Thompson Okanagan sees greatest visitation increase leading up to Family Day than anywhere else in B.C.

The Thompson Okanagan saw the greatest percentage increase in domestic visitors than anywhere else in B.C. just prior to Family Day.

Between Feb. 14 and 20, the Thompson Okanagan saw a boost of 49% in domestic visitations compared to that same week in 2019, according to the latest report from the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association. Family Day is Feb. 21.

READ MORE: Central Okanagan saw more visitors during 2020 than year before, despite pandemic

The Kootenay Rockies saw a 40% increase compared to 2019, Northern B.C. only saw a 9% increase, Vancouver Island only saw a 7% increase, while the Vancouver Coast and Mountains saw a 17% increase.

The data is collected based on mobile device movement throughout the province, whose daily common evening location is 60 km or more away from their yearly common evening location, according to the Tourism Association.

Between that timeframe, the average domestic overnight visitation for B.C. was up 21% compared to the same week in 2019. When measuring the previous week compared to 2019, from Feb. 7 to 14, the province saw a decrease of 18% in visitations.

The Thompson Okanagan also had 10% more visitors from 1 to March 7 compared to B.C. 

The Thompson Okanagan, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast and Northern B.C. saw an increase in visitation when comparing Feb. 22 to 28 to March 1 to 7. The Kootenay Rockies, Vancouver Island and Vancouver, Coast and Mountains saw a decrease.

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