There’s been an increase in travellers along Hwy16 stopping in at the Houston and District Chamber of Commerce’s offices right beside the large fly-fishing rod in Steelhead Park for information, says chamber manager Maureen Czirfusz.
“Speaking with our colleagues across the province, they have also seen increased travellers,” she said now that late spring has taken hold in advance of the summer tourist season.
“We have had several parties already from other provinces, the USA and Europe. As with every year, some people can afford to travel, and others stay closer to home,” she said.
And although there’s been increased talk around the province of more people considering vacations closer to their homes owing to economic circumstances, Czirfusz and others haven’t experienced that.
“There has been no feeling of more staycations from our colleagues across the province. Our community has a mix; most people are still planning their regular vacations,” she said.
With the pandemic now mostly under control, an increase from last year’s 5,866 visitors making up 3,669 parties is expected.
The 2022 figures themselves represented a marked increase over the 1359 parties containing 2087 visitors recorded for the May to August 2021 period.
Most travellers are in the search for specific information related to their journeys, said Czirfusz.
“They are looking for directions and services, booking hotel rooms and places to eat and booking the Ferry to Haida Gwaii or Port Hardy,” she said.
The chamber’s visitor-focused information service intensifies the end of June when two visitor centre counsellors begin work.