High cruise passenger volumes expected around Canada Place
Posted September 20, 2015 10:28 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It could be harder than normal to hail a taxi or get a table at your favourite restaurant downtown today.
There will be more than 12,000 extra tourists looking for something to do.
The busy day is thanks to three ships being in port at the same time — instead of the usual one.
John Parker-Jervis with Port Metro says each ship means about $2-million extra for local businesses, but there is a downside.
“People downtown, especially in that area of the Canada Place cruise terminal, can expect heightened crowds, more people around there as well as a bit more pressure on the transportation system down there in regard to taxi availability and some of the shuttle buses.”
“It’s also things like restaurants in the area, or food service providers of various foods, food for instance that is being provided for the ships themselves,” adds Parker-Jervis.
He says it’s been a very good cruise ship season for Vancouver, and says it will last longer than normal with a new route going to Hawaii into December.
In order to minimize congestion, cruise passengers are asked not to arrive at Canada Place cruise terminal prior to their scheduled embarkation time in order to avoid further congestion while disembarking passengers are leaving their ships.
Parker-Jervis says 800,000 tourists have come through the cruise ship terminal this summer, with the season stretching into December thanks to new routes to Hawaii.
