April 15, 2005 for immediate release

A dozen third and fourth-year students from the University of Northern British Columbia will bevisiting a number of tourism sites starting next week as part of a class aimedat learning about effective nature-based and cultural tourism development. Theclass 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, andthe new Stuart River provincial park. At each location,students will learn from people working in the ecotourism field, includingparks officials, private tourism operators, and First Nations.

“Northern BC has a wealth of environmental and cultural tourismsites and the best way for students to learn about the particular issues andopportunities facing each one is to see them first-hand and hear from thepeople involved with managing them,” says Pamela Wright, the ResourceRecreation and Tourism professor leading the class. “There will also be a practicalcomponent to the course; for example, students will be building a foot bridgeat the Lakelse Lake provincial park on Earth Day.”

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

Contact:

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