After suffering through big drops in tourism levels in 2017 the province has rebounded in a big way before this summers wildfires.
B.C Stats reports hotel room revenues rose during the month of May from the same 30 days last year.
The President of the Tourism Industry Association, Walt Judas says, in Vancouver, there was a 26 per cent increase, and in the Thompson/Okanagan, more than 20 per cent.
“I think its a whole combination of things, but certainly when you don’t have the same issues we were dealing with last year it could very well be that people put off their vacations in 2017 in favour of this year and we could be seeing that as well.”
Judas expects the strong growth to continue, but warns getting enough labour to work in the industry is going to be an ongoing challenge.