As general manager of the Crystal Cove Beach Resort in Tofino and chair of the Tourism Industry Association of BC, J.J. Belanger sees both the big and the small picture these days when it comes to the effects of wildfires on tourism.
Since the start of the human-caused Cameron Bluffs fire near Port Alberni on Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 west coast on June 3, Belanger has seen bookings drop by 60 per cent because the fire has forced officials to close the only major highway connecting Tofino with places east of Port Alberni.
Belanger has also gained first-hand experience with the forest service road that serves as a detour for commercial vehicles as well as those heading from and to Port Alberni for essential travel.
B次元官网网址淚 came in on the back way yesterday from Victoria and it actually wasnB次元官网网址檛 bad,B次元官网网址� he said in an interview with Black Press Media on Monday (June 12). B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 passable.B次元官网网址�
I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 take your Porsche 911 on it, but the road is not that bad. ItB次元官网网址檚 like going down a dirt road pretty much. There are a few pinch points, obviously, with single-lane bridges and sometimes, when you come up against a log truck, which I did yesterday, you got to pull off on the side, but there is at least room to do that.B次元官网网址�
This type of optimism also runs through BelangerB次元官网网址檚 broader assessment of the tourism season ahead. Rain over the weekend has dampened the fire risk across the southern part of the province, he said.
B次元官网网址淭he main fires of concern are up in northern B.C. and in the Peace River regionB次元官网网址ost of those areas donB次元官网网址檛 really see an increase in tourism until the summer months when people are travelling up toward the Alaska Highway.B次元官网网址�
Belanger added that most tourists ultimately adjust their plans as it has been the case many of his guests and he is confident that this yearB次元官网网址檚 tourism season will be strong.
B次元官网网址淚 think people are still going away, it is just that they are changing their plans,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淣ow, if it was to become a fire season like 2017, 2018, where everything gets depicted on the news as the province being on fire, thatB次元官网网址檚 going to have a massive effect on tourism in the summer.B次元官网网址�
Ultimately though, Belanger is realistic about the current situation.
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B次元官网网址淲e live in a province that is suffering greatly because of climate change, from water shortages on the Sunshine Coast and wildfires starting way earlier than normal,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭his is something we are going to have to adapt to.B次元官网网址�
That includes developing alternatives to existing transportation routes. As a representative example, he once again pointed to the situation in his backyard. People travelling from and to Port Alberni and places west need an alternative, Belanger said.
B次元官网网址淥ne road in and one road out does not bode well, when a town runs out of gas and is running out of food,B次元官网网址� Belanger said.
Belanger also called on government to help shore up communities and areas that are dealing with water shortages.
B次元官网网址淧roviding the necessities of life to communities is a key point where we need to focus,B次元官网网址� he said.
Belanger praised provincial fire-fighting efforts, but also expressed support for a province-wide campfire ban from May through October to help those efforts. He also wondered about the long-term outlook in terms of available resources to fight fires.
B次元官网网址淭he challenge is do we have the resources available as this climate change crisis increases year over year?B次元官网网址� he asked.
This and countless other questions loom in the background as the provincial tourism industry specifically and the rest of the province prepare for a future increasingly shaped by climate change.
For now, Belanger keeps an eye on the weather forecast while remaining confident about what lies ahead.
B次元官网网址淚 just hope that this fire situation on Highway 4 gets under control and we can re-open the road because if we do, we will see a very busy summer on the West Coast,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f the Interior get stay cool and wet for the summer, we will see a very strong tourism season there and if we can get the fires under control in the north, again, we will see a very strong tourism season with people heading up to Alaska.B次元官网网址�
Provincial officials will update the status of Highway 4 on Tuesday (June 13) at noon.
wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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