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 Island香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淚 came in on the back way yesterday from Victoria and it actually wasn香蕉视频直播檛 bad,香蕉视频直播� he said in an interview with Black Press Media on Monday (June 12). 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 passable.香蕉视频直播�
I wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 take your Porsche 911 on it, but the road is not that bad. It香蕉视频直播檚 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.香蕉视频直播�
This type of optimism also runs through Belanger香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淭he main fires of concern are up in northern B.C. and in the Peace River region香蕉视频直播ost of those areas don香蕉视频直播檛 really see an increase in tourism until the summer months when people are travelling up toward the Alaska Highway.香蕉视频直播�
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 year香蕉视频直播檚 tourism season will be strong.
香蕉视频直播淚 think people are still going away, it is just that they are changing their plans,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淣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, that香蕉视频直播檚 going to have a massive effect on tourism in the summer.香蕉视频直播�
Ultimately though, Belanger is realistic about the current situation.
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香蕉视频直播淲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,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭his is something we are going to have to adapt to.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淥ne road in and one road out does not bode well, when a town runs out of gas and is running out of food,香蕉视频直播� Belanger said.
Belanger also called on government to help shore up communities and areas that are dealing with water shortages.
香蕉视频直播淧roviding the necessities of life to communities is a key point where we need to focus,香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淭he challenge is do we have the resources available as this climate change crisis increases year over year?香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淚 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,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚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.香蕉视频直播�
Provincial officials will update the status of Highway 4 on Tuesday (June 13) at noon.
wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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