BC Parks 2011/12 Statistics Report Table of Contents Executive Summary Page 1 Key Information Page 3 Key Variances Page 6 Satisfaction Survey Page 10 Day Use Trends by Region Page 14 Camping Trends by Region Page 15 Attendance by Region Page 16 Revenue by Region Page 18 Park Use Permits Page 20 Appendix 1 - Attendance for All Protected Areas by Park Page 21 Appendix 2 - Revenue for All Protected Areas by Park Page 36 BC Parks Statistics Report 2011/12 Summary Attendance: Overall park attendance declined by 1.7% in 2011/12. Most of this decline can be attributed to an exceptionally cold and rainy summer throughout many areas of the province. Group use was also down due to fewer student groups visiting them. Day use attendance declined by 1.9% overall, with decreases showing in the Northern, Kootenay Okanagan, Thompson Cariboo, and West Coast regions. While most of these regions experienced small declines of one to two percent in visitation, parks in the Northern region had close to 10% fewer visitors due to extreme weather conditions which led to flooding and road closures in many park areas. Camping attendance declined in the Northern, West Coast, and Thompson Cariboo but showed increases in the Kootenay Okanagan and South Coast regions. Many of the parks in the Northern region experienced significant declines in camping attendance (-14%) due to flooding and construction on Hwy 97 — the region’s primary highway. Significant declines were also observed in the West Coast due to late spring melt and fewer students attending group sites. Increases to camping visitation were mostly observed in the South Coast region (up 5.5%) as the warm, sunny weather attracted more visitors. Parks that demonstrated a significant change to visitation are noted on pages 6 to 8 of this report. Revenues: Parking fees were removed from provincial parks in March 2011, which contributed to a $826,000 (93%) decline in day use parking revenue. Revenue from camping fees declined by 1.3% in 2011/12. The largest percentage decline in camping fee revenue (- 16%) occurred in the Northern region due to flooding. Many parks in this region were forced to restrict public access to their campgrounds due to the extreme weather conditions. Other than the Northern region, all other regions had marginal fluctuations in camping fee revenue. Ski hill permit revenue increased by $130,000 due to an extended ski season in western BC. Ski hill permit revenue contributed to an eight percent overall increase in Park Use Permit revenues in 2011/12. Recoveries: Recoveries to BC Parks were $325,000 in 2011/12. The majority of this amount was generated by projects in Skagit Valley and Burgoyne Bay as well as recoveries associatated with film supervision. Total recoveries declined by $25,000 in 2011/12 due to fewer funds in the National Park Establishment Account. BC Parks Budget: Overall, BC Parks budget expenditures (operating and capital dollars) increased from $48.7 million to $53.0 million. The $4.3 million increase is largely explained by more spending (+ $0.5 million) on goods and services (i.e. utilities, materials, supplies, operating equipment, etc.) and a $2.6 million increase in compensation payments required to buy out timber and mineral rights in new parks and conservancies. Amortization also increased by $1.2 million due to a one time loss associated with the decommissioning of parking machines within day use areas. Operating Expenditures: Operating expenditures increased 2.5% with goods and services and amortization expenses contributing mostly to the increase. Deficiency payments increased by about $500,000 due to the loss of parking revenue retained by park facility operators. Page 1 Capital Expenditures: Capital expenditures increased (+ 15%) in 2011/12, due in large part to compensation used to buy out timber/mineral rights for land that was added to the provincial park system in recent years. Capital investment in park facilities also increased by about $400,000 in 2011/12. Increased investment in boat launches, picnic shelters, and other facilities was the primary contributor to this increase. Satisfaction: Overall visitor satisfaction ratings rose to 82%, exceeding the target of 80% (index scores rated excellent or above average) in 2011/12. On the whole, campground visitors remained highly satisfied with the cleanliness of the grounds, sense of security and control of noise in parks. The service that received the most improved rating was the cleanliness of restrooms (up 5% from 2010/11). % change from 2004/05 2011/12 2004 Attendance (millions of visits) 18.0 19.3 7% Recreation User Fee Revenues (millions)1 $ 11.1 $ 15.5 40% Visitor Satisfaction 80% 82% 2% 1 Day use parking fees implemented in 05/06. Park Use Permit fees are not included. Page 2 BC Parks 2011/12 Statistics Report Summary of Key Information Attendance % Visits (in person days) 2010/11 2011/12 Variance Change Day Use Visits 17,132,601 16,813,262 -$ 319,339 -1.9% Camping Visits 2,358,896 2,315,411 -$ 43,485 -1.8% Marine Visits 187,488 207,454 $ 19,966 10.6% Total Park Attendance 19,678,984 19,336,127 -342,858 -1.7% Source: Attendance numbers from Parks Attendance System Revenue and Recoveries % Revenue 20010/11 2011/12 Variance Change Camping Fees $15,163,554 $14,967,786 -$195,768 -1.3% Boating Fees $275,330 $272,114 -$3,216 -1.2% Day Use Parking Fees¹ $883,955 $57,633 -$826,322 -93.5% Annual Parking Pass $51,401 $1,226 -$50,175 -97.6% Day Use Group Revenues (Picnic Shelters) $7,379 $20,058 $12,679 171.8% Maquinna Hotsprings $27,986 $25,505 -$2,481 -8.9% Backcountry Permits $0 $5,832 $5,832 100.0% Misc Fees and Licences $60,316 $124,862 $64,546 107.0% Sub-total Recreation User Fees $16,469,923 $15,475,017 -$994,906 -6.0% Non-ski Park Use Permit fees (PUPS) $961,307 $934,347 -$26,960 -2.8% Ski hill revenues $437,814 $575,108 $137,294 31.4% Sub-total Park Use Permit Fees $1,399,121 $1,509,455 $110,334 7.9% Total Recreation User Fee & Permit Revenues $17,869,043 $16,984,472 -$884,572 -5.0% Source: Camping, boating and day use group revenues from Parks Attendance System; Maquinna revenues provided by Corporate Services Division; other revenues from Financial Data Warehouse. ¹Day Use Parking Fees and Annual Parking Pass revenue were down last fiscal because the BC Parks Parking Program was discontinued at the beginning of May, 2011. % Recoveries 2010/11 2011/12 Variance Change Tatshenshini River Rafting $47,859 $38,574 -$9,285 -19.4% Empire Valley Ranch² $6,835 $26,272 $19,437 284.4% National Park Establishment $76,994 $14,128 -$62,866 -81.7% Skagit Valley Projects & Interp $57,892 $48,646 -$9,246 -16.0% Burgoyne Bay $2,193 $41,485 $39,292 1791.7% Other (EAO projects, Film Supervision, etc) $165,639 $156,775 -$8,864 -5.4% Total Recoveries $357,412 $325,880 -$31,532 -8.8% Source: Financial Data Warehouse. ² An additional $10,000 from Empire Valley Ranch was held in a deferred revenue account and used to complete projects in 2011/12. Page 3 Park Enancement Fund % PEF (Park Enhancement Fund) 2010/11 2011/12 Variance Change Make Your Mark $9,000 $25,185 $16,185 179.8% VANOC - Cypress and Hollyburn³ $75,000 $200,000 $125,000 166.7% Parks 100 and Strathcona Expedition $45,983 $139,713 $93,730 203.8% Other donations $47,026 $75,156 $28,130 59.8% Sub-total partnerships (donations) $177,009 $440,054 $263,045 148.6% Tree removal (stumpage) $10,736 $2,012 -$8,724 -81.3% Merchandising $1,161 $1,643 $482 Reservation service $1,532,044 $1,514,369 -$17,675 -1.2% Interest $11,613 $21,034 $9,421 81.1% Income $1,732,564 $1,979,112 $246,548 14.2% Partnership/sponsorship expenditures $234,065 $498,065 $264,000 112.8% Tree removal expenditures $17,397 $650 -$16,747 -96.3% Reservation service expenditures $939,412 $828,735 -$110,677 -11.8% Other operating expenditures $0 $21,483 $21,483 100.0% Capital expenditures $81,797 $35,043 -$46,754 -57.2% Expenses $1,272,671 $1,383,976 $111,305 8.7% Balance at Year-End⁴ $584,677 $1,044,570 $459,892 78.7% Source: Financial Data Warehouse. In 2010 BC Parks took direct control over the Discover Camping Reservation Service (delivered through a third-party contractor) and began recording this money in the PEF. ⁴ ³ $200,000 allcated to VANOC was mostly for invasive plant removal There are many commitments against this unspent balance - both stumpage revenue and most donations are tied to specific park projects. Reservation service revenues are also required for system improvements and to enhance services to the public. % 2010/11 2011/12 Variance Change Total Income (revenue, recoveries, PEF) $19,959,019 $19,289,464 -$669,555 -3.4% Expenses % Operating Expenditures 20010/11 2011/12 Variance Change Salary, Benefits & Travel $16,010,883 $15,441,036 -$569,847 -3.6% Goods & Services¹ $4,306,526 $4,813,863 $507,337 11.8% Amortization $7,279,155 $8,565,777 $1,286,622 17.7% Sub-total BC Parks Operating Expenses $27,596,564 $28,820,676 $1,224,112 4.4% Contract Services - Retained Fees $14,963,728 $14,988,652 $24,924 0.2% Contract Services - Net Deficiency Payments $3,223,282 $3,721,876 $498,594 15.5% Contract Services - Non-bundled Parks $918,597 $952,681 $34,084 3.7% Parking Fee Commission $607,656 $40,343 -$567,313 -93.4% Annual Pass Commission2 $17,259 $412 -$16,847 -97.6% Sub-total Operating Contract and Commission Costs $19,730,522 $19,703,964 -$26,558 -0.1% Total BC Parks Operating Budget $31,738,443 $33,495,233 $1,756,790 5.5% Total Operating Costs (including contract costs and retained fees) $47,327,086 $48,524,640 $1,197,554 2.5% Source: Retained fees are calculated from camping, boating and group day use revenues reported in the Parks Attendance System minus returns to Crown.