Biosphere Certification

Biosphere Certified Destination 

On March 16th , 2022 Cariboo Chilcotin Coast was officially certified as a  “Biosphere Certified Destination” . 

Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism is officially the second region in North America to earn the internationally-recognized Biosphere Certified Destination from the Responsible Tourism Institute based in Spain.

Biosphere destinations are committed to continuous improvement guided by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations that include combating climate change, protecting the environment, supporting decent work and economic growth, and respecting cultural and social values.

“The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast has been dedicated to sustainable tourism for years,” said Glenn Mandziuk, Interim CEO of Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism. “Thanks to the dedicated and collaborative efforts of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism team, Regional and Provincial Tourism partners, and industry stakeholders, this part of the world is now recognized among the global leaders with this designation as a Biosphere Certified Destination. It is a commitment to continue growing our industry in a responsible way.”

Sustainability has been a part of the land without limits for thousands of years. Indigenous peoples, local ranching and agriculture, and modern tourism operators have all lived as stewards of the land for generations to come. The region is also home to the Great Bear Rainforest, the protected home of the Spirit Bear, British Columbia’s provincial mammal.

British Columbia is a leading jurisdiction worldwide in Biosphere Certified Destinations. The Thompson Okanagan was the first designated region in North America, while the three of the remaining four regions in B.C.—Vancouver Island, Northern B.C., and Kootenay Rockies—have designations in process.

Becoming a Biosphere Certified Destination is a commitment to achieving a long-term balance between the economic, socio-cultural and environmental dimensions in the region. The designation will deliver significant benefits for communities, the environment, and the tourism sector.

“People around the world are looking for travel that is sustainable and that offers real experiences,” said Patricio Azcárate Díaz de Losada, Secretary General of the Responsible Tourism Institute headquartered in Spain. “Certification shows a local commitment to sustainability in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast that will be recognized across the region and the world.”

Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism will also be establishing an industry-led committee to help the region work together on sustainability so it benefits communities, travellers, and the sector. It will also ensure certification is renewed.

“The land without limits has so much to offer to tourists from all over the world, and its our collective duty to ensure what makes this place special is there for generations to come,” said Andre Kuerbis, Chair of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association board. “I encourage interested operators to get involved in our new committee that will be helping guide sustainability efforts in the sector and maintain this certification for years to come.”

More information of the Biosphere Certified Destination program is available at: https://www.biospheretourism.com/en/biosphere-certification-for-tourism-destinations/81

Be part of it!