Chilliwack Tulips sees attendance dip as travel restrictions take effect

CHILLIWACK (NEWS 1130) – It’s the final weekend for Chilliwack’s tulip festival and travel restrictions in B.C. appear to have had an impact on how many people came out.

Chilliwack Tulips has been running at 25 per cent capacity and taking COVID-19 precautions, but also saw a drop in attendance when the province restricted travel between defined zones last week.

“Thursday last week we were reaching complete capacity every hour and then all of a sudden Friday, we were down,” festival owner Kate Onos-Gilbert said. “I believe people are starting to really respect the rules that are being put in place, even though they haven’t really changed. They are respecting them more and more.”

Related: Chilliwack Tulips in bloom and open to the public with new COVID safety measures in place

The festival has seen upwards of 25,000 people come visit so far this year, compared to 50,000 over the whole festival last year. Numbers typically jump during the weekends.

Onos-Gilbert says her staff hasn’t turned anyone away, but adds it’s not her belief business owners need to police where people are coming from. Visitors to Chilliwack Tulips are asked to read B.C.’s travel rules, and if they say they agree, they’re let in.

“People have really enjoyed the visit to the field so that’s been a definite positive note. They’ve been excited to see the colours and enjoy a walk around the field,” she said, adding upwards of 90 per cent of people are respecting all the guidelines and saying they feel very safe.

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