You are here

Parks Beyond Borders #2: Looking Abroad At Other National Park News

Share
Glacier Discovery Walk image

 The Glacier Discovery Walk, now approved by the Candian government, promises spectacular—and controversial—vistas. Image courtesy Brewster Travel Canada.

Editor's note: The Traveler is expanding the coverage we devote to national parks in other nations. Throughout the year we'll be rolling out a major series of stories on international park destinations with plenty of travel insight, but we're also launching recurring smaller stories such as this one that bring you park news from other nations. Stay tuned for more on global parks.

Canada to Go Ahead with Jasper Glacier Discovery Walk

After months of controversy, online petitions, and editorial comment across the country, the Canadian government has OKed construction of a glass-floored glacier walkway that projects out 100 feet over the Sunwapta Valley at the Tangle Ridge Viewpoint in Jasper National Park. The project, proposed  by the U.S. company Brewster Travel Canada, is similar to the Grand Canyon Skywalk that leads visitors out over the abyss of the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

The decision was announced late last week by Environment Minister Peter Kent. In a release, Brewster said Parks Canada affirmed that the project, “met all required environment assessment guidelines and is ... acceptable within Parks Canada's policy framework governing the management and protection of our national parks.”

Controversy had swirled around the project but Kent said the proposal had passed regulatory muster and was an appropriate means to permit visitors “the opportunity to enjoy and understand the national parks.” Brewster Travel Canada projected a $15 to $29 fee to use the walkway.

Brewster pointed out that the project, developed by Sturgess Architecture in Calgary, “recently won a prestigious international architectural award at the World Festival of Architecture for its stunning design that evokes the surrounding landscape.”

Opponents pledged to press ahead with opposition, calling the project “privatization of Canada’s national parks,” but Canadian newspapers took aim at opponents’ complaints.

An editorial by Jesse Kline in the National Post of Toronto said, “Mr. Kent certainly made the right decision by not caving into opposition demands to stop the development, simply because it was being done by a private company."

Dave Breakenridge of the Calgary Sun lamponed the naysayers, with, “Our pristine national park is under attack from outside interests, and when they’re through it will be a Disney-fied amusement park that bears no resemblance to what sits there right now. Or so the ridiculous argument goes.”

Breakenridge continued, “Plain and simple, without private sector involvement in Alberta’s national parks, not as many people would take the time to enjoy them.”

The Ottawa Citizen noted that anti-Glacier Walk petitioners claim, “the plan ‘would give an American company the right to charge each of us for entry into parts of Jasper park.’ Each of us already needs to buy a pass to enter Jasper National Park, and other parks and museums across Canada.”

The paper continued, “The idea that someone might make money off a project should not be reason enough to reject it. As with any such project, government authorities should make sure to build in sufficient accountability to the public and protection for the environment. But good ideas do come from the private sector sometimes. Canadians should be willing to listen.”

An editorial by T.V. Gadsby in the Edmonton Journal underlined opponents’ intent to continue the protest. Gadsby countered with, “ it's criminal that the federal government has approved the money-grabbing venture that Brewster has planned for Jasper National Park, supposedly to attract visitors to the park. Jasper Park is already world famous. This venture will only serve to benefit Brewster.”

National Park in Manila Ready for Valentine’s Day

Manila’s premier Rizal Park, overseen by the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), is ready this evening at 7 p.m. with a free Valentine’s Day concert. The park’s Central Lagoon will be a romantic backdrop for a “Love Concert” that features a Musical Dancing Fountain. Juliet Villegas, NPDC executive director, says the National Parks Development Committee “will continue to host such public celebrations as part of their efforts to revive and beautify the country’s national park.” Last year the event attracted 50,000 people.

New Zealand Callers Split on Park Fees

When a local newspaper in Dunedin, New Zealand canvassed readers, the Otago Daily Times 'teletopics' line found callers evenly split on whether or not to charge international tourists for entrance to national parks. The area straddles the borders of Milford Sound, Mount Aspiring National Park, and Fjordland National Park on the country’s south island.

The informal plebiscite came after whether to charge park visitors from other countries surfaced for national debate. New Zealand Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key said increasing visitation by overseas tourists could have "negative outcomes for New Zealanders."

The minister noted that parks are heavily subsidized and "increasing demand from non-residents in such cases may not translate into value for New Zealand."

Callers pointed out that entrance fees to national parks were the norm in Australia and the United States, and the charges could “could help alleviate the burden on taxpayers and ratepayers.”

Supporters of park entrance fees for foreigners urged that they be minimal to avoid deterring tourists from visiting New Zealand. Simon Wallace, policy and research manager of the Tourism Industry Association, said efforts to charge international visitors to enter national parks would not be supported by the travel industry.

Local Mayor Frana Cardno said, "national parks are there for everyone" including visitors from outside New Zealand. She noted that hiking fees were already in place. "We are already charging people to walk the Milford Track."

Angola to Create Agency to Manage Parks

Angola’s Environment minister, Maria de Fátima Jardim says the government and park supporters intend to create a national agency to manage the country’s parks.

The minister said, “This will be implemented under the policies and government programmes aiming at improving control and management actions in the conservation areas, mainly in the national parks, where ecotourism needs to be promoted.”

The initiative started when 45 former military personnel in northern Cabinda province offered to to be trained to care for the national park portion of Maiombe forest.

Comments

After seeing discovery walk - and Grand Canyon Skywalk, its hard to see how people get upset about plastic bottles.


If your not upset over something especially about what those long gone relatives that "took the arrows" :) to lay the groundwork so all the sisification of todays culture could even have the affluence to whine about just about anything, you just aren't cool.  Such an ungrateful lot, this bunch.  The alarming cycle that we're handing over to our kids doesn't look pretty if the majority doesn't wise up.  Just saying...


EC--

Remember the skywalk is not in the park. It was built on the reservation.

Rick


It was with interest that I read about the possibility of charging overseas visitors a fee to visit the New Zealand National Parks. I have been privileged to visit New Zealand many times and to live in the country twice on academic sabbaticals. In the process, I've done the nine great walks. Except for the canoe trip, we've always gone the independent way. Many (most??) Americans go on guided trips.
NZ DOC (Department of Conservation) charges for the huts but not for actually walking the trail. Frankly I don't think that any international visitor would be deterred for a fee. New Zealand is a destination. For most people it's a trip of a lifetime. They will bungyjump and do all sorts of adventure trips with private companies - all more expensive than tramping (NZ for hiking).
Danny
www.hikertohiker.com


Rick,
Reminds me of the farmer who was out working his land when a surveyor came through.  The farmer asked the surveyor what he was doing and he said they were redrawing the national border line.  And as it turns out, the farmer's land was in US and not Canada.  His response was "Great, I don't think I could have taken another one of those Canadian Winters."
The Skywalk is an abomination whether in the park or not.


Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.