ABSTRACT
British Columbia’s natural environment has long provided the backbone for abundant and prosperous primary economic activities, namely forestry and mining. In recent years, however, tourism has become British Columbia’s primary generator of wealth as the province’s economy has shifted from resource-based economic activities into the new postindustrial era in which service-oriented activities are key. Tourism in this Canadian province generated $8.7 billion in revenue in 1998, with a record 21.3 million visits. More than 110,000 people are directly employed in this sector, many of whom work in outdoor recreation and ecotourism. British Columbia is quickly becoming an innovator in tourism, offering as it does a variety of tourism experiences.
