Positive Impacts of Tourism in Vernon 

 Increase in accommodation revenue:  Increased tourism activity in Vernon has increased revenue for the local accommodation industry, such as hotels, motels, bed and breakfast places, etc. According to a newspaper Vernon Morning star report, the accommodation revenue had jumped to 20% in 2012. According to the Tourism Vernon report, room revenue in Vernon’s city in 2011 was only $17.4 million, which drastically increased to over $39.7 million in 2019 (Tourism Vernon 2020).   

Job growth: Revenue growth in the accommodation sector has a positive impact on the local job market. It has provided opportunities for the local accommodation businesses to create more employment opportunities for the local people (Tourism a driving force in North Okanagan job growth 2012).  

Creation of diverse jobs: About 400 different occupations fall under the Tourism and hospitality industry globally. The growing industry has helped create various jobs locally in Vernon ranging from a chef at a restaurant to a host of a nature tour or running a bed and breakfast place (Tourism a driving force in North Okanagan job growth 2012). 

The shift from the agriculture-based economy: Vernon is home to about 40,000 people. Due to its mild winter climate and long warm summers, its economy was based on its agriculture and businesses. In recent decades new industries such as tourism, construction, and manufacturing drive the economy (Economic Overview 2016).    

Growth of small businesses: Tourism businesses in Vernon are mostly smaller and locally owned. About 26 hotels in the city averaged 40-50 rooms each (Tourism Vernon 2020). In 2014 Vernon won an award at BC Small Business Roundtables for supporting the growth of small local businesses (Economic Overview 2016). 

Negative impacts of Tourism to Vernon, BC

Infrastructure:  Increased load on the communities’ existing infrastructure, i.e., waste and water systems, roads, trails, highways, accommodations, airports, ports. Increased tourism will require upgrades to existing infrastructure or future re-investment to plan and develop additional infrastructure resources to support the community and increase the tourism base to the area (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, 2016).

According to the City of Vernon’s 2013 Community Plan, “The City’s infrastructure assets are virtually at half their anticipated service life, and with ongoing use and the passage of time, existing infrastructure is deteriorating. Much of the City’s infrastructure will be reaching the end of its expected service life over the next few decades. It will require a significant investment to maintain existing levels of service” (City of Vernon, 2020).

Environment and Ecosystems – Increased stress/load on the communities’ habitat and ecosystem through tourism. These effects have direct and indirect causes and involve many activities. These negative impacts can come from tourists’ immediate results and the indirect results stemming from the growth and development of infrastructure to accommodate the tourists and tourism. The tourism environment is comprised of both the natural and community environments. Tourism can have negative and detrimental effects on the people of a community and the wildlife and sensitive ecosystems within the area. (Ghulam, Sharmin, Faijul, & Hoque, 2013).

Some examples of adverse environmental effects can include:

  • Increased traffic and carbon emissions and noise pollution
  • Increased risk of wildfires due to campfires, sparks from recreational vehicles, etc.
  • Increased water pollution and aquatic disturbance due to humans and powered watercraft.
  • Unintentional and intentional vandalism, littering, damage and disruptions to environment and ecosystems.

Vernon Tourism has addressed the need for environmental sustainability in its Tourism Business Plan. It is listed as one of its priority initiative strategies for sustainable tourism in Vernon.

“Vernon’s tourism draw is highly connected to the natural environment and unique culture of the destination. Outdoor recreation in nature, scenery and wildlife viewing are all included in travel motivators to Vernon. The continued focus on cultural stewardship and protecting and preserving the surrounding natural assets is a key priority for all stakeholders to action”. (Vernon Tourism, 2020)

Economic:  Not only does tourism positively affect the economy, but it can also have some adverse effects. Tourism can inflate prices within the community on products, services and housing. It can also affect employment if the organization is not hiring from the local workforce and available local employees. Instead, they are hiring foreign workers to fill positions within various industries, such as agri-tourism.

Leakage can also occur if outside corporate investors and stakeholders own hotels or other large tourist products/services within the community. Profits realized from these corporate properties will not necessarily be recirculated and will not create a multiplier effect (Stainton, 2020).

Community Services: Increased caseloads on city/government public services such as walk-in medical clinics, hospitals, police, fire, ambulance, wildlife and fisheries

  • Increase in vehicle break-ins, theft and property damage.
  • Increase in people other than residents, walk-in clinics, emergency rooms, and increased workload for medical personnel.
  • Increase in emergency tourist incidents requiring an ambulance, paramedics, fire, search and rescue
  • Increase in supervision by conservation officers in provincial parks, lakes, rivers, campgrounds, etc.

References:

Economic Overview. (2016, April 15). Retrieved December 01, 2020, from https://www.vernon.ca/business/economic-development/economic-overview

Service, W. (2012, October 28). Tourism a driving force in North Okanagan job growth. Retrieved December 01, 2020, from https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/news/tourism-a-driving-force-in-north-okanagan-job-growth/ 

The City of Vernon. (, 2020). Community Plan, 2013 – Infrastructure. Retrieved from City of Vernon: https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/OCP/10infrastructure.pdf

Tourism Vernon. (2020, November 24). Retrieved December 01, 2020, from https://www.vernon.ca/business/economic-development/sector-profiles/tourism 

Ghulam, R., Sharmin, A., Faijul, I., & Hoque, F. (2013, September). ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF TOURISM.Retrieved from American Journal of Environment, Energy and Power Research:http://www.ajeepr.com/AJEEPR_Vol.%201,%20No.%208,%20September%202013/ENVIRONMENTAL.pdf

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. (2016, August). Tourism Infrastructure. Retrieved from Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/assets/780c75be7c/tis-1-tourism-infrastructure.pdf

Stainton, D. H. (2020, October 10). Economic Impacts of Tourism. Retrieved from Tourism Teacher: https://tourismteacher.com/economic-impacts-of  -tourism/#7-negative-economic-impacts-of  -tourism

Vernon Tourism. (, 2020). Business Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022. Retrieved from Vernon Tourism: https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/community-economic/tourism_vernon_business_strategic_plan_-_final_ammended.pdf