Three small ferries chugged out of the hibernation of the pandemic on Monday with payloads from happy locals and a cautious optimism that a tourism season of some sort is on the horizon.

Long a pioneer of the Greater Victoria tourism industry, Little Harbor Ferry Co. was on the rise last year as travel restrictions on COVID-19 and the closure of the U.S. border resulted in a 70% drop in driver numbers and revenue and left more than half of the population behind. The 17-ship fleet docked for most of the year.

“Of course we don’t expect a wild influx of tourists, but we wanted to be out there and take care of our local community,” said Barry Hobbis, general manager of Little Harbor Ferry.

“We want to get the locals out on the water to relax and enjoy the view, take the kids to Fisherman’s Wharf, or drive up the gorge. Many people have been home for months. “

The company will bring more vessels to market as demand increases, including one of its four electric boats for touring the Gorge Waterway.

Hobbis said while a return to normal tourism is probably still a year away, “there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Like many tourism companies, he watches the vaccinations in BC and across Canada and the possible easing restrictions on travel in the spring and summer.

Prince of Whales, the province’s largest whale-watching company, took a cautious foray out of the water over the weekend, taking two zodiac and a handful of passengers on three-hour tours.

The Victoria-based company, with offices in Vancouver and Telegraph Cove, closed in November for the first time in its 27-year history. It docked its entire fleet and laid off more than 50 employees.

Ian MacPhee, the company’s controller, said one of its larger 95-passenger capacity ships, cut in half for the pandemic, will be put into service in Victoria this weekend for spring break.

Reservations come in, said MacPhee. The company is offering winter prices until spring, but so far the response is nowhere near normal.

“Our March bookings represent approximately 8% of the March 2019 bookings,” he said. “But we were zero in December, January and February so 8% is something. It helps to pay for gasoline and staff. “

Prince of Whales’ operations in Vancouver will open on April 1 and Telegraph Cove in early May, MacPhee said, and all will follow COVID protocols.

He said the kayak tour company, acquired in Telegraph Cove last year, is also seeing some bookings this spring.

Dr. Provincial health officer Bonnie Henry last week announced a loosening of gathering restrictions, saying groups of up to 10 people would be allowed to gather outdoors.

MacPhee anticipates it will be around half capacity this year, but hopes it could be more. Like most tourism companies, it is flexible in terms of prices and booking policies.

He said some of the losses in the tourism shutdown were the impact on workers. “You can’t underestimate the effects of all of this on their mental health,” MacPhee said. “That is why it is important to place the boats on the water when it is safe to do so.”

The Homalco First Nation in Campbell River has announced an expansion of its touring activities. It will open a new adventure center and launch two new passenger ships for tours to observe whales and wildlife as well as significant cultural sites on its traditional territory.

Anthony Everett, President and CEO of Tourism Vancouver Island, said a new tourism season with COVID-19 still poses a threat that leaves many unknowns to the hundreds of companies in the industry.

“There’s a pent-up demand and people want to travel, but it gets complicated [for tourism companies]”He said. Everyone is monitoring the public health assignments daily for new guidelines that affect planning and staffing.

“Businesses need timing and security … and it will stay that way for most of the year,” said Everett.

He noticed a North Island kayak excursion company that is 90% full during a normal year at this point in the season start. Last year the company adjusted to 20% of its sales by only serving locals. “They worked all winter to build on that and get it to 30%. For many companies, survival is the key at this point. “

dkloster@timescolonist.com

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