The Informed Traveler
The Informed Traveler
Flight Centre's Overtourism Survey & Rossland, BC
According to a recent poll from Flight Centre 7 in 10 Canadians are rethinking their travel choices due to concerns about Overtourism. So on this week's podcast Travel Expert Onanta Forbes will join me to discuss the growing problem of Overtourism. Then we'll head to a place that doesn't seem to have that problem and that's Rossland, BC. Located in the southern part of BC, it's an outdoor adventurer's paradise. So we'll check in with the Marketing Manager for Tourism Rossland as they get ready for the summer.
Well, hello and welcome to the Informed Traveller Podcast, a weekly travel podcast where our goal is to help you become a more informed traveller. I'm your host, Randy Sharman. According to a recent poll from Flight Centre, 7 in 10 Canadians are rethinking their travel choices due to concerns about overtourism. So in a few seconds, travel expert Onanta Forbes will join me to discuss the growing problem of overtourism. Then we'll head to a place that doesn't seem to have that problem, and that's Rosslyn, B.C., Located in the southern part of British Columbia, it's an outdoor adventures paradise. So we'll check in with the marketing manager for Tourism Rossland as they get ready for the summer. But first, let's kick things off chatting with travel expert, Onanta Forbes, who joins us each week to discuss some of the travel news and travel trends. You can follow her adventures on Instagram, Facebook, and X at Onanta Forbes. Onantaforbes.com is her website. Hi, Onanta.
SPEAKER_03:Hi, Randy. Hi, everybody. Hope everybody's well.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, we're going to talk about this survey from Flight Centre that talks mostly about over-tourism and the spin-offs from that. But a lot of Canadians, and I'm going to say probably everybody, did not be Canadians, say that many travel attractions are just too busy to enjoy. I would be one of them. I don't like crowds anymore, and I like travelling in the shoulder season, as they call it. the off season to avoid the crowds.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah. And I think you're not alone. You know, even some, our tour operator friends are looking at winter destinations for people to go to and different ideas. So yes, this survey did, you know, is conducted and says that the vast majority of Canadians, 71% are concerned about the impacts of tourism and due to overcrowding there, are saying that they're more likely to swap a popular destination for another similar spot that's less crowded and tourism fees like they said they're even willing to pay a destination fee to support sustainable tourism efforts. So 53% agree that local anti-tourism protesters in heavily visited areas are right to believe that tourists should stop or reduce their travel there because Because, you know, obviously people live where you're going. And sometimes there's bad behavior by visitors when you're going to that destination. So there's a lot to think about.
SPEAKER_02:There's a lot in that survey. Like you said, 78% of Canadians say that travel attractions are too busy to fully enjoy. I would agree. And 81%, as I'm just reviewing numbers here, would swap a popular destination. I would. I'm kind of on the fence on that one. So I think that's always been there.
SPEAKER_03:Right. Yeah. And you know what? At the end of the day, yes, we do have to factor that in because there is a movement now to support small and local businesses, which we want to do. But yeah, if it's too much and it's too many things affecting your local life, yes, I agree with you that people living there want us to move along. And there's lots of different options that you can look at for housing. domestic and international travel within Canada. A lot of people are going to Nova Scotia. This offers lots of diverse experiences, lots of opportunity to drive, to explore the land by hiking, a lot of mountain views, water scenes. Going to the Yukon offers a chance to explore the wilderness and experience unique cultures. In BC, there's Yoho National Park, so people who love the Rockies and want to avoid the crowds of like them. So, you know, nice opportunities within Canada. Internationally, Costa Rica, good for nature lovers and seeking adventure. Mexico, always a fan favorite for Canadians. You can enjoy beach resorts, cultural attractions. Thailand, that's even a good one for long stays, right?
SPEAKER_01:Like,
SPEAKER_03:you know, you're going all that way. Enjoy it. Like you can enjoy like a quieter alternative like Kusamui. Instead of like Barcelona, go to Seville. So lots of opportunities out there. Good opportunity to talk to your travel agent because they are in the know as far as what's out there. Maybe some good deals to these destinations depending on when you're traveling.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, that's right. And I agree with the, I don't want to call them secondary destinations, but maybe what they're called less popular destinations. I'll give you an example for Mexico. Loreto is a great secondary destination that we spent some time in, I guess it was a couple of years ago now, but it's smaller, quieter, less crowded, less expensive in some instances. So yeah, there's lots of different options out there. I want to talk about the tourist fees though. Again, I'm sitting on the fence on this. What do you think about paying a destination fee? Because it seems to me that we're already paying for something. I think sustainable tourism should be part of that regardless.
SPEAKER_03:Right. And there is a lot of resorts and destinations available. within Canada and worldwide that offer that, or not offer it, they basically charge you for it. So you do have to be very conscious of it because it can be noted in your terms and conditions that most people don't read. So you have to consider where you go and if you want to go to a destination or book at a resort that sustains
SPEAKER_02:it. Yeah, I think what I read into this tourist fee would be an extra fee over and above everything else you're already paying for that you mentioned. And I guess the skeptic in me says, how am I sure that if I'm paying an extra fee for sustainable efforts locally, that money is actually going there?
SPEAKER_03:It's a million-dollar question because how do you find out, right, at the end of the day? And I don't know if there's any way you really can drill it down to find that out. Unfortunately, it's a part of travel these days.
SPEAKER_02:Well, I think it's an interesting thing that's happening. You know, there are no doubt some places that get way overcrowded in the summertime, and you mentioned Banff is one of them. They have traffic issues, all kinds of issues, and it affects the wild life and the surrounding areas. So it's great to have people come visit, but I guess only to a certain point, right?
SPEAKER_03:Right. Yeah. Well, with social media this year, I think people are more aware or are getting increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of tourism, choosing the destination that prioritizes the sustainability. And so, yeah, sometimes social media could be good and sometimes it could be bad, in which regards to rising costs, you know, environmental damage, overcrowded. So all negative aspects of overtourism.
SPEAKER_02:Well, and I guess the takeaway is do your homework. And if you want to go to places that are not overcrowded, like you mentioned, maybe a good travel agent can help you out in looking at some secondary spots.
SPEAKER_03:Always, yeah. We're here for you. And information is power.
SPEAKER_02:Mm-hmm. Onanta Forbes is a travel expert. You can follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and X at Onanta Forbes. Onantaforbes.com is her website. Always good to chat, Onanta. Thank you.
SPEAKER_03:Take care.
SPEAKER_02:This is the informed traveler podcast. I'm Randy Sharman. Just want to remind you of our website, the informed traveler.org. That's where you'll find our contact page. If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you could also email me too, with any questions you might have or any segment ideas or any podcast segment ideas. My email address is Randy at the informed traveler.org. And if you want to get up to date travel info through the week, or just see a few amusing travel stories and links, you can like us on Facebook at Facebook, www.theinformedtraveller.com So if outdoor adventure is on your mind this summer, you might want to hear what Tourism Rosslyn has to say as the area of Rosslyn, BC gets ready for a summer of outdoor activities. So joining us now to tell us more is Andras Lukac. He is the executive director for Tourism Rosslyn. TourismRosslyn.com is their website. Hi, Andras. Hi, how are you, Randy? I'm well, thank you. I've never been to Rosslyn, BC, so let's start with the basics. Where is And how do I get there?
SPEAKER_00:Well, Roslyn, B.C. is in southeastern British Columbia, around the Selkirk and the Monashee Mountains, very close to the U.S. border, approximately 10 minutes from the U.S. border. So we are a three-hour drive from Kelowna, B.C., An equal distance from Calgary, Vancouver, and Seattle, I would say around seven hours from all of those places. So we're a destination that's not easy to get to, to be honest. We are pretty remote, which I think is one of the charms of this place is that you actually have to work to get here. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Well, I would think so. I am looking on your website, tourismrosland.com. Lots of things you have going on, both winter and summer. So is this kind of a transition period going on right now?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, right now we're kind of transitioning. I mean, obviously winter is done. Traditionally, we used to be a winter destination. And now we're transitioning into a four-season destination. So right now... Ski season ended and our summer season is starting. The weather is beautiful actually right now. So our mountain bike trails are running perfectly. So we're super stoked. But, you know, it's still early June. So travel has not picked up yet. Usually we get going later in June once kids are out of school. That's when we really start getting excited. the summer season going. And also part of it is that, uh, some of our signature trails are up in the high Alpine. So they are still snow covered. So.
SPEAKER_02:So this is a good time to come then if I want to avoid the crowds and, and, uh, get a first crack at some of the trails.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. It's a great time to come. Although I have to say you will always avoid the crowds in Roslyn. We don't have crowds. We are one of those destinations that, uh, We don't have crowds yet. And we hope we're never going to get to that crowded, over-tourism place where, unfortunately, some other destinations are. So we're trying to be really mindful of that.
SPEAKER_02:Mm-hmm. Well, I guess that's part of the charm. Like you said at the beginning, you have to make an effort to get there. And so that's one of the things among many that you have going for you. What are some of the popular activities? Again, I'm looking on your website. If you like hiking and biking and those types of outdoor activities, it's right up your alley there, right?
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. Yeah. So we're an outdoor adventure destination. That's, you know, we're not for everyone. We're not like a one size fits all destination. So we're an outdoor destination. In the spring, summer, fall, it's mostly our mountain biking. We are one of the birthplaces of mountain biking, actually. You know, mountain biking developed in British Columbia, the North Shore of Vancouver, Kamloops and Roslyn were the three places where We're in the 80s. The first mountain bike trails started to appear. And we have a very, very focused and dedicated mountain biking society here. We have over 200 kilometers of professionally maintained single track system trails, mountain bike trails here that's accessible from town. So it's a very... purposefully built so you don't have to shuttle if you don't want to on any kind of mountain bikes or trail running you can go from town you can go from brewery to trail to brewery if you'd like to and additionally we're also this summer in June we're opening a lift assisted bike park at Red Mountain Resort which is our ski hill in town so that's going to be a a pretty welcome addition. It's going to be a big change for us to have that with some beautiful flow and jump trails. So yeah, mountain biking is definitely what drives this city. We used to call ourselves the mountain bike capital of Canada. We no longer do that just because we want to be understated, but we are pretty much into bikes here and obviously hiking, trail running, you know, that's... So We're for outdoor people.
SPEAKER_02:So I'm going to venture to guess that the demographic of your average visitor is probably younger.
SPEAKER_00:Yes, that's correct. Although, you know, as the mountain biking crowd ages, you know, it's kind of moving up. And to be honest, e-bikes really changed the game because now... you know, folks who are, who are getting older and, and, and maybe are not capable, we're not capable of doing those climbs that require, you know, to earn your turns. Uh, e-bikes really opened up demographically, uh, the market, but yes, we are, we are still focused on, it's not necessarily younger, but it's, it's active and very fit kind of.
SPEAKER_02:That's a better way of putting it. Never want to assume that older people are not active and fit, right?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, absolutely. So talk about some of the accommodation options. I'm assuming that you probably have everything that anyone is looking for.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, absolutely. So we're a small town, 4,200 people approximately. Iran resident. But we have a lot of accommodation because we're a ski resort. So we are actually the 10th largest ski resort in North America based on skiable terrain. And that requires accommodation options. So we have everything from a beautiful boutique hotel that opened five years ago. It's called the Josie. It's a ski-in, ski-out hotel. with all the amenities you could imagine a boutique hotel would have to traditional hotel accommodations downtown, condos around the ski hill. We have two hostels, which is super cool. There's one downtown Roslyn and one at the ski hill, which I think it's a very unique option, again, for winter visitors to be able to stay in a dorm-like accommodation. Skiing is getting... to be quite unaffordable for some people. So again, I think that was a great addition. So we have everything. We have a tiny campground in town. It's literally in town. So it's like a five-minute walk to downtown from the campground. It's just a beautiful little gem. So yeah, basically, you know, Everything you want. Obviously, we have short-term rentals like Airbnb, VRBO type of accommodations. Our city is very, very conscious of how that affects local residents. So we have some pretty stringent regulations on them, but we do have them available as well.
SPEAKER_02:How much of a diehard outdoor type person... would I have to be to get the most of Rosslyn? Again, it's like, do I have to be a fanatic about it almost? Or if I'm just a casual hiker, would I still enjoy myself?
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. I think you could. I mean, you know, because we have product. We have offerings for everyone, you know, from a casual walk with your dog to a viewpoint to look at our beautiful mountains and valleys, you know. We just built a mountain bike trail. It's called Majib, which is the Sinai indigenous word for cedar. So it's a green trail. It's beautiful. So it's very easy. It flows down through an old growth forest, which there's not a lot of old growth forest left in the interior of British Columbia. So it's a beautiful trail. There are shuttles, so long as you can ride a bicycle on pavement you can ride that trail and it's it's a transformative experience and then you know being out the outdoor activities after that there's also the mountain culture that's you know from music to food to to the brewery to you know other activities so it's it's fairly you know welcoming and i think What makes Roslyn really unique is the people, and you don't have to be a hardcore adventure enthusiast to enjoy hanging out with locals who welcome you.
SPEAKER_02:Nice. Well, there's nothing better than a brewery to satisfy your thirst after a hike or a mountain bike ride.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. We call our breweries our unofficial visitor center. You go in there, and there are locals there usually, either tourists, Well, speaking of what's happening in town, what is
SPEAKER_02:happening this summer? What are some of the events that you have coming up?
SPEAKER_00:A couple of bigger things. We, we, we host a single track six mountain bike race, which is a stage mountain bike race. Uh, it's a fairly big event and there's some pro riders in it. So it's super fun. Obviously not everyone can ride it, but it's, it's really fun to watch. Uh, we have, uh, event wise, we have the broken goat, which is, it's a, it's a trail running race, uh, going up on the seven summits trail, which is, uh, One of our signature trails, it's around 35 kilometers point-to-point trail up in the Rosland Range, up in the high alpine. It's a beautiful trail. So there's a running race on that. There's different distances from kids races, which is like a kilometer to the 50K if you really want to punish yourself. Yeah. That's a great event. And as I mentioned earlier, we're opening our bike park this summer at Red Mountain Resort. So that will be a huge, huge addition to our offerings. And along that, there will be a lot of programming. We have running races, trail running races, mountain biking events. We have some music going on too throughout the summer. So those are kind of like the main attractions. We're pretty much like in a DIY kind of ethos. You know, we just come here and enjoy what we have, you know. We don't necessarily have to have like a goal. Just show up and, you know, I think this place is magical. If you come here and you get the vibe, you're going to have an amazing time. Can you rent? bikes and things like that? I'm assuming you can. Yes, absolutely. Yes, yes. You can rent bikes either downtown or local bike shop or at Red Mountain. Some of our hotels has actually loaner bikes too for commuting and just getting around town. We have bike shuttles available. So yeah, we have all the services that you would need. A lot of our restaurants and hotels have like bike storage and gear storage. So we're We're pretty dialed in on that market.
SPEAKER_02:Well, it looks like a beautiful place. People can get more information on your website, tourismrosland.com. Andres Lukacs is the executive director for Tourism Rosland. Again, the website, tourismrosland.com. Well, I do appreciate your time. Thank you so much. Thank you, Randy.
UNKNOWN:Thank you.
SPEAKER_02:Thanks for listening. Travel safe and be an informed traveler.