Tourism in British Columbia jumped 12.7 per cent in 2016, with more than five million tourists from other countries visiting the province. And while Kimberley is more than keeping pace with the percentage increase, it is for different reasons.
In a recent story, Katya Slepian of Black Press quoted Destination British Columbia CEO Marsha Walden as attributing the rise in numbers to more direct daily flights to B.C., especially for the uptick in visitors from Mexico and Australia.
However, Kimberley is primarily a ‘rubber tire traffic’ destination, according the Jesse Ferguson of Tourism Kimberley.
"Kimberley isn't overly affected by the rise in international tourists — with exception of the "drive to" USA destinations,” he said.
But Kimberley remans on par with the increase due to different reasons.
“One is the weak Canadian dollar,” Ferguson said. “More people from the USA are travelling to Canada to get more bang for their buck. The weak Canadian dollar also keeps Canadians from vacationing south of the border. For example, many Albertans that generally go on golfing / skiing trips to the USA have remained in Canada."
Also a factor is what Ferguson calls a “perceived instability” in the Alberta economy.
“Although we are finding that the Albertans are still traveling, they seem to be a little more price sensitive about their destinations. For example, tourists that may generally vacation in Banff, Jasper, Whistler are looking for less expensive alternatives that provide a similar experience. Kimberley fits perfectly into that category.”