Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Camping popularity on upswing despite fishing, campfire bans

Sunny skies, hot temperatures and a low Canadian dollar are creating a perfect storm for campers and outdoor supply businesses heading into the B.C. Day long weekend.
b1-clr-0801-camping.jpg
Robinson's Outdoors store staff member and gear outfitter Mary McConnell tries a Big Agnes Tumble tent.

Sunny skies, hot temperatures and a low Canadian dollar are creating a perfect storm for campers and outdoor supply businesses heading into the B.C. Day long weekend.

The popularity of camping is continuing despite widespread freshwater fishing closures and campfire bans.

Campground reservations in B.C. parks have climbed year-over-year. Since opening on March 15, bookings are up 17 per cent over last year, says Nathalie Dechaine, spokeswoman for Discover Camping, the campsite reservation system within B.C.’s Ministry of Environment.

That’s why it’s a good idea to plan ahead, Dechaine said Friday.

If you arrive late at a popular campground — especially on a long weekend like this one — it will likely be full.

The B.C. Day long weekend is among the busiest for provincial campgrounds, she said.

At Robinson’s Outdoor Store in downtown Victoria, tent sales have nearly doubled compared to last year. Camping equipment sales have been growing in the past three years, Gayle Robinson said. “It spiked this year. It has been a hugely successful year.”

Robinson believes people are seeking affordable holidays and camping equipment can be used year after year.

Tourism watchers say when the value of the loonie decreases in relation to the U.S. dollar, that can convince Canadians to stay in the country for their holidays.

Discover Camping’s website states that 74 per cent of bookings are from B.C., 14 per cent from Alberta, three per cent from the rest of Canada, three per cent from the U.S., and six per cent from overseas.

Total camping visits rose by close to six per cent to 2.4 million in the 2013-2014 fiscal year, up from 2.3 million the previous year, B.C. Parks said.

The B.C. Parks system has 10,700 campsites that can be reached with vehicles and another 2,000 walk-in, backcountry sites, its website says.

Camping includes everything from those who enjoy hiking into rugged wilderness areas to those who prefer a comfy bed and a hookup to electricity.

Within B.C. parks alone, camping, day-use facilities and boating fees brought in about $17.1 million in revenue in 2013-2014.

The Canadian Camping and RV Council’s website said that in B.C., camping contributes about $600 million annually to the gross domestic product. There are a total of 570 campgrounds and 38,669 campsites in B.C., the council said.

RV sales were strong through the winter to the spring, flattening last month in response to the Canadian dollar’s value, said Sylvia Thistle-Miller, owner of Triangle RV Centre on the Saanich Peninsula. However, servicing and part sales have increased 15 to 20 per cent.

Many campers are from Vancouver Island and from Europe, using rented RVs, said Paul Christensen, owner of Pine Ridge RV Park and Farm Market at Qualicum Beach. “Our business is way up this year.”

There’s a real estate component to this sector. Christensen said he often meets people who are visiting the region to check it out with the idea that they may return to buy a home.

Continuing hot weather saw the province announce further fishing closures on northern Vancouver Island, in concert with restrictions imposed by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. This leaves only the Campbell, Qualicum (known as Big Qualicum), and Quinsam rivers open for fishing.