The South Cariboo Visitors Centre is reporting a “pretty high” number of visitors already coming to the region this summer.
In an interview with the Free Press, Julie Gilmore, the manager of the South Cariboo Visitors Centre, said that 2,811 people have come to the visitors centre this season, so far. While the majority have been visitors from within B.C. some have been from out of province.
“So far for Alberta, we’ve seen eight people, for (the rest of) Canada, which includes all of the provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, (there’s been) nine.”
There were other international visitors, some from the United States and Mexico, but Gilmore noted that the South Cariboo is seeing a resurgence in those coming from Europe. Gilmore says she feels good about the numbers.
“I feel positive.”
The way the visitors centre reports their numbers, according to Gilmore, is that those who come in get entered into a database.
“So everybody that comes in, we track and then we put them into a database with their destination.”
Gilmore also noted that the resorts are doing very well in the South Cariboo, with most resorts seeing a high level of bookings. However, she noted that there are still some vacancies at a few resorts.
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“There’s a few that still could get complete bookings - different areas - a few days here and a few days there.”
Most of the South Cariboo’s resorts are located in the Interlakes area along Highway 97, Gilmore said, as well as out near Canim Lake. They primarily cater to tourists looking to fish and enjoy the outdoor beauty of the Cariboo’s lakes.
“I haven’t talked to all of my partners, but I can say that the ones that we have been visiting and talking to within the last couple of days, most of them are hopeful.”
Finally, Gilmore said that it’s too early to tell if this year will shatter any sort of record.
“It’s looking promising, but I can’t really give you that kind of specific number (right now).”
