American tourists spend 70% more than Canadian tourists, while overseas visitors spend 133% more
Author of the article: Lisa Cordasco
Publishing date: Jul 10, 2021 • 3 hours ago • 8 minute read • Tourists aboard a horse and carriage ride as it passes the B.C. legislature on July 6. As COVID-19 numbers continue to drop in the province and around the country the provincial government has eased restrictions allowing tourism to slowly returning to Victoria. Photo by Chad Hipolito /PNG
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VICTORIA Hoteliers, tourist attraction operators and downtown Victoria merchants are welcoming the return of the summer tourist season, but they’re bracing for a trickle, rather than a flood, of visitors this year.
Island bus company looks to reduce carbon footprint; launches electric coach bus
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It looks like electric coach buses may be driving the future, reducing carbon emissions along the way.
Just in time for Earth Day, Vancouver Island-based Wilson’s Group has added a new electric bus to its fleet for the next few months.
Wilson’s runs both the Vancouver Island Connector and Tofino Bus, and says it’s excited to announce its “first step in their zero‐emissions fleet strategy with a new electric bus pilot project.”
In a new partnership formed with BYD Canada, a battery-powered electric bus manufacturer, the Model C8M highway coach made its debut today (Thursday).
The deal will see Wilson’s use a battery-powered Model C8M highway coach for the next three months on the route between Victoria and Nanaimo.
“It has always been our company’s plan to reduce our emissions and footprint, however, with the setback we have experienced through COVID, the high cost of replacing our fleet with electric vehicles seemed out of reach,” said Wilson’s chief executive John Wilson.
“This new partnership allows both companies to help do our part towards a sustainable future.”
The bus can accommodate 41 passengers, is powered by a 313-kWh battery and retails for $599,000, according to BYD Canada’s Ted Dowling.
Vancouver Island Connector, Tofino Bus service to resume Thursday mycowichanvalleynow.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mycowichanvalleynow.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Some intercity bus companies on Vancouver Island are going to be fuelled by a $10.7-million COVID-19 cash injection from the B.C. government over the next year. But it s still unclear if the rubber will hit the road in a number of rural, remote North Island communities that had non-existent or inadequate intercity service even prior to the pandemic. B.C. Premier John Horgan announced last week that intercity bus operators can apply for grants that will get them rolling by early April, and another $16.7 million is slated for regional airports to support both transportation services until March 31 next year.