Gas Price Hikes Probably Won't Affect Long Weekend

As motorists keep an eye on the price at the pump, Okanagan tourism won't be impacted.

That from Trace Acres of BCAA, who tells us the boom of tourists who drive in for the May long weekend shouldn't change because of gas prices.

Acres says they've looked at the trends as fuel prices hit milestone highs.

He tells us even though people say they're might change their driving habits, "if they had been planning a weekend trip to Vancouver Island, to the Okanagan, to the Kootenays, then they'll probably still go ahead with those plans."

Acres says, "If you look at the amount that people are going to be driving to make those types of trips and what the additional cost is going to be as a result of recent increases in gas prices it's probably going to amount to maybe $20 for the weekend...when you look at what they're going to be spending on recreation, accommodation, meals, and other expenses, it's probably a fairly small amount in the overall scheme of things.  So we wouldn't anticipate that it would have that great an impact on long weekend travel."

Acres says price only really becomes a factor when you drive across the country to other provinces - like trips to Ontario or the Maritimes.

Denise Wong - Astral Media Radio News (Kelowna)