The Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia (GOABC) was established in 1966 and currently represents more than 80% of the guide outfitters in BC, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. Currently, there are 233 licensed guide outfitters in the province who directly employ over 2,000 people. Guide outfitting operations are typically family-run businesses, and many have been passed down from one generation to the next. According to a 2008 GOABC survey 76% of the membership derives their primary source of income from guide outfitting. The guide outfitting industry is an important contributor to the health and well-being of the economies in rural communities.