-Fair weather likely behind late-season visitor boom-

OSOYOOS TIMES-September 24, 2008-

By Chad IngramrnOsoyoos Times

While cool weather and apprehension over rising fuel costs may have been deterring some tourists from visiting Osoyoos in June and early July this year, traffic picked up through the late summer and fall tourist season, the CEO of Destination Osoyoos said last week.
I think the consumer started to realize it wasn't going to be that bad, Glenn Mandziuk said, pointing out that while they peaked in July, gas prices proceeded to fall through much of the summer.
This July, Mandziuk said 10,500 people stopped at the B.C. Visitor Centre in Osoyoos, down slightly from the 11,000 who had visited in July of 2007.
In August, however, the centre experienced a 50 per cent increase over August of last year, with 18,000 visitors walking through its doors compared to the 12,000 who visited in 2007.
The summer went out with a bang, Mandziuk said, adding he thought the continuing warm weather had persuaded many families who had originally cancelled their summer plans to get in the car and take a vacation.
As of the end of August, Mandziuk said a total of 44,000 people had visited the centre compared to 41,000 at the same time last year.
Mandziuk said he was particularly happy with that seven per cent overall increase considering tourist centres in the Thompson and Okanagan valleys are down by 10 per cent this season.
He said the centre is continuing to see unusually high number of visitors, considering the time of year.
The momentum is carrying through, he said. I think the weather has definitely played a role.
Mandziuk added, however, that the current economic crises affecting North America is causing him a bit of trepidation, in that it might affect the numbers of American and Canadian tourists making their way to Osoyoos.
It's an issue, there's no question about it, he said. But as long as you're ready to present yourself to opportunities, opportunities will present themselves.
reporter@osoyoostimes.com