PORT ALBERNI – Seems someone let the secret out! Visitor Counts for 2015 are booming in the Alberni Valley as evidenced by a whopping 265% increase in June alone. In fact, the Visitor Centre operations that is handled via the Chamber of Commerce, confirms that June 2015 was its busiest month in recent memory servicing well over 8600 people. July numbers are way up as well with current stats showing a near 100% increase over 2014 and that’s just through the 18th of the month.
The translation to this is that our local businesses are all doing very well. We’ve heard of restaurants calling in additional resources on a daily basis to handle the increased volume, motels are reporting full occupancy, B&B’s are doing well and try to find a campsite! The Home Hardware Store reported an unusual day just recently with unusual meaning that it was more usual to 2014. They’ve been very busy!
All of this bodes well for the ongoing economic recovery happening throughout the Alberni Valley. In fact, we’ve seen nearly 60 new business licenses in the City of Port Alberni since the start of the year ranging from Flooring stores, B&B’s, Coffee Shops, A bookstore, Liquor Store, Constructions Services, Flower Shop and more. The collective ownership of these stores are keen to invest their money and their ongoing efforts into the future of the area; and that looks to be very good! Add to this the rather common request for us at the Chamber of Commerce to answer inquiries from as close as Nanoose Bay to more distant locations in Alberta and Saskatchewan as people there are beginning to take notice. Many of these calls surround the desire to find out more about real estate opportunities, employment growth etc., etc.
Much of this interest in our area starts at the Visitor level. Tourists, should they enjoy what they see can eventually become residents and from there they look around for investment opportunities and this is why our area is becoming more and more dedicated to the Tourism opportunities.
So yes, the secret is out; and we’re good with that.
– Bill Collette is executive director of the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce. Reach him at 250-724-6535 or bill@albernichamber.ca.