2026 4VI Stewardship Summit
How can tourism contribute to the long-term well-being of the places and communities that make travel meaningful? This was a central question at the 2026 4VI Stewardship Summit, held October 22–23 in Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ territory (Ucluelet, BC).
Hosted by 4VI in partnership with Tourism Ucluelet, the summit brought together First Nations leaders, tourism operators and regional partners to explore destination stewardship, regenerative tourism, collaboration and stronger local economies.
Across two days of conversations, one message stood out: responsible tourism is about more than welcoming visitors. It's about ensuring the places they come to experience, and the communities that welcome them, continue to thrive.
Several presentations and panels offered practical ways to put that responsibility into action. The CARE Framework, which stands for Conservation, Agency, Reciprocity and Economy, introduced a shared approach to embedding stewardship into everyday business decisions, from supporting local suppliers to giving communities a stronger voice in tourism planning. A water's edge chat with Chief Dr. Robert Joseph and Candace Newman reinforced that meaningful stewardship begins with relationships, listening and recognizing Indigenous Nations as leaders and decision-makers in their territories. Their reflections on land acknowledgements also challenged tourism operators to move beyond words and consider what it means to be a good guest.
Other sessions highlighted the important connections between tourism, food systems and community well-being. The Tofino Ucluelet Culinary Guild shared how stronger relationships between restaurants, farmers and producers can help keep more food dollars circulating locally, while keynote speaker Mark Brand challenged the industry to rethink social impact - placing people, dignity and meaningful opportunity at the centre of how businesses operate. Together, these conversations reinforced that a thriving destination depends on more than visitor numbers; it relies on healthy communities, resilient local businesses and strong relationships.
For our Tourism Tofino team, a reoccuring theme was the idea that every place we visit is someone's home - from the communities we enter to the beaches, forests and tidepools we explore. If we benefit from a place, we also have a responsibility to care for it. In Tofino, the ʔiisaak Pledge invites visitors to experience this place with respect, gratitude and responsibility. The summit was a valuable reminder that stewardship is an ongoing practice, reflected in the choices we make, the partnerships we build and the way we invite visitors to experience the places we call home.
A few ways tourism businesses can put stewardship into practice:
Understand where your purchasing dollars go and look for opportunities to support local suppliers.
Build relationships by showing up, listening and learning from the communities where you operate.
Work with local conservation and restoration organizations.
Help visitors understand how to be respectful guests and care for the places they explore.
Start with one meaningful change and build from there.
Thank you to 4VI and Tourism Ucluelet for bringing our regional tourism community together for these important conversations. We look forward to next year's summit in Port Alberni!