Wilderness Tourism Association of BC Logo in Snow White

SPIRIT OF THE WEST ADVENTURES

We believe in a sustainable future for British Columbia’s wilderness tourism industry.

The Wilderness Tourism Association of BC (WTA) is a non-profit organization that provides leadership, advocacy, stewardship, education and marketing support to wilderness-based tourism operators.

Our members represent a wide range of iconic, world-class wilderness tourism experiences across BC, from multi-day expeditions and wildlife tours to remote ranches and luxury resorts. The WTA community is a powerful network of eco-tourism leaders, each with a unique story and connection to the land.

Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort - Person Horseback Riding Through Lush Green Meadows

SIWASH LAKE WILDERNESS RESORT

Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge - Kayaker Paddling in Lush Mountainous Terrain

CLAYOQUOT WILDERNESS LODGE

Wilderness tourism is a force for good

Circular Orange Logo with Location Pin and Dollar Signs

$18.5 billion

ANNUAL REVENUE GENERATED FROM TOURISM IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

Circular Orange Icon with Silhouettes of People and Guiding Gear

155,000 jobs

SUPPORTED BY TOURISM SPENDING
IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

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375 metric tons

DEBRIS REMOVED FROM BC COAST
DURING COVID BY WTA MEMBERS

Tourism contributes more GDP than any other primary resource industry in BC and operators regularly donate to initiatives that benefit the local land, wildlife and people.

Sources: BC Stats (2022 figures), SSTOA MDRI (2020-21), and Spirit of the West Clean-Up (2021)

Our Impact

  • We hold a seat at the Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Coalition (FWHC), which is a group of 28 non-government environmental organizations that advocate for biodiversity and ecosystem health including the restoration and long-term sustainability of fish, wildlife and habitat in British Columbia.

  • We partnered with Wave's Edge Canada Group to lead a #BellyUp Campaign to advocate for Pacific wild salmon and promote sustainable land-based salmon farming solutions. The campaign reached over 1.5 million people in BC, and ended with a successful meeting between the WTA and the BC Government.

  • We have been active stakeholders in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) and the Marine Plan Partnership for the North Pacific Coast (MaPP) processes. Our oceans face pressures from many different activities, and these processes are an important piece in balancing sustainable economic development, the well-being of coastal communities, and the health of our marine environment.

  • Alongside the Small Ship Tour Operators Association (SSTOA), we helped lead a historic BC Coastal Clean Up that saw more than 327 tonnes of marine debris removed from our shorelines. This initiative ran in 2020 and 2021, and was pivotal in keeping small ship crews employed through two of the most challenging years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • We sat on the Advisory Committee to help Go2HR develop a Safer Spaces online training course for managers, supervisors and workers to prioritize sexual harassment free workplaces in BC’s tourism and hospitality industry.

World-Class Wilderness Experiences

Mothership Adventures - Historic Wooden Yacht Cruising with Rugged Rocky Backdrop

MOTHERSHIP ADVENTURES / TAVISH CAMPBELL

Our community of wilderness tourism operators are passionate about sharing and protecting their surrounding environments

Bluewater Adventures - First Nations Community Member Holding Colourful Handcrafted Indigenous Mask

BLUEWATER ADVENTURES

Enjoy a collection of resources to help you experience the landscapes, wildlife and people that make BC unique