The Wells Gray Park Information Centre is officially open for the 2022 season, and since opening its doors on May 19 has seen about 100 visitors per day, mostly travellers from abroad.
Tourism Wells Gray is the new operator of the centre, taking over from the previous operators Information Wells Gray, after the owners decided to retire.
Stephanie Molina, executive director of Tourism Wells Gray, said the organization received government grant funding to assist in taking over the centre over the next five years to see if the project would be viable.
“The visitor centre is so important for our tourism industry,” she said, adding the centre is fully staffed and ready for the season.
The centre has seven staff ready to help those who visit the area. Leading the team is visitor centre advisor Kirsten Allchin and visitor centre manager Amanda Svenson. Joining the team of visitor centre councillors are Michael Ruttan, Maverick Northcott, Noelle Muddiman, Sage Barstow and Hailey Irvine.
So far this season centre staff have helped visitors from all over, including the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Singapore and the United States.
Local businesses are welcome to drop off brochures at the Wells Gray Park Information Centre at no cost. The team will continue to assist with visitor services and bookings for local activities and accommodations.
“It’s been a really challenging couple of years for our industry, not just here, but across the province,” said Molina. “It’s quite wonderful to feel like we have an opportunity, I think, to work towards recovery, and hopefully have a more typical season, tourism-wise.”
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