Stay a while, what’s the rush? Tourism Whistler wants B.C. visitors to reconsider resort
Posted May 28, 2021 10:17 pm.
Last Updated May 28, 2021 11:19 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
WHISTLER (NEWS 1130) — Tourism Whistler is hoping British Columbians will change their minds about what the resort has to offer as the province embarks on its restart plan, encouraging travellers to stay longer and explore further.
When the pandemic was declared in March of 2020, occupancy at hotels in the tourist destination plummeted to an unprecedented 1 per cent, according to Communications Manager Lauren Everest. In the intervening year, changing travel rules have meant a rollercoaster for the local economy, with last summer’s reopening providing a bit of a boost, only to be followed by a sharp drop in visitors when harsher restrictions were introduced over the winter. Sky-high case counts forced the closure of Whitler-Blackcomb in March of 2021, when indoor dining was also suspended.
“We are a tourism-based community. So our local economy relies on visitors. So not having travel and tourism for the past year has absolutely been devastating,” Everest says.
Everest says Tourism Whistler was careful to respect public health guidance by suspending short-term advertising, so as not to attract any visitors while limits on non-essential travel were being enforced.
“Now that the provincial government has released the restart plan, and has laid out a roadmap for the gradual return to recreational travel, Tourism Whistler is focusing its marketing efforts on the Lower Mainland while the provincial travel restrictions remain in place, and we’re only travelling within our designated regional zones for now,” she says.
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That’s where the pitch to reconsider the destination comes in.
“Our B.C. guests, particularly from the Lower Mainland, tend to see Whistler as somewhere to go on a day trip or for a quick weekend getaway. So, this summer we’re working hard to try and change that mentality, and we’re trying to encourage our B.C. visitors to consider Whistler a longer-stay vacation destination,” Everest explains.
“We’re hoping to encourage our B.C. guests to think of Whistler a little bit differently, and consider venturing a little deeper into what Whistler has to offer. Whistler has so much to offer outside of those core village experiences.”
Visiting for longer or during non-peak times, and exploring more of the resort can also help COVID-weary visitors steer clear of crowds, Everest adds.
“While we’re still in the midst of COVID everyone is looking for some more space … by dispersing across the resort, not only does it help alleviate some of the strain on the local infrastructure, but it’s a better experience for everyone because we’re all finding more space.”
