Coquitlam is on track to have a record year in tourism — a trend happening in municipalities across the Lower Mainland largely due to the low Canadian dollar, the city's tourism manager said.
Today (Thursday), Eric Kalnins said Coquitlam hotel operators have told him 2016 will likely be one of — if not, the — best year for business because of the low loonie trade.
Kalnins said the "compression" from Vancouver has had an impact, with out-of-town guests opting for cheaper hotels in the suburbs. And he attributed the city's numerous sporting tournaments and festivals, including for Coquitlam's 125th year, as major draws.
Besides the traditional gatherings such as the BC Highland Games, Coquitlam has picked up a number of new — or revised — attractions this year. Among them:
• BC High School Mountain Bike Championships, which drew more than 200 racers and supporters to Burke Mountain in May;
• Canwest Games, which saw more than 500 athletes and supporters at Percy Perry Stadium in July;
• U19 Men's World Field Lacrosse Championships, which had 14 teams compete over 10 days in Percy Perry Stadium, with some 10,000 people, in July;
• Coquitlam Kinsmen Craft Beer Festival, which had some 3,000 attendees over two days last weekend at Town Centre Park;
• BC Summer Swim Association provincial championships, which will have more than 1,500 competitors playing water polo, diving and swimming at Spani Pool and City Centre Aquatic Complex from Aug. 15 to 21;
• Coquitlam Crunch Challenge on Sept. 10 (see story below);
• and the Coquitlam 55+ BC Games, of which 4,000 athletes, coaches and supporters will fill the city recreation centres from Sept. 20 to 25.
"I like the new events because it gives something for locals to grab onto as well," Kalnins said. "They may be sports-specific crowds but locals are coming out in droves."
With the US dollar so high, many travellers are avoiding heading south this year and taking in what the province has to offer, he said.
The latest tourism report from the provincial government shows 1.6 million international visitors came to B.C. between January and May 1, 2016, a rise of 14% over the same period last year. In May alone, the number of travellers from Mexico was up 29% versus May of 2015 while India rose 11.7% and China jumped 10.2%.
Visits from the U.S. were up nearly 16% in the first five months of this year while visits from Mexico spiked to 38% over the same period as last year.
The report from the Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training ministry states that for every new daily international flight to the Vancouver International Airport translates to around 200 new jobs at YVR.
The new flights are a result of a 2012 jet fuel tax that was stopped to reduce costs for airlines, the report reads. Last December, Aeromexico launched a new daily flight between Mexico City and Vancouver.
"It is also encouraging to see continued strength from the US, our biggest international market," said Marsha Walden, the CEO of Destination BC, in a news release. "We see good growth from U.S. visitors who drive into B.C. — considered our short-haul, touring market — as well as from high-yield, long-haul visitors who fly into B.C."
Last year, nearly 5 million international guests came to B.C., a rise of 8% over 2014.
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Nothin' Dragon member Robbin Whachell with Coquitlam Crunch Challenge founder Alex Bell and Brian Kenny, Nothin’ Dragon Masters president.
Leadership for the Coquitlam Crunch Diversity Challenge is changing hands this year, with the Nothin' Dragon Masters taking over the reins.
The seventh annual challenge, founded in 2010 by Coquitlam resident Alex Bell, will be held Sept. 10 under the eye of the senior dragon boaters.
Competitors in the Make It or Break It category will be given four hours to see how many times they can scale the full grind, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. (last year's overall winner was Matt Sessions, who completed eight loops, while Jackie Senchyna was named the top female at six loops and Gracie Lorenson was named top youth at seven loops).
There are also two other events: the Stair Master, at 8 a.m., to see who can run the fastest up the Crunch's 437 stairs, and the recreational category, for participants who want to take the Crunch easy, between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Timekeeping will be done by TRIO Sports Events while registration will be handled by the Running Room. All participants will be given a bib and time chip and medals will be handed out to the Make It or Break It athletes.
• Visit coquitlamcrunch.com to sign up or donate. Proceeds will go to the Coquitlam Diversity Fund set up by the Coquitlam Foundation.
