By Nia Williams and Anna Mehler Paperny
(Reuters) – Fierce wildfires are increasingly damaging Western Canada’s lucrative tourism industry, with some visitors beginning to avoid the busy late summer months over concerns about uncontrolled blazes, smoke-filled skies and road closures.
After a torrid start to July, nearly 600 wildfires are now burning in British Columbia and Alberta, including a massive blaze that this week destroyed the picturesque tourist town of Jasper in the Canadian Rockies.
Dozens of communities, including popular vacation destinations in British Columbia’s Kootenay region, have been evacuated and several highways closed.
This year’s increase in wildfire activity comes after Canada endured its worst year on record for wildfires in 2023, when more than 15 million hectares (37 million acres) burned, including parts of the city of West Kelowna in the heart of the wine region of British Columbia.
Ellen Walker-Matthews, head of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, said the industry is seeing a lot of last-minute travel decisions instead of booking in advance.
“It’s a huge blow. July and August are traditionally the busiest months in the region,” said Walker-Matthews, adding that while her region has been relatively unscathed by wildfires this summer, some visitors are choosing to explore inland British Columbia to be avoided altogether.
Members of the British Columbia Lodging and Campgrounds Association are reporting a 5-15% decline in bookings from a year ago, with the biggest declines coming from the warmer Okanagan and Cariboo regions, says Joss Penny, head of the association.
“The concern is that this is something we have to live with and we have this every year now,” Penny said.
Although wildfires occur naturally and frequently in Canadian forests, scientists say drier, hotter conditions fueled by climate change are leading to more volatile and frequent fires.
‘SMOKY SKY’
Some events, such as the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, usually held in August, have now been moved to earlier in the summer to avoid what is now seen as peak smoking season. The festival, which was canceled last year due to nearby bushfires, was moved to July this year to take advantage of ‘less smoky skies’.
Wildfires and extreme weather are prompting tourists to “change their plans not just temporarily, but permanently,” said Elizabeth Halpenny, a tourism researcher and professor at the University of Alberta. She notes that seasonal workers in the industry are often hit hardest because they have little protection during a bad season or in the midst of a catastrophic fire.
Tourism contributed $7.2 billion to British Columbia’s economy in 2022 and $9.9 billion to Alberta in 2023, according to the latest government data.
Jasper National Park is one of Canada’s top tourist destinations, with more than 2 million visitors a year flocking to see its pristine mountain landscape and abundant wildlife, including grizzly bears, elk and moose.
Kelly Torrens, vice president of product at international travel company Kensington Tours, described Western Canada as a bucket list destination. But the company now has 49 trips that were supposed to take place through Jasper this season in limbo. Six others were forced to evacuate the park when the fire broke out.
Parks Canada has canceled all camping reservations in Jasper National Park until August 6 and with possibly 50% of the city’s buildings destroyed by fire, cleanup and rebuilding could take years.
Halpenny is among those hedging their bets.
“I booked a camping stay in the mountain parks, but at the same time I booked a campsite somewhere on the prairie and that is my backup plan because I don’t want to miss my vacation with my family.”
