Kootenay Rockies Tourism was thrilled to receive their Biosphere Certified Destination status on March 23, from the Responsible Tourism Institute based in Spain.

Kootenay Rockies has joined the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association and Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association which are among only a select few destinations worldwide, and the third in Canada, to achieve this status.

The certification is based on established standards in areas that include climate change, environment, social, economy and culture – and guarantees compliance and continuous improvement through a private, voluntary and independent certification system – which is evaluated on an annual basis.

The certification allows a region to showcase how they take sustainability seriously, but also ensures they are accountable to make necessary and ongoing improvements.

Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association, following the strategic directions laid out in the 10-year Destination Development Strategy, began its sustainability journey back in 2019, with the first step being the development of a regional sustainability charter in alignment with international standards and metrics for destination sustainability.

“The team at KRT has been focused on moving this region forward on a sustainable tourism path for some time now and thanks to our collective efforts with regional partners and stakeholders, we have achieved this first step as an internationally recognized sustainable destination,” said KRT CEO, Kathy Cooper, “This designation supports and validates our commitment to ensuring the growth of the tourism sector is done through a sustainability lens.”

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

In the words of Patricio Azcarate, Secretary General of the Responsible Tourism Institute, “This achievement means not only the firm commitment acquired by Kootenay Rockies Tourism in terms of sustainability, but also represents a commitment to the continuous improvement of the society, economy and environment of the destination and respect for the planet in which we live and in which we must all get involved.”

As part of the Biosphere commitment, KRT will be sharing resources for stakeholders to support the Biosphere sustainability objectives.

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