Tourism and recreation system planning in Alberta provincial parks

Abstract

Traditionally, system planning in parks and protected areas concentrated on biogeographical concepts, while neglecting tourism and recreation. The existing system plan for parks and protected areas in Alberta, Canada, divides the province into six natural regions based on a geographic classifi cation system (Grassland, Parkland, Foothills, Rocky Mountains, Boreal Forest, and Canadian Shield). This plan also identifies four program goals: preservation, heritage appreciation, outdoor recreation, and heritage tourism. Currently, the goal of preservation is met through the selection and creation of a protected area system covering 27,500 km² within 519 sites and 8 classes of protected area. However, the goals of heritage appreciation, outdoor recreation, and heritage tourism have yet to be addressed to the same level of depth either in policy or in practice, leaving a major policy gap. The objective of this research is to fill this policy gap through the development of the tourism and recreation components of the system plan for Alberta Parks and Protected Areas.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the 2006 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium

Citation

Eagles, Paul F.J.; Gilmore, Angela M.; Huang, Luis X.; Keltie, Denise A.; Rae, Kimberley; Sun, Hong; Thede, Amy K.; Wilson, Meagan L.; Woronuk, Jennifer A.; Yujin, Ge. 2007. Tourism and recreation system planning in Alberta provincial parks. In: Burns, R.; Robinson, K., comps. Proceedings of the 2006 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium; 2006 April 9-11; Bolton Landing, NY. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-14. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 258-268.