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Protecting the North Cpl. William Hong from the Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Center, based in 8 Wing, Trenton, Ont., repacks a search and rescue parachute after a successful jump during an exercise as part of Operation Nanook on Aug. 26. Hong, a former Victoria resident, parachuted into York Sound on Baffin Island to help support the search and rescue scenario. Cpl. Aydyn Neifer Canadian Forces
Tourism rebounding in Victoria Hotel occupancy rates increase by five per cent Andrea Peacock News Staff
The Victoria tourism industry showed signs of recovery this summer – the first real signs since the 2008 recession, say tourism officials.
Average hotel occupancy in Victoria increased by 4.76 per cent from July 2013 compared to July 2014. This was the highest accommodation occupancy rate in the last decade, according to Chemistry Business and Human Resource Consulting. The Royal B.C. Museum attracted many visitors from Canada and the United States with its Vikings exhibit. While the museum knew the exhibit would be popu-
lar due to online surveys and previous discussions with guests, the Vikings display exceeded expectations. “We are running eight per cent ahead of target,” said Sandy Pratt, executive financial officer. She credits this to the Vikings exhibit being the museum’s most popular since the recession. “It’s something of interest to a lot of different people,” said Pratt. Pratt said the museum reached out more with its marketing this
year into Alberta and Washington State than in previous years, and it has paid off. There have been more visitors from outside B.C. this year, said Pratt, adding in the past few years the majority have been from B.C. According to Pratt, the museum targeted 185,000 guests from May until November, the length of the Vikings exhibit, but now believes there will be closer to 200,000 people. “That is up from what we have
seen over the last several years.” Comparatively, the popular dinosaur exhibit from 2012 drew 170,000 to 180,000 guests, said Pratt. After the success of Vikings, she added the museum will continue to bring in exhibits that will hopefully bring in as many if not more visitors. PleAse see: Consumer confidence increasing, say officials, Page A4
47 FREE fitness classes will make you smile too! September 7-13 at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre.
No pre-registration needed - just drop by 527 Fraser Street & workout! Visit www.esquimalt.ca or our Facebook page for schedule.