Tourism Prince Rupert Annual Report notes of challenges of 2021, plans ahead for 2022

Tourism Prince Rupert has released their Annual Report for 2021 and the 23 page review provides a fairly extensive look at the challenges of the year, as well as some of the hopeful optimism that the Tourism sector has looking to 2022.

The data provided outlines a season in 2021 which saw larger numbers than the year before but one that was still for the most part regionally based when it came to where the visitors to the North Coast were coming from. 

"In 2021, despite ongoing challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting travel restrictions, Prince Rupert experienced a busy summer season, with visitor numbers increasing substantially from 2020, Hotels, restaurants and local tourism operators all reported a busy season, with the primary demographic once again mostly regional and provincial travellers, with some influx from other Canadian provinces." -- From the Tourism Prince Rupert Annual Report from 2021

Overall the largest increases, not surprisingly were in July and August which both saw more than a 100 percent change from the year before.

For those that did come to the North Coast some of their visit had some disappointments with Tourism Prince Rupert noting that such popular attractions and events were not available this year.

Among the most notable, the North Pacific Cannery Historical site which was closed to the public for a second year and reduced service from both Prince Rupert Adventure Tours and the Museum of Northern British Columbia among some of the areas of disappointment for visitors.

Something that Tourism Prince Rupert was a challenge shared by many tourism providers across the province this year.

The Report also explores some of the Strategic planning in place by Tourism Prince Rupert, with the most recent work getting underway in 2020 and on into 2021, towards their goals the Draft Strategy focused on a range of themes.

The final drat of the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan was completed in November and adopted at the final Board meeting earlier this month.

The report also provides detailed reviews of the marketing programs from the last year as well as some of themes they are developing through the off season towards 2022, including a look at the current wayfindinig program now in the early stages of implementation.

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The prospects for 2022 still highlight much of the uncertainty the tourism sector faces related to the pandemic, as well as hopes for the return of the Cruise industry to the region which was shut down for all of 2021. 

The conclusion to the report also notes of the range of funding available to assist tourism development and marketing and other measures of assistance for the sector.

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You can review the full report here.

More notes on tourism in the northwest can be reviewed from our archive page.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.