If you don’ t ask, you’ ll never know. In that mindset, Community Futures Lac La Biche has been asking residents and visitors what they like about the Lac La Biche region-and what could be better.
If you don’ t ask, you’ ll never know. In that mindset, Community Futures Lac La Biche has been asking residents and visitors what they like about the Lac La Biche region-and what could be better.
The organization ran a pair of online surveys until early August, to gauge tourism potential in the local area. One was aimed at people who live in Lac La Biche County and the surrounding communities, while the other was intended for visitors.
Community Futures’ economic development coordinator Jaclyn Denman says she’ s pleased with the response the two questionnaires got.
“For residents, we had 125 people,” she said. “Sixty-six per cent of them have been living here nine years or longer.”
The visitor responses were much less numerous-there were only 31 of them-but they shed light on what people look for when they come here.
“We asked, ‘What are your main interests when you visit the area?’ ” Denman said. An overwhelming majority of the answers referenced outdoor activities and most people said they had heard about the Lac La Biche area through friends and family members.
When residents were asked if they would tell others to come here, there were only four negative answers, although seven people said they don’ t know enough about local attractions and services to make accurate recommendations.
The surveys were designed to give the organizers a better understanding of what draws people to the area, both for visiting and for living.
“It was just to see what people are interested in, because if you don’ t ever ask, you won’ t know,” said Denman. “That helps us determine how we should be marketing (the region). It lets us know what things are working really well. There is some really positive stuff here.”
The surveys ran until August 4. Denman says the information collected will be compiled into a report later this month, which will be shared with tourism partners like Alberta Parks, Lac La Biche County and the Lac La Biche and District Chamber of Commerce.
