| The increase in tourism has been rapidly | | | | potential problem is that most resort |
| increasing in Whistler for many years. Noted | | | | development is predicated on the sale of |
| for being one of the best skiing and | | | | recreational real estate, whether its condo |
| snowboarding areas in the world, having the | | | | units, time share units, cabins or real |
| largest skiing area in North America as well | | | | estate lots. For a lot of people their |
| has having summer activities to match the | | | | considerable investment in recreational real |
| winter, including world class golfing, | | | | estate means they are going to spend their |
| mountain biking and hiking, thanks to the | | | | vacation time using the property. They are |
| abundance of mountains warmed by the sea air | | | | less likely to be traveling around the |
| in the summer making it an outdoor | | | | province and sampling the various resorts |
| enthusiasts dream. | | | | being developed. |
| | | | |
| Up until a couple of years ago, the increase | | | | With increasing costs in Whistler and BC, |
| in tourism had been fast but steady and | | | | Canadians may be put off the idea of visiting |
| controlled. Since the decision for Whistler | | | | Whistler, instead choosing holidays abroad or |
| to host the winter Olympics in 2010 things | | | | to other destinations away from the spotlight |
| have changed. | | | | that Whistler has fallen under. |
| | | | |
| The recent unprecedented level of resort | | | | These are not potentially catastrophic |
| development comes with some urgency, as most | | | | problems for the area but illustrate a need |
| developers want to take advantage of the | | | | for long term planning and thought into the |
| attention the 2010 Winter Olympics will bring | | | | development of Whistler, and how to maintain |
| to the area. Despite skyrocketing | | | | momentum once the Olympics is over. |
| construction costs, developers are feeling | | | | |
| confident. The Government of Whistler has | | | | Poor planning has often led to post-Olympic |
| challenged the tourism industry to double in | | | | areas being turned into ghost towns, with |
| size by 2015 and interest in recreational | | | | unused facilities, empty housing etc. |
| real estate is so high that many projects are | | | | however, with limited space in Whistler, |
| sold out before construction even begins. | | | | careful thought has led to large areas of the |
| | | | Olympic village being turned into housing |
| With a strong economy and the boost in global | | | | after the event, the majority of which for |
| awareness that the Olympics will bring, the | | | | employees of the event. This will limit the |
| future of tourism in B.C over the next few | | | | possibility of unscrupulous developers |
| years looks healthy. The questions arise | | | | ruining the area trying to cash in and |
| when long term growth comes into question. | | | | potentially destroying the beauty of |
| Firstly the capacity - will enough people | | | | Whistler. |
| come to Whistler to fill the beds? | | | | |
| | | | Despite the doubts and the potential for |
| Much of North America considers Whistler a | | | | problems beyond the Olympics, the area looks |
| difficult place to get too, and with | | | | set to continue with impressive growth in |
| impending tourism increase means possible | | | | tourism, with 88 major tourism related |
| problems with traffic, demand in air travel | | | | development projects already underway, worth |
| and traffic problems around B.C., which may | | | | a combined 17 billion CAD. |
| put people off going there. Another | | | | |