A national trade magazine for
all stakeholders in ecotourism in Canada

Defining the business of ecotourism today is a challenging task because there have been numerous doctoral thesis presentations, major tourism associations and many government tourism departments putting their own unique spin on defining the term. These discrepancies can be confusing and tend to distract and take away from the efforts of ecotourism planners as they attempt to meet prescribed definitions. However, on the consumer demand side of the issue, things are much clearer as psychographic and demographic changes are afoot that have created a marketplace thirsting for more ecotourism experiences. At ground level, in many cases, the ecotourism operators providing the experiences are having to go it alone as the guidance and support levels that traditional tourism segments receive in terms of research, education and marketing are not yet fully in place for the ecotourism sector.

Spreading Good Ecotourism Ideas

Touching people’s hearts and minds through Canadian ecotourism experiences is a major theme in the stories you will read in this first edition of Ecotourism Magazine Canada and you will find the operators also share their philosophies, principles and best practices so that other stakeholders in the ecotourism field can benefit from their experiences. Ecotourism Magazine Canada is uniquely positioned to play an instrumental role in transferring these good ideas, not just to the front line operators, but also to governments, the media, associations, educators, suppliers and to key stakeholders in the domestic and international travel trade.

First Nations and Ecotourism

In this edition, we are extremely pleased and proud to bring you information about successful First Nations ventures in ecotourism. In the articles about The Aurora Village in Yellowknife and the Cree Village Ecolodge in Moose Factory Ontario, you will be touched by the warm and sincere welcome extended to all visitors and by the generosity demonstrated in the sharing of information about nature and local culture. These stories are about triumphs in sustainable business practices, in cultural preservation and in spirit.

Vern Telford
Publisher, Ecotourism Magazine Canada