3426 replies to this topic

[m0nkyman]

Is that the one connected to this one?

Yup...

[Holden West]

Tourism improved

Nov 03 2006

If you believe the complaints from local business leaders, the 2006 tourists season was one of the worst in recent memory.

But according to the August 2006 Victoria Tourism Bulletin, all the doom and gloom isn't supported by the numbers.

"It's just the facts. People like to be all doom and gloom but this is the truth," said business consultant Frank Bouree, who prepares the monthly tourism report.

Average hotel room occupancy in August increased slightly, from 83.2 per cent to 83.9 per cent, while year to date - from Jan. 1 to the end of August - increased to 70.32 per cent from 69.51 per cent.

BC Ferries vehicle traffic increased by 0.71 per cent in August 2006 over August 2005, while passenger traffic was up half a percentage point. In the first eight months of 2006, vehicle traffic aboard BC ferries dropped by 0.35 per cent while passenger traffic dropped 1.21 per cent.

The biggest decrease came in bus traffic, down 6.24 per cent this August over last and 8.54 per cent for the year- to-date category.

However, traffic at Victoria International Airport jumped by 11.26 per cent in August 2006 compared to August 2005 and 5.81 per cent for the year to date.

The tourism operators who struggled most in the 2006 season were those who depend largely on the U.S. market, which was down "six to eight per cent" from the 2005 numbers

"Anyone who has catered exclusively to the U.S. market is struggling," Bouree said, adding that strong economies in Alberta B.C. and Canada in general boosted the umber of domestic visitors to Victoria.

"it's not real exciting, but it's not real negative either."

mailto:bclarke@vicnews.com

© Copyright 2006 Victoria News

[Oxford Sutherland]

I was looking at http://www.CNN.com and noticed they had a link to an article about Victoria on the main page.

http://www.cnn.com/2... ... index.html

[Number Six]

Any article on CNN's home page is gold and at least the author of this one made a point of exploring the city beyond the inner harbour ... his reference to Wharf St. and Chinatown were refreshing ... and no mention of tacky lower Government St. at all.

Unfortunately he was a day tripper which only reinforces our image as a destination to "pop over" and check out. On the bright side, at least he makes the trip every year and if we can hook the average day tripper on their first visit hopefully they'll return for a longer stay.

[Ms. B. Havin]

Did everyone catch the tourism-related articles in the T-C on 12/6 and 12/7, first with [url=http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/business/story.html?id=c69aa4e3-b2e4-455c-a6c3-c3bb2f8505a3&k=63136&p=1:656b3]Gay, lesbian tourist market hot; Tourism operators are advised to look beyond chasing bucks and get involved in community[/url:656b3] on the 6th, followed by [url=http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/business/story.html?id=4901f8fc-26e3-4d68-ba74-168f12f2cbe4:656b3]Tourism Victoria message evolves into edgier brand; It's a bid to improve on a year with lower American visitation[/url:656b3] yesterday?

I know it's hype and branding, but it sure beats the boring old "come to Victoria to have afternoon tea and visit the gardens, followed by a hot toddy at 9pm and bedtime" campaign of yore.

[G-Man]

Too bad about this slogan:

"We may be quaint, but never quiet"

[aastra]

How about this critique of Abigail's (on Quadra) from a review at TripAdvisor.com?

The location is neither scenic or convenient to the harbor area and nightlife.

[G-Man]

Isn't Abigails about 3 blocks from the harbour and I can think of quite a bit of nightlife within blocks of there too So were they expecting a view of the harbour? Abigails is an amazing place for those who have never been in go and check it out the owners are friendly!

[Icebergalley]

Since the Cherry Bank's gone...

It's a toss up between The Bengal Room or Bart's or Vista 18???

But then there is the vollyball courts on the Strath...

Better check Abigail's website to see what they promote for their clientele..

[G-Man]

There is Smith's or they could head into Cook Street Village to the pub there. Or really the whole city to the North.

[Icebergalley]

Don't forget one of our prize locales..

The Causeway and the Inner Harbour...

[VicHockeyFan]

http://cfax1070.com/polls.php?poll=398

25% of CFAXers don't like cruise ships coming here.

[aastra]

The folks at CFAX are really good at coming up with absolutely inane poll options. I have to give them credit for that.

[Mike K.]

I spoke with a local retailer today about their take on the tourism market in 06. American tourists have sharply declined but Europeans are on the rise.

Just thought I'd throw this into the discussion...

[Holden West]

"...the World Travel Organisation estimat[es] that outbound tourism from China will soar to 50 million by 2010 and 100 million by 2020"

"Victoria hosted 3.65 million visitors in 2006"

[Mike K.]

What I want to know is how many of those visitors are overnight visitors and how many are 2+ night visitors. The fanny pack day tourist hopping over for a day from Vancouver or Seattle spends much less than a tourists who intends to spend a few days here.

[G-Man]

^ Exactly the key is tourists that choose to spend a few days here living like locals, rather than one day wonders that hit all the "attractions".

[Holden West]

I think Tourism Victoria has those stats broken down.

[aastra]

Summary of the Dalton Hotel at TripAdvisor.com:

Nineteenth-century 4-story Hotel located downtown, within walking distance of financial center, Parliament & harbor.

Financial center?

[VicHockeyFan]

Walking distance of branches of all the major banks.