Assessing the economic benefits of Ancient Forest Trail ecotourism in McBride, British Columbia.

McBride, British Columbia, has long relied on forestry as the primary sector of its economy. With shrinking employment, timber demand and supply, community members are now pursuing opportunities for economic diversification. Tourism has been identified as one of three initiatives aimed at improving local economic stability and diversification. An emerging element in the region's ecotourism potential is the Ancient Forest Trail (AFT). The purpose of this research is to assess the AFT's potential economic benefits as a tourist attraction and contributor to economic diversification. First, the number of AFT tourists and their economic benefit is calculated using a trail counter and questionnaires. Second, AFT ecotourism is examined in the context of local economic diversification, using economic analyses to describe the structure and dynamics of the local economy and key informant interviews to access community knowledge. Results describe a local economy in transition, an emerging ecotourism attraction with a positive economic benefit, and a community disagreement regarding tourism as an economic priority. --Leaf ii.