner in working with these communities. Working with the community of Zeballos, the pilot process revealed several insights about planning with transitioning communities. These communities are not alike, they are shaped by a range of factors and face diverse influences. Yet all require a willingness to accept and embrace change and they require support in managing change. Best efforts to plan for an achievable transition strategy requires considerable forethought in preparing a planning methodology that serves the community's needs and enables the community to shape goals toward achievable outcomes. For communities in transition, enhancing local capacity to survive and manage change may be as important as selecting any specific transition outcome, for it has been shown that it is in the way that communities determine and implement their transition strategy that determines success in the effort. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Rural regions need tools for developing effective tourism and community plans. This thesis explores the potential for a simplified gap analysis to serve as a useful tourism planning tool for rural regions with limited resources. The Cowichan Region in British Columbia, Canada is the case study for this research, as it is seen to be representative of many rural areas endeavoring to diversify their waning economies with tourism. The literature review for this thesis reviews rural challenges facing ruraf areas, rural tourism impacts, rural tourism markets and gap analysis. A simplified gap analysis compares the preferences of customers (tourists) and the perceptions that the service providers (host regions) have of these customers. Minimal differences between these groups' perceptions creates quality experiences for the customers and service providers and leads to increased profits. This thesis examines the 'gaps' between potential Japanese and German rural travelers' preferences and the perceptions that Cowichan Region professionals have of these markets. Data on the preferences of these markets is drawn from research on Japanese and German pleasure travel markets to North America conducted by national tourism associations. Data on host region perceptions of these markets is drawn from questionnaire responses and interviews conducted with tourism and planning professional in the Cowichan Region. There are some notable gaps between the characteristics of potential Japanese and German 'rural' travellers and the perceptions that the Cowichan Region professionals have of these groups. However, overall these groups are well matched as potential rural travellers and host communities. These research findings suggest that rural areas can satisfy most of the needs of 'mass' and 'target' market travellers by developing core tourism products with some specialised products for sub-markets. This research indicates that a simplified gap analysis can be a practical and useful rural planning tool for rural regions that want to diversify their resource based economies with tourism. A ten step tourism planning strategy is presented as a way for rural areas to integrate a simplified gap analysis into their planning efforts and create cost-effective and holistic tourism plans.

Elders who are living independently in the community (independent elders refers to all seniors who are living in the community as opposed to in an institution) often require support services, housing and transportation services. Unfortunately, research on North American elders repeatedly points to deficiencies in the health and human services that are available in small towns when compared to those available in urban centres. A lack of specialized medical and social services, few housing options and no public transportation services are characteristic of most small towns. For this thesis, seniors, municipal officials and formal care-givers in sixteen small towns in British Columbia were surveyed in order to determine the needs of small town elders in this province and the effectiveness of the present system in addressing these needs. The results of the seniors' survey indicated that significant proportions of the elderly living in small B.C. towns require assistance in maintaining their homes and with transportation. While the elders who reported difficulties coping with housework tended to be receiving assistance, not all those who had difficulty with yardwork, repairs and transportation were being helped. The interdependence between the support service, housing and transportation related needs of the elderly was apparent from the survey results. An inventory of the community-based services available in the sixteen B.C towns revealed that size of town is related to the number of services. In general, the larger the town, the greater the array of services for the elderly. However, size of town was not the only determining factor. Towns in which the local community had become involved in the issue of community-based services for the elderly typically had services that were not available in towns of comparable size. Under the Canadian Constitution, the provincial government is primarily responsible for the provision of health and social services. However, there are constraints or obstacles inherent to small towns which prevent services from being provided by the province. These include the fact that in a small town there is generally a shortage of personnel and organizational resources which enable a community to secure needed services from senior levels of government. As well, the distances among people and between people and services in rural environments, as compared to in urban environments, require special consideration. The results of this examination of the small town elderly in B.C. and the community-based services available to them suggest that there is a need for improvement to the present system. Enhancing the involvement of the local community in the provision of community-based services for the elderly is suggested as a possible strategy. As well, services which are at an appropriate scale and accessible to the rural elderly need to be developed. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Rural regions need tools for developing effective tourism and community plans. This thesis explores the potential for a simplified gap analysis to serve as a useful tourism planning tool for rural regions with limited resources. The Cowichan Region in British Columbia, Canada is the case study for this research, as it is seen to be representative of many rural areas endeavoring to diversify their waning economies with tourism. The literature review for this thesis reviews rural challenges facing ruraf areas, rural tourism impacts, rural tourism markets and gap analysis. A simplified gap analysis compares the preferences of customers (tourists) and the perceptions that the service providers (host regions) have of these customers. Minimal differences between these groups' perceptions creates quality experiences for the customers and service providers and leads to increased profits. This thesis examines the 'gaps' between potential Japanese and German rural travelers' preferences and the perceptions that Cowichan Region professionals have of these markets. Data on the preferences of these markets is drawn from research on Japanese and German pleasure travel markets to North America conducted by national tourism associations. Data on host region perceptions of these markets is drawn from questionnaire responses and interviews conducted with tourism and planning professional in the Cowichan Region. There are some notable gaps between the characteristics of potential Japanese and German 'rural' travellers and the perceptions that the Cowichan Region professionals have of these groups. However, overall these groups are well matched as potential rural travellers and host communities. These research findings suggest that rural areas can satisfy most of the needs of 'mass' and 'target' market travellers by developing core tourism products with some specialised products for sub-markets. This research indicates that a simplified gap analysis can be a practical and useful rural planning tool for rural regions that want to diversify their resource based economies with tourism. A ten step tourism planning strategy is presented as a way for rural areas to integrate a simplified gap analysis into their planning efforts and create cost-effective and holistic tourism plans. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate