CURRENT INITIATIVES AS WELL AS OUTCOMES OF PAST INITIATIVES FOR THE MBTA INCLUDE:
- Tourism BC - Experiences BC Sector Development Program - Provincial Mountain Bike Tourism Plan - April 2010
In cooperation with Tourism BC's Experiences BC Sector Development Program, stakeholders from around the province participated in the creation of a province wide mountain bike tourism plan. The plan will be implemented over a three year period by a new representative board of directors for the MBTA. Click here for a copy of the plan. - Marketing and Development Initiatives in Partnership with Tourism BC and the Bike Parks of BC - ongoing
In partnership with Tourism British Columbia and five lift access resort operators (see bikeparksbc.com), the MBTA has helped coordinate the Bike Parks of BC marketing campaign. This initiative has relied on the dedication and cooperation of BC's top mountain biking resorts to jointly market the province's lift access mountain bike product through international mountain biking events and tradeshows (Sea Otter Classic, Crankworx, and InterBike), television features on Ride Guide™, advertising in major mountain biking publications and on the web at BikeParksBC.com. In 2010, Bike Parks of BC will be featured in a new film called "Follow Me", by Anthill Films. - BC Mountain Bike Tourism Symposium - October 2008
The first ever symposium on mountain bike tourism brought community leaders, trail groups, politicians, business operators and tourism marketers together to share information and discuss the challenges and opportunities that face BC's mountain bike tourism sector. Click here for presentations and outcomes. - Tourism BC - Tourism Business Essentials - Mountain Bike Tourism Manual - September 2008
Jimmy Young and Martin Littlejohn, both founding directors of the MBTA, collaborated on the development of an informative resource guide for communities that wish to develop local authorized trails into tourism assets. A useful community based process is outlined with references to many good practices that already exist in BC and elsewhere. - Participation on the Whistler Cycling Tourism and Economic Development Committee
- Participation in the Recreational Mountain Biking on Provincial Crown Land Working Group through the BC Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts - Draft policy implementation: Pilot 2007
An effort is being made by the BC Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts to develop policy that will address key issues pertaining to mountain biking on Crown land. These issues predominantly relate to risk and liability, user conflict, and environmental impact. Presently a draft policy has been created with the intension to implement on a pilot basis in several communities in 2007.
Please click here for the Backgrounder and Draft Policy. - Sea to Sky Mountain Biking Economic Impact Study - Completion: November 2006
The study will measure the economic impact of mountain biking in the Sea to Sky Corridor including the communities of the North Shore (Districts of North Vancouver and West Vancouver), Squamish and Whistler. In addition, the study will measure the impact of intra regional spending on the North Shore, the Test of Metal event in Squamish, and the lift access bike park in Whistler.
Please click here for the Executive Summary.
Fundamental benefits of MBTA initiatives:
- Local and regional economic development
- Standards for sustainable trails and mountain biking products
- Improved recreational access to better trails for the local community
- Access to resources and best practices for developing a mountain bike tourism product
- Education for effective product delivery and service quality
- Data collection and research for product development and marketing
- Marketing activities - website, brochures, partner initiatives (Media relations, FAMS, Trade Shows)