RDI Explores the Health of the Tourism Sector

The RDI is proud to release a report that describes findings from Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) survey data from 152 businesses from across the Columbia Basin[1]. These surveys were conducted between 2012 and 2016.

The BRE surveys are initiated by local community partners involved in the area of economic development, typically the local Chamber of Commerce plays a pivotal role. In most instances the BRE surveys are undertaken as part of the regular services that the local agencies provide to local businesses. The agencies then work collaboratively to help implement the recommendations identified in the BRE survey.

This report was initiated and prepared by the Rural Development Institute with Kootenay Rockies Tourism providing external review. The Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute (RDI) provides training, data analysis, and report writing support to participating BRE communities.

The report indicates the highest number of tourism respondents came from Golden (23%), followed by Revelstoke (15%), Slocan Valley (9%), Nelson and area (9%), and Fernie and area (8%). Location was the most important factor the businesses locating in a given area, as well in making their business successful. The vast majority of competition reported was coming from within the regional area, most companies surveyed have been in business for over 20 years, and half of the companies are ‘growing’.

Results were presented at the 2016 Kootenay Rockies Tourism Conference. Click here to view the power point presentation.

Learn more about the research findings by accessing the Tourism BRE Research Brief and the Tourism BRE Long Report.

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[1] BRE surveys can be downloaded from: http://cbrdi.ca/research-areas/applied-research/business-retention-expansion/