Wildfire Impact on British Columbia's Tourism Varies by Region

Photo: CNN

British Columbia's record wildfire season has affected travel bookings in some areas, but other regions have seen continued tourism demand despite their proximity to active blazes.

Jason Upton, manager of the Lac Le Jeune Nature Resort south of Kamloops, says the resort is open but remains on evacuation alert, and maintaining bookings is difficult since the Ross Moore Lake fire is burning just a few kilometres away.

Upton says the resort had been close to selling out for the entire upcoming long weekend, but the threat of the nearby fire has led to cancellations by all but three guests.

Brian Cant, acting president at 4VI, a travel and tourism agency on Vancouver Island, says the closure in June of Highway 4 to Tofino caused a “small dip” in overall trips to the island that month.

With no fires of note currently burning on Vancouver Island, Cant says in a statement that operators have indicated the August long weekend will remain “the busiest time of the year” for tourism in the region.

It's also expected to be the busiest long weekend of the year for BC Ferries, which has been plagued by cancellations, long delays and incorrect website information, but CEO Nicolas Jimenez said at a news conference this week that every vessel will be operating at full capacity.

Source: CTV News