Positive Impacts of Tourism in Vernon 

Increase in accommodation revenue- Increased tourism activity in Vernon has resulted in increased revenue for the local accommodation industry such as hotels, motels, bed and breakfast places, etc. The accommodation revenue had jumped to 20% in 2012 according to a report from the newspaper Vernon Morning star. According to the Tourism Vernon report, room revenue in the city of Vernon in 2011 was only $17.4 million which drastically increased to over $39.7 million in 2019 (Tourism Vernon 2020).   

Job growth- Revenue growth in the accommodation sector has a positive impact on the local job market. It has provided opportunities for the local accommodation businesses to create more employment opportunities for the local people (Tourism a driving force in North Okanagan job growth 2012).  

Creation of diverse jobs- About 400 different occupations fall under the Tourism and hospitality industry globally. The growing industry has helped create a variety of jobs locally in Vernon ranging from a chef at a restaurant to a host of a nature tour or running a bed and breakfast place (Tourism a driving force in North Okanagan job growth 2012). 

Shift from the agriculture-based economy- Vernon is a home to about 40,000 people and due to its mild winter climate and long warm summers its economy was based on agriculture and businesses related to it but in recent decades new industries such as tourism, construction, and manufacturing are driving the economy (Economic Overview 2016).    

Growth of small businesses- Tourism businesses in Vernon are mostly of a smaller size and locally owned, there are about 26 hotels in the city averaging 40-50 rooms each (Tourism Vernon 2020). In 2014 Vernon won an award at BC Small Business Roundtables for supporting the growth of small local businesses (Economic Overview 2016). 

Negative impacts of Tourism to Vernon

Infrastructure – Increased load on the communities’ existing infrastructure, i.e.: waste and water systems, roads, trails, highways, accommodations, airports, ports. Increased tourism will require necessary upgrades to existing infrastructure, or future re-investment to plan and develop additional infrastructure resources to support the community and increasing the tourism base in the area (Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment, 2016). According to the City of Vernon’s 2013 Community Plan “ The City’s infrastructure assets are virtually at half their anticipated service life and with ongoing use and the passage of time, existing infrastructure is deteriorating. Much of the City’s infrastructure will be reaching the end of its expected service life over the next few decades and will require a significant investment to maintain existing levels of service” (City of Vernon, 2020).
Environment and Eco-systems – Increased stress/load on the communities’ environment and eco-system through tourism. These effects have direct and indirect causes and involve many activities. These negative impacts can come from direct results of tourists, but also from the indirect results stemming from the growth and development of infrastructure, to accommodate the tourists and tourism. The tourism environment is comprised of both the natural and community environments. Tourism can have negative and detrimental effects on the people of a community, as well as the wildlife and/or sensitive ecosystems within the area. (Ghulam, Sharmin, Faijul, & Hoque, 2013).
Some examples of negative environmental effects can include:
  • Increased traffic and carbon emissions and noise pollution
  • Increased risk of wildfires due to campfires, sparks from recreational vehicles, etc.
  • Increased water pollution and aquatic disturbance due to humans and powered watercraft.
  • Unintentional and intentional vandalism, littering, damage, and disturbances to the environment and eco-systems.
Vernon Tourism has addressed the need for environmental sustainability in its Tourism Business Plan. It is listed as one of its priority initiative strategies for sustainable tourism in Vernon.
“Vernon’s tourism draw is highly connected to the natural environment and unique culture of the destination. Outdoor recreation in nature, scenery, and wildlife viewing are all included in travel motivators to Vernon. The continued focus on cultural stewardship and protecting and preserving the surrounding natural assets is a key priority for all stakeholders to action”. (Vernon Tourism, 2020)
Economy – Not only does tourism have a positive effect on the economy, but it can also have some negative effects as well. Tourism can inflate prices within the community on products, services, and housing. It can also affect employment if the community is not hiring from the local workforce and available local employees; but instead, they are hiring foreign workers to fill positions within various industries, such as agri-tourism. Leakage can also occur if hotels or other large tourist products/services within the community are owned by outside corporate investors and stakeholders. Profits that are realized from these corporate properties will not necessarily be recirculated and will not create a multiplier effect (Stainton, 2020).
Community Services: Increased caseloads on city/government public services such as medical walk-in clinics, hospitals, police, fire, ambulance, wildlife, and fisheries
  • Increase in vehicle break-ins, theft, and property damage.
  • Increase in people other than residents, to walk-in clinics, emergency rooms, increased workload for medical personnel.
  • Increase in emergency tourist incidents requiring an ambulance, paramedics, fire, search and rescue
  • Increase in supervision by conservation officers in provincial parks, lakes, rivers, campgrounds, etc.

 

References- 
City of Vernon. (2020). Community Plan 2013 – Infrastructure. Retrieved from City of Vernon: https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/OCP/10infrastructure.pdf

Economic Overview. (2016, April 15). Retrieved December 01, 2020, from https://www.vernon.ca/business/economic-development/economic-overview 

Ghulam, R., Sharmin, A., Faijul, I., & Hoque, F. (2013, September). ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF TOURISM.Retrieved from American Journal of Environment, Energy and Power Research:
http://www.ajeepr.com/AJEEPR_Vol.%201,%20No.%208,%20September%202013/ENVIRONMENTAL.pdf
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. (2016, August). Tourism Infrastructure. Retrieved from Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/assets/780c75be7c/tis-1-tourism-infrastructure.pdf
Service, W. (2012, October 28). Tourism a driving force in North Okanagan job growth. Retrieved December 01, 2020, from https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/news/tourism-a-driving-force-in-north-okanagan-job-growth/ 
Stainton, D. H. (2020, October 10). Economic Impacts of Tourism. Retrieved from Tourism Teacher: https://tourismteacher.com/economic-impacts-of -tourism/#7-negative-economic-impacts-of -tourism
Tourism Vernon. (2020, November 24). Retrieved December 01, 2020, from https://www.vernon.ca/business/economic-development/sector-profiles/tourism 

Vernon Tourism. (2020). Business Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022. Retrieved from Vernon Tourism: https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/community-economic/tourism_vernon_business_strategic_plan_-_final_ammended.pdf