Traffic is Up Aboard BC Ferries
Traffic is up on BC Ferries over the same period last year, with March showing increases of over 5 per cent for vehicles and nearly 4 per cent for passengers.
In March 2015, BC Ferries welcomed an additional 51,937 passengers and 29,861 vehicles compared to March 2014. February was even better with increases of over 10 per cent for passengers and nearly 11 per cent for vehicles.
The corporation says the increases, along with high gas prices and a weaker Canadian dollar, will make for good business this summer. Fares were up April 1 by 3.9%, but with a 1% fuel rebate.
“These numbers are very positive and we are optimistic we’ll have an outstanding summer for traffic on BC Ferries this year,” BC Ferries president Mike Corrigan said in a statement.
“Indications are that lower gas prices and a weaker Canadian dollar will combine to increase traffic this summer. We are also optimistic for the future with annual preliminary price caps set at or below inflation at 1.9 per cent from 2016 to 2020,” he said.
Deborah Marshall of BC Ferries added that the good weather so far this year also helped encourage people to travel more.
Tourism is rebounding from the economic downturn and it is expected to be a busy tourist season in B.C. Travel and accommodation are experiencing increases, and BC Ferries is predicting this upward trend in passenger and vehicle traffic will remain strong for the tourist season.
