Thunder Bay tourism up, despite fewer US guests

More Canadians visited Thunder Bay this year, but tourism promoters have noticed they're facing a decline in American visitors.

Acting tourism manager Lisa Beckwick said special events and adventure travel have attracted more visitors to Thunder Bay this year. But about 2,000 fewer American vehicles crossed the border.

Beckwick said that's a relatively small drop, given economic woes in the U.S. Nevertheless, Thunder Bay is working with cities like Duluth to change that trend.

"While the scenic drive around Lake Superior is not new, we really haven't taken advantage of it to the extent that we could," she said.

Promoting Lake Superior's scenic drive

Beckwick said Thunder Bay is also working with Sault Ste Marie to encourage people to travel all the way around the lake.  

Jim Murray, owner of Authentique gift store in Thunder Bay, said those efforts are needed.

"I think we have to do something to compete with the north shore of Minnesota to get those American tourists a little further into Canada."

The shortage of American tourists to Thunder Bay was not as much of a concern for Angela Agruso, who works on the front desk at the Victoria Inn.

Special events draw tourists

Agruso said the summer’s HOG motorcycle rally was the busiest time she's seen at the hotel.

"(There were) ...a lot of bikes and a lot of people and they were really awesome and a lot of fun to be with," she said.

Beckwick noted the event drew more than 800 people to the city. It was part of an overall boost in visitors over the first eight months of the year.

"We've seen a marked increase in terms of touring and adventure travel in this area," she said.

 Beckwick noted hotel bookings are up four per cent so far.

That's significant, because the average increase across Ontario is less than one per cent.