Prince George, B.C. – Impressive tourism growth in B.C. is being felt in Prince George.

Brand new data from the provincial government shows international tourism is up 15.3% the first two months of 2016 with over 70,000 more visitors to the province over the same period last year.

They are coming to B.C. from a wide range of locations including:

– France up 61.2%

– South Korea up 27%

– Mexico up 26.8%

– U.S. up 20.1%

– United Kingdom up 5.6%

The Province says the increase is being helped along by a number of factors including the low Canadian dollar, Destination BC’s new international marketing strategy and more direct flights to B.C.

“We don’t get as many of the Koreans and French here but we do get the Americans and the Europeans,” says Tourism Prince George CEO Erica Hummel. “We’re seeing a lot of Germans and people that like the wilderness experience.”

It has her looking forward with anticipation to the upcoming summer season.

“It definitely means we’re going to see more visitors. Definitely if the dollar stays where it’s at which we anticipate it will. It’s all good news really,” says Hummel. “Canada is doing a much better job in promoting itself.”

According to the provincial government the tourism industry is a big economic driver for the province employing 127,500 people and generating over $14.6 billion in 2014.