High gas, dollar softening sales in NWOTA area: border security, higher prices, other factors 'stack up,' slowing tourism in northwestern Ontario.

Bookings are soft relative to last year, says Gerry Cariou, executive director of the Sunset Country Travel Association.

In the area west of Thunder Bay to the Manitoba border, known as Sunset Country, resource-based tourism generated $451 million in terms of economic activity, of which $306 million benefited the region, according to a 2001 economic impact study done by PKF Consulting.

As part of the umbrella organization NWOTA (Northwestern Ontario Tourism Association), Sunset Country has promoted its abundant forests and lakes for decades. The area boasts fishing, hunting, canoeing, outdoor adventure sports, travel festivals and regional touring for campers to a large American clientele, which make up 88 percent of overnight guests, with 87 percent of those visits occurring between April and September, as stated in the study. Yet despite its large economic engine, bookings are down based upon Cariou's observations on anecdotal evidence for June bookings at lodges, which is the core accommodation base in the area.

"Seven out of every 10 (lodges) are saying their bookings are softer this year than last year."

Although Cariou did not have one specific reason for the drop in bookings from the anglers, he added that the power of misinformation by the media creates misperceptions and negative impacts.

SARS and the Iraq War have affected some numbers, but Cariou says there is a latent perception that it is difficult to enter into Canada.

"The border is a big deal."

Canada and the U.S.A. have different laws, so misdemeanours in many states in the U.S. are criminal offences in Canada, such as driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). Consequently, visitors with a record are turned back at the border.

Mike Iwaniec, owner and operator of Crawford's Resort and RV Campground near Nestor Falls, has also found this a frustration for his business.

"It is a two-fold problem," he says.

Lack of access into the country because of a DUI record gives visitors the perception that they are not wanted.

"I think that is one of the contributing factors to tourism in northwestern Ontario slowing up," he says.

Steve Hartle, owner of Big Hook Wilderness Camps, a remote fly-in fishing camp 185 air-miles north of Red Lake (near Opasquia Provincial Park), caters to a large American clientele.

He says his bookings are down a little from last year, "but last year was super."

Hartle contributes it to higher Canadian prices and a weaker U.S. dollar.

Poor weather in 2004, ever-escalating gasoline prices, potential passport requirements and a sluggish American economy are other factors that appear to be affecting tourism in the last couple of years.

Cariou believes the dedicated anglers and hunters called "avids" will obtain the passport, but it may act as a barrier to the short-term travellers or day-trippers, due to cost and inconvenience.

He says it is important that tourists realize it is the American government requiring passport documentation back into the U.S., not the Canadian government.

Although there doesn't seem to be one specific reason for the lag, it appears to be accumulative.

"They all stack upon one another," Cariou says.

www.nwota.com

www.sunsetcountry.net

www.crawfordsresort.com

www.bighookcamps.com

By ADELLE LARMOUR

Northern Ontario Business