Introduction: One Cold Tourist
I personally, have never been to Canada, however, over time, my interest in visiting has been kindled and so I research and research some more. I recognize that being a tourist (which is what I would be), if taken seriously, requires more than booking a plane ticket, hotel reservation, and enjoying a cocktail on a deck. Being a tourist, to me, is about learning, understanding, and becoming familiar with all a local has to offer, and what tourism “issues” exist in the said location. In this case Alberta Canada.
Alberta Canada has many opportunities for the visiting tourist to take advantage of with summer activities ranging from fly fishing, city festivals, hiking, camping, boating, gorgeous scenic highways, and even equestrian riding. While in the winter, a season for which the region truly excels, with its wealth in natural beauty, one can: of course ski and snow board, go dog sledding, snow shoeing, ice skate on a natural body of water, ice fish, and hey even go sledding. While at any time of the year, in Alberta, one can take advantage of great shopping, stay at top notch resorts, watch and see native wild life, and experience the unique cultures of aboriginal communities native to the region.
However, with all of these opportunities there exists, also, issues to be educated about. Tourism, as an industry, has the potential to do great good and great harm. It can be a mixed blessing, providing good in the spectrums of the economic, social and environmental. While, also, creating less than favorable outcomes in the same spectrums. As a tourist, on has the choice to ignorantly reinforce the negatives or to support and contribute to the positives.
As an example in the social and environmental spectrum, what if a resort group wanted to build a lodging property on land considered sacred to aboriginal people and also significant in terms of environmental stability? If such a resort were to be built without regard to the social, environmental, and even economic impact it would cause; would you prefer to stay as such a property – contributing to the negative? Or, instead, stay at a more responsible property and support the positive? That is what this blog is about. To help the potential tourist of Alberta Canada to make responsible decisions about their vacation or business trip. And, to contribute to an understanding of the impact which the tourism industry has.
I personally, have never been to Canada, however, over time, my interest in visiting has been kindled and so I research and research some more. I recognize that being a tourist (which is what I would be), if taken seriously, requires more than booking a plane ticket, hotel reservation, and enjoying a cocktail on a deck. Being a tourist, to me, is about learning, understanding, and becoming familiar with all a local has to offer, and what tourism “issues” exist in the said location. In this case Alberta Canada.
Alberta Canada has many opportunities for the visiting tourist to take advantage of with summer activities ranging from fly fishing, city festivals, hiking, camping, boating, gorgeous scenic highways, and even equestrian riding. While in the winter, a season for which the region truly excels, with its wealth in natural beauty, one can: of course ski and snow board, go dog sledding, snow shoeing, ice skate on a natural body of water, ice fish, and hey even go sledding. While at any time of the year, in Alberta, one can take advantage of great shopping, stay at top notch resorts, watch and see native wild life, and experience the unique cultures of aboriginal communities native to the region.
However, with all of these opportunities there exists, also, issues to be educated about. Tourism, as an industry, has the potential to do great good and great harm. It can be a mixed blessing, providing good in the spectrums of the economic, social and environmental. While, also, creating less than favorable outcomes in the same spectrums. As a tourist, on has the choice to ignorantly reinforce the negatives or to support and contribute to the positives.
As an example in the social and environmental spectrum, what if a resort group wanted to build a lodging property on land considered sacred to aboriginal people and also significant in terms of environmental stability? If such a resort were to be built without regard to the social, environmental, and even economic impact it would cause; would you prefer to stay as such a property – contributing to the negative? Or, instead, stay at a more responsible property and support the positive? That is what this blog is about. To help the potential tourist of Alberta Canada to make responsible decisions about their vacation or business trip. And, to contribute to an understanding of the impact which the tourism industry has.