B.C.’s Environment Minister says about 20 per cent of camping reservations made through BC Parks have been cancelled through to May long weekend.

That represents about 5,000 bookings.

George Heyman says people have been responsive to new travel restrictions and says there’s been a high level of compliance.

“We’ve also made it clear to people, that if you’ve made a reservation, whether it’s within your health region or whether you think it’s not legitimately close to your own community which is what we’re advising people to do – stay close to home – cancel it, there will be no penalty,” Heyman tells NL News.

“We had, from day one, told people to be prepared to stay close to home. But if they wanted to take a chance on booking a reservation a bit further away, nobody can see the future…. People have been very responsive, both from out of province as well as by not reserving or cancelling. As well, people in British Columbia have been voluntarily cancelling. I think we’re seeing a high level of compliance.”

Heyman says the dates of those cancellations are between April 23rd and May 25. Provincial travel restrictions are set to expire on May 25, which is the Tuesday after May long weekend.