June marks the start of a busy season on the Saanich Peninsula. Now that itB次元官网网址檚 near the monthB次元官网网址檚 end, hereB次元官网网址檚 a look at how the tourism industry is doing in the area.
Starting with Sidney, the visitor numbers from the local Business Improvement Area Society (SBIA) are looking good. According to Morgan Shaw, visitor experience manager for the SBIAB次元官网网址檚 tourist services, the Sidney Visitor Services have served 5,661 visitors through a variety of programming since June 1.
- Sidney Visitor Centre: Located at 2281 Beacon Ave. and open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the official Destination British Columbia visitor centre for the region has welcome 1,590 visitors since the start of June.
- Ask a Local: The new mobile kiosk located at the waterfront, which operates daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., has assisted 2,369 visitors since its launch.
- Sidney Visitor Services Delegate program: With visitor services promoting Sidney (serving events in the region including the Town and Greater Victoria) there has been a total of 1,352 international delegates in April and June.
- Washington State Ferry Visitor Centre: Open daily meeting each ferry arrival, the ferry visitor centre has had a total of 350 visitors this month.
This is the first year the SBIA has taken over operations for Sidney Visitor Services; but in June 2016, 2,237 visitors were served through programming based in Sidney.
B次元官网网址淭his year we are not surprised to see an increase in numbers given our new Ask a Local program, which is serving over 100-plus visitors daily,B次元官网网址� Shaw says, in an email. B次元官网网址淚 attribute the growth in traffic to the Centre and associated programming to the strategic marketing campaigns of the Sidney BIA.B次元官网网址�
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The Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, which held the contract for visitor information services for the Town for years, says according to volunteers at the Patricia Bay Information Centre all tourist activity seems regular compared to previous years, especially now that school is out.
It's been a busy afternoon at the Info Centre - we've started to welcome travellers arriving for celebrations 馃帀 馃嚚馃嚘
B次元官网网址� Peninsula Chamber (@penchamber)
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HereB次元官网网址檚 a look elsewhere on the Peninsula to one of the most popular tourist destinations, Butchart Gardens.
B次元官网网址淭hings are basically on track. ItB次元官网网址檚 been pretty consistent with the way things have been in previous years,B次元官网网址� says Dave Cowen, CEO. B次元官网网址淣ow that the schools are out weB次元官网网址檝e definitely been seeing it the last couple days.B次元官网网址�
Butchart Gardens is open year B次元官网网址榬ound. Cowen says this year got off to a bit of a slow start due to the poor winter weather, but things have been picking up since Easter weekend. Last year was their strongest year since 2008, and Cowen says 2017 is expected to be similar.
We're pleased to be included in USA Today's Attractions in Canada! Thanks to all who voted .
B次元官网网址� The Butchart Gardens (@butchartgardens)
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 good indicators from BC Ferries B次元官网网址� they have good car deck numbers, itB次元官网网址檚 a good year for cruise ships and weB次元官网网址檝e noticed since Christmas a lot of cars from all of the Northwest states B次元官网网址� the Airport is always a big input into the region and theyB次元官网网址檝e been busy as well. We also really recognize the importance of the Anacortes ferry,B次元官网网址� he says.
With over all visitor numbers on the Peninsula climbing now that schools are out, this is only the start of the tourist season and also just days ahead of Canada 150 festivities, which all services say it expects to see visitor numbers rise after the sesquicentennial.
