Tourism Drop A Ripple Effect: One Man's Opinion

Tuesday, June 20, 2006 03:50 AM

It doesn’t require a great deal of sense to determine that if there are 1500 fewer people arriving in Prince Rupert every single month that tourist traffic will drop in Prince George as well. Afterall, at last glance, if you are driving, the only way to make your way back to the lower mainland from Prince Rupert is by coming through Prince George.

Where have we been in the tourist business?

Well, we have been chasing moon beams over in Europe trying to land a few athletes to train during the 2010 in this city.

Don’t you think that as the largest city on the drive from the Coast to the Junction of highways 97 and 16, it would make a lot more sense to lead the charge to to replace the Queen of the North? We should meet with the Premier and other people from BC Ferries and government to light a fire under them, so that we can return to the former flow of tourist traffic that we enjoyed.

But oh look, we can’t line up a meeting like that when we're handing out pamphlets in the hope of having some people come to this country a few years down the road. Besides, it’s a lot more fun to take a trip to Europe than little old Prince Rupert where it might rain.

So we sit at home and discover that tourist traffic is down in this city.

Golly what a surprise.

First we tell those yanks to keep off the big box retailers parking lots and then we sit back and hope that Prince Rupert can get a ferry back in operation that will hold a decent load.

I do hope that we haven’t commissioned another study as to why the tourist traffic is down, or is that coming?

I’m Meisner and that is one man’s opinion.

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Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 03:50 AM in Views by Ben Meisner

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Comments

Posted by: Marty on June 20 2006 7:14 AM

If the city will pay me $140,000 I wil do a study and write a report on why traffic flows are down from Rupert to PG !

Posted by: trusted on June 20 2006 8:12 AM

I trust you are too late, Marty!!! Ben just did that!!!!!
Oh, just wait until the end of the season. We will get a glowing report from Initiative Prince George, and the Chamber, as to the massive increase in tourists we experienced during the summer, and the throngs who were on First Ave. packing the building daily.
I do not know what everyone reporting that will be smoking-but hallucinations will be the order!!!!
Don't forget to include pictures of tourists R V's in parking lots. Up to 3 at a night. Just eats at the heart--doesn't it?????
Boring when one knows what to expect????

Posted by: Chadermando on June 20 2006 9:17 AM

IMO more marketing efforts need to be directed to the short haul markets in Northern BC where 75% of our own tourism traffice comes from. We always go after the out of region tourist traffic and neglect our largest market which is the homegrown market.

Of note in regards to tourism I find it interesting that in PG we have gone from the highest occupency rates in the province for hotels to the largest drop of 9%, bringing us below the Provincial average for the first time in years and dropping the room revenue 23%.
http://www.tourismbc.com/PDF/tabletemplateJune_FINAL.pdf

Another interesting stat is that we are up 10% on the year for air traffic through PG airport, and up 10% across the North for the year on vistor information traffic, but down 20% for visitor information traffic since the Queen of the North sank.

Posted by: kimbo on June 20 2006 9:51 AM

Marty I don't want $140,000.00 for a survey I will do it for free.
I think that if we refloat the Queen of The North we would be back in business.

Our Mayor and the Premier produce enough hot air to refloat the Queen E. And if that isn't enough we could add that of the local politicians.

Posted by: owl on June 20 2006 11:25 AM

There is another part of the equation which needs to be looked at, especially if one wants to go after the homegrown short haul market.

The data shows that the number of travellers to Canada, not just local, is down. It also shows that the Canadians visiting other countries are up.

Sounds reasonable when one considers that the C$ has been rising in value even in relation to European currencies.

In addtion, the Canadian economy is doing quite well, so there is money to be spent, and Canucks like spendng it anywhere but home, especially in the winter.

Selling staying at home is going to be a very tough sell other than to the bottom end market which means wallmart parking and McDonald's with $5 thrown in for a Mr. PG souvenier.

So, visitors from China are increasing at double figure rates, but their market share is less than 10% of the asian/pacific market. It will take a few more years at those kind of growth rates for them to surpass Japan which has 1/3 of the market share.

http://www.tourismbc.com/PDF/March%202006%20%20Backgrounder.pdf

http://travelcanada.sympatico.msn.ca/Home/ContentPosting.aspx?newsitemid=9309012&feedname=CP-TRAVEL&show=True&number=5&showbyline=False&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc

Notice that there are still more Canucks travelling to Yankee land than the reverse. SInce the figures from one source are for APril and the other for March, they are not really comparable, but it looks like the ratio is about 2:1. When you take the population of the two countries into consideration then the numbers of Canadians travelling across the US/Canada border is close to 20 to 1.

And we are worried about a few billion dollars being lost due to the softwood lumber dispute. LOL

Posted by: Chadermando on June 20 2006 12:17 PM

I disagree, I think people live in the North because they love the North. Mostly its the outdoor recreation oportunities they live here for. Is it not to far fatched that if we can sell our local attractions these people will stay in the North and retain some of the local dollars in the North.

I'm thinking of salmon fishing in Prince Rupert, the Kutzamatin Grizzly sanctuary, eco-tourism in the North West, glacier snowmobiling near Stewert, The most amazing river expeditions in the world near the Alask/Yukon boarder, and the worlds largest and most spectacular mountain wilderness area's in the North Rockies near Fort Nelson, as well as world renown places like McBride for their eco-tourism adventures.

Northern BC has plenty to market to our own population, and I'm sure you would find most in the North would prefer these kinds of vacations if they were aware of their availability at such cost saving close proximity to home.

In addition to that I'm sure we could use an enhanced media in the north through tourism promotion subsidization to ensure we have a healthy media advocating for the needs of communities small and large throughout the North.

Posted by: Chadermando on June 20 2006 12:44 PM

Anyone interested in the passport debate can listen in to the bi-national conference call discussing this at 1PM.

Business, Economic Security, Trade and Tourism (BESTT)
Coalition of the US and Canada
Conference Call Meeting - 1-877-558-5226 (Access Code: 9254475#)
Tuesday 06 June 2006 / 1:00pm Pacific Time / 4:00pm Eastern Time
www.BESTTCoalition.com

Kenneth Oplinger, ACE, President/CEO
Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce
1201 Cornwall Avenue, #100
Bellingham, WA 98225
p. 360/734-1330
f. 360/734-1332
c. 360/393-9171
e. ken@bellingham.com

Posted by: Chadermando on June 20 2006 12:46 PM

I. Welcome (Oplinger)
II. Activity Updates
a. Legislative Update (Katz/Oplinger)
1. Slaughter/McHugh Bill
2. Potential Bill from Reynolds
3. Senate Immigration
4. Others
b. Presentation to Canadian Provinces/Territories Meeting (Oplinger)
c. Canadian Senate Hearing (Oplinger)
d. House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing
e. Update on fallout from Terrorist Arrests in Canada (Oplinger)
f. Meet me at the Border / June 21 & 22 (Oplinger)
g. Other activities from Coalition Members
III. Financial Update/Finance Committee Report (Bryan)
IV. Other Items for the group
V. Next Call � 11 July 2006 � 1pmPT/4pmET
VI. Adjourn 2:00pm PT

Posted by: Chester on June 20 2006 8:04 PM

Thank you Chadermando for highlighting some of the spectacular outdoor wonders we take for granted.

Anyone seen the waterfalls near Tumbler Ridge? How about hiking up Mt. Robson with your family? Canoeing down the Crooked River near Summit Lake? Helicopter Skiing near Valemount? Fly In fishing trips in any direction. White water rafting in at least 3 different directions of our city. The Salmon runs near Kitimat? A city where bear, moose and deer are a regular site.

If we could only dwell more on the positives, the opportunities, the diversity of our wonderful province and less on the few things we continue to complain about. See how fast a community can change when we change our attitudes.

Who would like to make this a better place to live? How about changing our attitudes a little and see the results. Chester

Posted by: Scot Cochrane on June 23 2006 5:31 PM

So am I to assume from his comments, that Mr. Meisner is in favour of sacrificing RV park owners for a few tourist dollars?

Oh I know I know... we can't upset those RV'ers that don't want to spend their money, else they might not spend any money... huh?

Posted by: Chester on June 25 2006 11:25 PM

Business is business. The few RV Park Owners in this area should be jammed to the brink with happy travellers who can't wait to book a spot in their campground. If RV'ers are not attracted to their sites, why not? Who's fault is it that they can't attract enough business?

RV Parks are not for everyone. They are not for those who are cheap. They are not for those who are content to park on an access road in the wilderness. They are not for those who happen to pull over for a few hours sleep and then on their way again.

Why all of the attention on the RV Park Owners? Let them get out and drum up their own business.

I don't see anyone at city hall concerned about my business?

If RV Park Owners can't make a go of it, they have some hard decisions to make.

How would you feel if you came through the city gates and you were told where to shop, where to eat, where to stay, where you were expected to go and what you were expected to do?

I am thankful to have anyone stop in our fair city and spend some money on anything. They do have a choice. They could just keep on driving and everyone loses out.

It's not just about the RV Park Owners. Chester