A highly principled sector, the helicat industry is focused on stewardship, partnership with First Nations, climate adaptation and increasing the financial well-being of the province of British Columbia.

Overview

The helicopter and snowcat skiing (helicat) industry is a cornerstone of B.C.’s adventure-tourism economy and one of its most iconic sectors, offering a mountain experience that is rare in the world. Visitors are drawn by B.C.’s consistent, climate-resilient powder snow, alongside its unmatched abundance of ideal mountain terrain. But they’re equally drawn to the range and quality of services the helicat industry provides, including lodging, dining and wellness activities.

In addition to delivering a specialized tourism product, the helicat sector provides significant and continually growing economic benefits to B.C.’s provincial economy. In 2022-23, the majority of the revenue the sector generated was new to the B.C. economy. Helicat activities added $584 million to provincial output, generated over $287 million in provincial GDP, supported over 4,869 total jobs—including 3,060 full- time-equivalent (FTE) jobs—supplied $176 million in family income and produced $30 million in tax revenues. This continued economic input, year over year, is vital to local communities as well as the province’s tourism sector.

This income is especially valuable to rural areas and communities where resource extraction is often the only employment alternative. While helicat industry performance varies slightly with annual snow conditions, helicat skiing is a key generator of revenue in these regions. Despite being a relatively small industry on a provincial scale, helicat operators rank among the leading employers and economic engines in these remote centres. The workforce is skilled, the positions are well-paid and the industry is generally unaffected by the boom-and-bust cycles of resource-extraction industries.

2019 Report Summary

improving the economy

HeliCat operators provide economic stability to remote and rural regions throughout BC, creating off-season job opportunities, local expenditures, and an influx of important export revenues in winter. The extended provincial economic impact and its benefit to local communities across BC is greatest when HeliCat guests bring foreign capital or export revenue, and when the HeliCat industry’s suppliers and employees purchase goods and services locally within the province.

Overview

In an effort to better understand the role and value of the helicopter and snowcat skiing industry in BC, HeliCat Canada Association commissioned an updated economic impact assessment of the sector in 2018. The report was released in April 2019, capturing data from 2016-2018 and comparing it to the 2016 study (2013-2015 operating years).

Research methodology included detailed analysis of financial surveys of the sector, including a summary of the industry financial information through Canadian Statistics Input/Output models to determine the economic impact of the sector on the province of BC.