Essay on Managing Tourism for Sustainability: A Case Study of Breckenridge Peak 6 and Rocky Mountain Lynx

Natural Resource Management, Tourism, and the Environment. A Case Study of Breckenridge Peak 6 and the Rocky Mountain Lynx

Tourism is a global event, and its success heavily relies on the natural environment and several other natural resources. This phenomenon has a considerable number of adverse impacts on both the environment and natural resources (Holden, 2016). Regardless, when tourism is well managed, it can contribute to the sustainability and conservation of the same environment and natural resources. The relationship between natural resources and tourism takes different forms at different junctures. Locally, the availability and quality of natural resources to residents are impacted by tourism. On a regional level, tourism generates revenue for the conservation of natural resources, although it also leads to waste and water shortages. Globally, tourism worsens the already existing environmental problems leading to lasting impacts like plastic soup, climate change and global warming.

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In the past few years, tourism researchers have aided in creating awareness of the links between natural resource management and tourism. Their study has given birth to a new field of academic literature that examines issues related to tourism under new concepts of tourism. New forms of tourism, such as ecotourism, sustainable tourism and nature-based tourism, have emerged under this literature (Xiao & Smith, 2006). Environmentalists around the world are advocating for these new forms of tourism since they are environmentally safe. The United States forest management authorities are also vouching for these forms of tourism. This is because they are minimizing deforestation, increasing recreation activities on national parks and forest lands, and their effects have the power to boost local economies.

Breckenridge Peak 6

Breckenridge Ski Resort, founded in 1859, is an exceptional recreational site based in Colorado, United States (Lippus, 2015). This resort offers excitement combined with history which makes it one of the best places to spend holidays for skiers. Breckenridge Resort sits approximately two hours west of the Denver Airport, and it takes almost three hours to reach the resort from Colorado Springs Airport. The resort comprises of over 87 bars and restaurants, more than 180 boutiques and shops and over 3000 units- condos and hotels (Poulhes & Mirial, 2017). It sees over 300 days of sunshine, with an average of 353 inches of snowfall every year.

Peak 6 in Breckenridge Ski Resort is a new 543-acre site lying north of peak seven which has increased the skiable terrain by over 20 percent (Lippus, 2015). According to the Resorts senior communications manager, the new site, Peak 6, has reduced pressure and overcrowding from the resort's trails and lift lines (Field, 2009). Breckenridge Ski Resort is among the most popular resorts in the United States and this has brought several issues in the resort's trails and lift edges (Lippus, 2015). Peak 6 is the most significant guest service initiatives conducted by the resort and the principal aim of this project was to relieve pressure off the already existing skiing sites. Peak 6 has been a long-term project undertaken by Breckenridge Ski Resort since the process of its expansion started in 2007 (Lippus, 2015).

Several reasons have led to the delayed process of Peak 6 expansion. The resort believes in total community involvement, and the consultation between the residents and authorities led to the late development. Every stakeholder had to be consulted and their opinions evaluated before starting the project. The primary aim of involving residents and authorities was to ensure that the skiing site matches customer demands and it has no adverse effects on the neighboring communities. Since Peak 6 is situated on the Forest Service Land of the United States, it had to undergo an environmental impact assessment. Before the expansion activities began, a planning process involving the local community and the forest service had to be completed first. The final approval of Peak 6expansion was issued in 2013 and the skiing site was open for the 2013-2014 season after all parties had agreed.

The Peak 6 Terrain and its Effect on Tourism

Peak 6 terrain mix is unique and special since it provides an above tree-line skiing bowl for both intermediate and advanced skiers. This kind of terrain is usually found on more advanced trails and it makes it unique and attractive to both local and international skiers and guests. Since conditions can change abruptly above tree lines, locating an above-treeline skiing bowl for intermediaries is not easy. Peak 6 offers a great learning experience for intermediate skiers since the obstacle in the bowl is not marked. In all, Peak 6 provides 143 acres of hike-to landscape and over 400 acres of lift-served terrain. Over 60 acres are below-tree line trails for intermediate skiers, with an addition of an above 235-acre mix of both advanced and intermediate skiing trails (Bryker, 2016).

According to the resort's management, the guest's reaction to the Peak 6 Expansion has surpassed what they had predicted. Skiers and hotel guests have flocked the resort to experience the new expansion. Also, continued snowfall has made the site even more appealing, with over 16 feet of snow being recorded. The increased snowfall has made Breckenridge Ski Resort the snowiest resort in the entire country. The new terrain and skiing trails, as well as continued snow, has made the resort an unusual phenomenon (Meissner et al., 2015). The resort is registering increasing revenues since tourists and skiers from all corners of the world are flocking Peak 6 to get a fantastic experience.

Key Stakeholders in Peak 6 Expansion

After a proposal meant to expand Peak 6 in Breckenridge Ski Resort was released, heated comments and discussions were made. Several related stakeholders expressed their concerns about the impact that may arise from the expansion (Lai, 2019). The development did not begin until a consensus between all interested parties was reached. Some of the stakeholders involved in the Peak 6 expansion include the following.

Breckenridge Town Council

The town management and county commissioners held a joint meeting to discuss and review the findings of a task force that was made to answer questions to all concerned parties. Some of the officials who attended the meeting were ready to sign off the draft expansion proposal that was presented by the Breckenridge business community without much discussion. They believed that the plan was solid, at it would bring positive impacts to the environment as well as the community. Others thought that the proposal didn't meet the requirements and the MOU presented did not have an effective plan to achieve the set goals. They believed that the project needed further discussions with every stakeholder available to elaborate on all matters before being implemented.

The Community

Breckenridge residents complained that the proposal submitted by the resort was not conclusive and believed that the expansion would bring more problems to them than the positives. The majority of residents complained about the impacts of the development for parking, traffic congestion, housing, child care among other issues relate to life quality. The overall feeling was that the resort is close to the point of tipping concerning life quality.

Social Services

The primary objective of the group was to design a plan that would offer ways for all stakeholders to come together and work as one entity. They also aimed at developing strategies to help mitigate or avoid new impacts from increased guest capacity at the resort. The section of social services in the MOU led to most discussions. Officials complained that the proposal did not address the problem of traffic congestion and parking which would be created by the expansion (Lai, 2019).

Benefits and Management Measures

Mountain tourism has the potential of attracting guests and tourists all year round. The Peak 6 expansion in Breckenridge Ski Resort brought many benefits to the hotel as well as the community and skiers. The project provided more than 600 more acres of skiing terrain. More tourists and skiers can now access the resort at the same time. The expansion also provided a rare chance for beginner and intermediate skiers to access the unusual terrain. The Peak 6 expansion offers one of the steepest skiing landscape and every guest enjoys the experience. As a result of the expansion, the resort has become one of the most visited resorts in the United States over the last decade (Meissner et al., 2015). Popularity has made it one of the busiest mountain resorts in the United States. Breckenridge Ski Resort has enjoyed an increased number of guests making their revenues rise significantly.

Rocky Mountain Lynx

Nearly two decades ago, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife started what turned out to be a historic reintroduction of high profile and most ambitious wildlife. The program reintroduced the Rocky Mountain Lynx, a rare cat species which had gone missing in the Colorado Mountains. Since Colorado is isolated from the closet Lynx populations in northern Wyoming and Montana, the reintroduction of the Rocky Mountain Lynx was the only option of returning the species into the area. In 1999, lynxes captured in Alaska and Canada were released into deep forests of the San Juan Mountains in Colorado (Tang et al., 2019). After seven years, the cats started breeding and expanded their populations into Summit County and other regions of Colorado forests.

The Rocky Mountain Lynx is a vast, bob-tailed cat, relatively three-foot-long. The Rocky Mountain Lynx is often confused with the bobcat, although they have apparent differences. The Lynx is slightly bigger than the bobcat, with a shorter tail and more extended feet. Rocky Mountain Lynx has fewer spots and grayish fur, but bobcats have a red coat. The Rocky Mountain Lynx lived in Eurasia and North America until it was reintroduced into Colorado 20 years ago.

Habitat and Behavior

Rocky Mountain Lynx lives in the dense 'below-tree line areas' along with avalanche chutes and mountain streams. This is also the home to the cat's main prey, the snowshoe hare. This rare cat hunting strategy is stalking prey, lying in wait alongside prey trails and patience. It overtakes and dispatches it surprised prey in a single effective bound. The mountain lynx also captures ground-living birds such as grouse as well as carrions and other mammals living in the deep snow. These cats are active all year round regardless of the snow size and breeds in late winter (Baigas et al., 2017).

The Colorado wildlife management must ensure that these rare cats are not disturbed. Reduced human activities like encroachment, poaching, and increased tourism activities can prevent the Rocky Mountain Lynx from disappearing. Their habitats must be conserved to avoid snow melting and clearing forests. This rare cat species thrives well in steep mountains covered in snow since the conditions allow it to hunt and catch prey fast (Dehnhard, Naidenko, & Jewgenow, 2017). If more copious amounts of snow continue to melt, Colorado risks losing these rare animals to neighboring areas such as Alaska and Canada.

Conclusion

The success of tourism depends and will continue to rely on natural physical resources. Since the industry has several adverse effects on the environment, new forms of tourism, such as ecotourism, sustainable tourism and nature-based tourism, have emerged. Environmentalists are advocating for these tourism forms since they are environmentally friendly. The level of natural resource management also determines the future of tourism. The Peak 6 expansion in Breckenridge Ski Resort has proved to be beneficial to the United Sta...