Crossing the U.S. Canadian border should be faster and less hassle this summer with the introduction of the Nexus program just agreed to by both governments.
Nexus makes use of photo-ID cards and computer reading of licence plates and will be used by both Canada and U.S. Customs.
The program, which takes its name from the Latin term for bridge, is currently in effect between Sarnia, Ontario and Port Huron, Michigan.
But now it is being extended to the Douglas and Pacific Highway crossings with Blaine, Washington and the Boundary Bay, B.C. crossing with Point Roberts Washington.
It’s good news for the more than 66,000 PACE members in B.C. who have had to endure long border line-ups ever since the program was suspended following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Travellers on both sides of the border will soon be able to fill out the paperwork for the program. Once in place Nexus will allow participants to cross in dedicated lines.
The program is good news for Tourism Whistler.
"We are thrilled in fact that the importance of cross-border traffic and tourism in British Columbia will benefit from Nexus being instituted," said Barrett Fisher, vice-president strategy and business development for Tourism Whistler.
"How this works for us is that it gives us the opportunity to work with key meeting planner groups where we can have them pre-register their entire group before arriving.
"It also gives us the opportunity to communicate with consumers, like those in the Seattle area, to let them know that this program is up and running and if they pre-register it will ease their future travel.
"So we will absolutely be using this as a tool to assist our clients and customers to improve their cross-border travel to ensure they keep Whistler on their list as an important destination for travel."
The most recent Tourism Whistler statistics show a big increase in visitors from Washington Sate this winter, up 37 per cent over the same time last year.
It can be attributed to aggressive marketing by Tourism Whistler in Washington State and to people’s desire to stay close to home for their holidays for economic and security reasons.
Concerns over money and security, along with a slow start to the season in their Eastern resorts, have also affected Intrawest’s visitor numbers.
"The impact of Sept. 11 hasn’t been what people expected it to be," said Intrawest spokesman Stephen Forgacs.
"What’s likely had a greater impact on skier visit numbers across our resorts would be the slow start in Eastern resorts due to late openings."
Information released for all Intrawest resorts up to Feb. 19 showed the season numbers were four per cent below last year.
But, said Forgacs: "If you look at Jan. 1 to Feb. 10 at that time across our resorts we are actually 1 per cent ahead of last year."
Last year Whistler-Blackcomb had 2,045,000 skier visits. Across all Intrawest resorts the total was about 7 million.
Christopher Nicolson of Whistler-Blackcomb said January and February on the mountain were busy on the weekends but slower during the week.
"But March has been strong in both," he said.
"It’s good news. Business by and large is very strong."
Great snow conditions are helping, with the base still sitting at around 300 cm.
"The cool temperatures have extended the season a bit emotionally in people’s minds," said Nicolson.
"We are still seeing a lot of later bookings with people booking just two weeks out, so occupancies that are soft seem to be filling up at the last minute.
"A lot of bookings are from Europe, Latin America and Mexico."
Colorado Ski Country USA reports 7,187,534 ski and snowboard visits year-to-date, a five per cent decrease compared to last year through the end of February 2002.
The decline at the beginning of Colorado’s season, 14 per cent, was likely due to economics and the terrorist attacks of Sept.11.
But thanks to consistent snow and affordable travel packages the resorts bounced back said David Perry, president and CEO of Colorado Ski Country USA.
For January and February 2002, Colorado saw 4,724,708 visits, equal to the same period last year, and a five per cent increase over two years ago.
Three Internet panel surveys conducted in October, November and January by the Colorado Tourism Office found a steady decline in the concern about safety of travel and the threat of terrorism and bioterrorism. More than 3,800 people were surveyed.
The survey also found that in response to economic conditions the roughly 20 per cent of respondents likely to be influenced by the economy are more likely to drive, more likely to take shorter trips, somewhat to delay trips and to stay closer to home.
The number of respondents indicating a preference for driving held steady at 21 per cent for the survey period.
Meanwhile visitor entries into the province dropped 5.5 per cent in January. Entries from the U.S. fell 5.7 per cent while those from overseas slipped 4 per cent.
Entries from both Asian and Oceanic countries declined but European entries saw a small increase.
