A dozen third and fourth-year students from the University of Northern British Columbia will be visiting a number of tourism sites starting next week as part of a class aimed at learning about effective nature-based and cultural tourism development. The class is part of the University’s Resource Recreation and Tourism program.

The group will be visiting Smithers, the Nass Valley, Prince Rupert, Terrace, Kitwanga, Hazelton, and the new Stuart River provincial park. At each location, students will learn from people working in the ecotourism field, including parks officials, private tourism operators, and First Nations.

“Northern BC has a wealth of environmental and cultural tourism sites and the best way for students to learn about the particular issues and opportunities facing each one is to see them first-hand and hear from the people involved with managing them,” says Pamela Wright, the Resource Recreation and Tourism professor leading the class. “There will also be a practical component to the course; for example, students will be building a foot bridge at the Lakelse Lake provincial park on Earth Day.”

Among the sites that the students will visit are the Tyhee Lake provincial park, Bulkley Valley tourism attractions and operators, Nisga’a Lava Beds Memorial Park, the Museum of Northern BC, Kitsumkalum, Kitwanga National Historic Site, K’san Historical Village, and cultural sites in Stuart River provincial park.

Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622