Clearwater's Wells Gray Park Information Centre was the busiest information centre in the province this summer.
“Our numbers went up again, increasing almost 20 per cent from the same time last year,” said Tay Briggs of Information Wells Gray, the organization that operates the infocentre.
“The next busiest information centre is in Victoria on the harbour where they saw an 11 per cent increase over last year,” she added. “The third busiest information center this season is Whistler. Whistler saw a decrease in numbers by 4.5 per cent.”
Briggs noted that the Mount Robson visitor center, which is on the same travel corridor as Clearwater, is the fourth busiest information center. It increased seven per cent from the same time period last year.
“Despite the incredible numbers of people utilizing the services at the Clearwater Wells Gray Park Information Centre, the high level of customer service at the centre has earned the information centre the certificate of excellence from Trip Advisor,” Briggs said.
With all that business, the new funding for the information centre announced last week by Destination BC was welcome news, she said.
“The big change is the fact the government is guaranteeing the funding for three years. Prior to this, the funding was approved on a year to year basis which did not offer much security for the visitor information network,” Briggs explained.
“The Visitor Service’s Network provides quality service to BC’s growing tourism industry and visitor centers are important economic generators for their individual areas and the province,” she added.