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Supporting adventure tourism in B.C. with new permitting hub

Press Release

April 9, 2026

VANCOUVER –

Summary

  • A dedicated team approach enables clearer and more predictable permitting for adventure tourism operators
  • This is one more step in the Province’s efforts to speed up permitting, reduce backlogs and support the Look West: Tourism Sector Action Plan
  • More efficient permitting means businesses get projects moving faster, growing the economy

A new Adventure Tourism Hub is the next step in improving British Columbia’s permitting process, making it easier for businesses to seek land-tenure approval for popular tourism activities.

These include heliskiing, cat skiing, heli-assisted guiding activities, commercial snowmobiling and snowmobile-assisted activities.

“This new approach to adventure tourism permitting supports investment and reflects the importance of tourism as a key part of B.C.’s economy,” said Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “With these and other changes to the permitting process, we are making it easier for businesses to get the permits they need, launch their projects and grow the economy.”

The hub model builds off the work the Province has done that has resulted in reduced permit timelines for housing, connectivity and electrification projects.

Permitting specialists ready to help with complex tenure applications

Adventure tourism operators have expressed the need for more predictability when it comes to permitting. Tenures for these activities cover large areas. New applications and renewals will now benefit from a dedicated team of experts that will manage these applications from intake to decision.

The Adventure Tourism Hub is a single point of contact for operators. Under the previous system, applications were handled regionally. Adventure Tourism Hub applications are accepted through FrontCounter BC and routed to a dedicated group that will co-ordinate applications across agencies, liaise with other authorizing agencies and provide applicants one point of contact.

The hub is considered a pilot project at this time with an initial focus on heli-skiing/guiding, cat skiing and guided snowmobiling activities. It will also be a place where new approaches to process and policy will be tested, which will benefit the broader adventure tourism sector.

Supporting tourism as key driver of economic diversification, growth

This new approach adds consistency and improves turnaround times for operators. It also supports the Province’s Look West: Tourism Sector Action Plan to double visitor spending by 2036 by making sure tourism operators have what they need to grow, innovate and keep B.C. competitive on the global stage. Streamlining authorization and regulatory processes unlocks new potential for tourism growth, which strengthened the economy, supports jobs in rural and remote places and delivers an exceptional experience for visitors.

“B.C.’s natural beauty and access to the outdoors are a major reason visitors choose our province,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “With this new hub, businesses will more effectively be able to offer unique B.C. adventures, drawing more visitors, creating good jobs and growing the economy. This is another big step towards delivering the Look West Tourism Sector Action Plan goal to grow tourism in B.C.”

The Look West industrial and economic strategy leverages B.C. strengths and work underway to be the economic engine of Canada, advance nation-building major projects, create good jobs and skills training opportunities for people, and grow key sectors that are driving economic growth into the future.

New initiatives make difference in permitting times

The Adventure Tourism Hub is part of a government-wide push to streamline the permitting process, which includes initiatives across several sectors that are important to growing B.C.’s economy. Budget 2026 supports this work, with $7.5 million for the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship to support permitting activities, as part of a broader strategy that includes:

  • changes to the Water Sustainability Regulation and Riparian Areas Protection Regulation to improve clarity and support people and businesses to reduce project timelines, with more to come
  • a one-window approach to housing and connectivity has eliminated 100% of backlogged housing applications and reduced timelines for housing and connectivity by roughly 40-50%
  • since July 2024, the average permitting time for land and water electrification applications has decreased by more than 80%
  • a specialized team within the Ministry of Transportation and Transit that approves water licences for transportation projects has reduced approval times from 12-24 months to less than a month

The Province will continue to introduce new initiatives that make it faster to apply for and receive necessary permits, remove barriers and delays, eliminate duplication, simplify processes and get shovels in the ground faster, while at the same time maintaining high environmental standards and honouring B.C.’s commitments under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

Learn More:

Two backgrounders follow.

Contact:

Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
Media Relations
GCPE.WLRSmedia@gov.bc.ca
250-419-8775

BACKGROUNDER 1

What people are saying about the new Adventure Tourism Hub

Dave Butler, strategic advocacy co-ordinator, HeliCat Canada –

“HeliCat Canada is very pleased that the Province of B.C. is moving ahead with the Adventure Tourism Hub. This is a pivotal step forward in creating the conditions for investment and operating certainty that supports sustainable adventure tourism and the rural communities and First Nations that rely on it. We look forward to working with the Province to pilot the project with our member businesses.”

Kathy MacRae, co-chair, Adventure Tourism Coalition –

“A centralized adventure permitting hub is great news for the B.C. Adventure Tourism Coalition and the industry. It streamlines what has traditionally been a complex process, giving us more consistency and a single point of contact. That means we can spend less time navigating paperwork and more time doing what we do best – delivering safe, high-quality experiences for our guests and supporting local communities.”

Scott Ellis, co-chair, Adventure Tourism Coalition –

“When people think of ‘Super, Natural British Columbia,’ they often picture adventure tourism experiences. We’re encouraged by this investment in a pilot project to streamline decision-making through a one-window, hub-based model.”

Amber Papou, CEO, Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia (TIABC) –

“Removing barriers for adventure tourism operators is a positive step for businesses and the tourism sector overall. When business owners and investors have clarity on processes, they can invest and grow with confidence. TIABC is pleased to see the Province listening to the needs of the industry and working across government to help create the right conditions for tourism industry growth.”

Iain Stewart-Patterson, board member and lead guide, Canadian Motorized Backcountry Guides Association –

“The Canadian Motorized Backcountry Guides Association welcomes the launch of the Adventure Tourism Hub. This important and timely initiative marks a significant step forward for the snowmobile and snowbike guiding industry. By creating a centralized process, it will help drive growth, attract investment and strengthen rural communities – supporting both infrastructure development and the people in the industry.”

Contact:

Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
Media Relations
GCPE.WLRSmedia@gov.bc.ca
250-419-8775

BACKGROUNDER 2

Showing success in permitting transformation

The Province has made updating and streamlining its permitting processes a key goal in its efforts to support continued economic success. Across government, it’s becoming easier and faster to apply for and receive the permits that make projects of all sizes possible.

Here are some examples of how B.C. is changing the permitting landscape to build a stronger, more diverse economy that succeeds for all people in British Columbia:

Shorter timelines for projects across multiple sectors

  • successfully cleared 100% of the provincial permit backlog for building housing
  • reduced the average number of days to process a housing application by 40% and connectivity applications by nearly 50%
  • brought water licence approval times for transportation projects down from 24 months to less than one month
  • issued 34% more mineral exploration permits in 2025 compared to the year before
  • approved the Mt. Milligan mine extension in approximately 9.5 months after a co-ordinated, single-application review while maintaining environmental, safety and consultation standards
  • reduced forestry cutting permit timelines from 40 to 25 days
  • approvals for nine wind-power projects announced under the 2024 call for power have been streamlined by creating a dedicated wind-power project permitting process

Public input shapes statutory changes to permitting processes

  • In February 2026, amendments were made to permitting processes, based on public input. These updates allow for permitting staff to focus on high-risk applications while maintaining B.C.’s high environmental standards.
  • Rebuilding homes in disaster areas that are located in low-risk riparian areas now have flexibility to proceed thanks to a streamlined process.
  • Low-risk construction dewatering activities don’t need authorization under the Water Sustainability Act, supporting faster development.
  • Building ice roads to support restoration at oil and gas sites no longer requires short-term water-use permits.
  • Local governments, First Nations and Crown corporations will be able to conduct stream restoration activities more easily.

Contact:

Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
Media Relations
GCPE.WLRSmedia@gov.bc.ca
250-419-8775

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