NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 great outdoors are a growing draw for tourists, who come from around the world to experience the sights Vancouver Island has to offer.
B次元官网网址淐OVID introduced people to the outdoors again and getting out there and getting fresh air and experiencing wildlife again is really eye-opening,B次元官网网址� said Angela Caparelli, Tourism Nanaimo chief operations officer.
B次元官网网址淟ife is so busy now. To be able to go out where you have quietness and solitude, I think that is a drive for people when theyB次元官网网址檙e travelling. Before it was always go to museums and art galleries and go, go, go and I think now when people want to get away from their everyday work space theyB次元官网网址檙e looking for that chance at solitude.B次元官网网址�
With Vancouver Island having already established its place as an outdoor adventure destination, Brian Cant with 4VI, formerly Tourism Vancouver Island, said the organization has been focusing its tourism campaigns on responsible marine viewing and clean beaches to meet the trend.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a trend that started in COVID with more people spending more time outdoors, more time in parks B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 just continued out the last few yearsB次元官网网址次元官网网址� Cant said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of people accessing activities through providers, specifically whale watching, and weB次元官网网址檙e moving into bear season in different parts of the Island. What we also see is just people recreating on multi-use pathways. So thereB次元官网网址檚 definitely an increase in the number of people using e-bikes and the number of people just grabbing a bike and heading outdoors.B次元官网网址�
Cant said the availability of Evolve ride-share e-bikes in Nanaimo has created opportunities for visitors who may not feel entirely confident in themselves to B次元官网网址済et a little bit of an assistB次元官网网址� on their ride.
B次元官网网址淢ountain biking is really popular in several parts of the Island, so thatB次元官网网址檚 another trend that just gets people to be active outdoors.B次元官网网址�
Aside from benefiting visitors on the trails, Caparelli said the e-bikes have created an easy way for visitors to explore the city without vehicles, after the Hullo ferry service began offering foot passengers a new way to reach the Island.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e really focusing on the day trips, because with Hullo ferry itB次元官网网址檚 very easy for someone to come over from Vancouver for the dayB次元官网网址次元官网网址� Caparelli said. B次元官网网址淧eople can come over, grab one of the Evo bikes and easily explore Nanaimo.B次元官网网址�
Overall, there was a slight slowdown in tourism to the Island over the summer compared to 2023, and in Nanaimo, Caparelli said there was about a three-per cent drop. However, since that number is obtained by the number of visitors engaged at the visitorB次元官网网址檚 centre and the visitor centre moved to a new location in the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, a drop wasnB次元官网网址檛 unexpected. There has been about a two-per cent increase in hotel stays in the city compared to the previous year.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e asked the Nanaimo Hospitality Association for the numbers and they did see there was an increase in occupancy from July and August which indicates there is an increase in tourism,B次元官网网址� Caparelli said.
Visitation at Nanaimo events also experienced a boost, with higher numbers of people at the Commercial Street Night Market and the Nanaimo Marine Festival. Tourism Nanaimo connected one-on-one with 1,500 visitors between the two events, double last yearB次元官网网址檚 number.
For this fall, Caparelli said Tourism Nanaimo will be focusing on doing outreach for short-term overnight stays, and encouraging visitors who plan to just stay one night to stay just a bit longer.
B次元官网网址淸WeB次元官网网址檙e] trying to get them to stay a second night through our arts and culture events, whatB次元官网网址檚 happening at the Port Theatre... whatever exhibits are going on at the museum and art gallery, trying to create those packages.B次元官网网址�
Cant said fall is expected to bring to the Island sustained visitation from German, Dutch and U.K. travellers to appreciate the IslandB次元官网网址檚 climate and natural beauty. He said those tourists are expected to stay longer because of the increased distance, compared to their American counterparts who typically visit in the summertime.
B次元官网网址淭he international travellers are really drawn to the appeal at the national level of Canada being the great outdoors and with wilderness experiences and thatB次元官网网址檚 enhanced with British Columbia and more so down to the Vancouver Island region,B次元官网网址� Cant said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 one of the top draws B次元官网网址� the accessibility of nature in the region.B次元官网网址�
For the year ahead, Caparelli said Tourism Nanaimo will be focusing on drawing local tourists from Metro Vancouver and even other parts of the Island.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l have marketing campaigns in 2025 focusing on the different trails and what you can do, how you can experience Nanaimo,B次元官网网址� she said.
