COVID-19 may have put a damper on international travel for 2020, but the Atlantic Canadian bubble means summer vacation planning is well underway for many Atlantic Canadians.
People from all over the world flock to Atlantic Canada to explore its natural beauty, sights, and communities. This summer, Atlantic Credit Unions are reminding us that we all have a unique opportunity to check out what makes our own backyards so special and at the same time support our local economy.
For many, the idea of a staycation is nothing new. Tourism has always been vital to our local economy, and this summer, it’s more important than ever.
Now that we’re all (safely) contemplating a bit of summer exploring across Atlantic Canada, we wanted to highlight a few credit union business members who are open and ready to welcome hometown visitors this summer.
New Brunswick
Golf courses were one of the first businesses that were permitted to open once restrictions began to ease, so Hillsborough Golf Club kicked off its season in May.
“We had to hire some extra staff to make sure we were properly following the rules and guidelines for sanitation,” says course owner Jason Pugh. “I think most golf courses have been pretty steady and we’re no exception.”
While local golfers make up a portion of their business, visitors from further away are important to its survival—especially in the on-site restaurant.
“A lot of folks will stop by to eat at the restaurant on their way to the Hopewell Rocks and other places nearby. It will be interesting to see if traffic picks up once more people are travelling around this summer,” Pugh says.
Golf courses’ wide-open green spaces make them an ideal sport for social distancing, but Pugh says it’s not just traditional golf that has been bringing people to Hillsborough Golf Club this season. They’ve added a disc golf course where players throw a Frisbee-like disc at targets.
“It’s really growing in popularity and we’ve been getting a lot of interest in it,” Pugh says.
Newfoundland & Labrador
Paul Trickett owns Rencontre Vacation Homes and Tours, where he says the 2020 season is already shaping up a little differently than previous years.
Rencontre East is a small community off the southern coast of Newfoundland, accessible by ferry. Trickett says guests who make the trip to Rencontre East are already in search of something a little different. What they’ve lost in international or out-of-province bookings this year has been helped by an uptick in local bookings.
“A visit to Rencontre East is like taking a step back in time,” says Trickett. “There are no cars on the island and the experience with the wildlife and the scenery that we offer really can’t be found in many other places.”
The community has just 150 residents, so visitors get to meet the community and experience a different way of life, while also checking out the natural beauty of the island.
The main difference for this summer is that the ferry is operating on a reduced schedule, so Trickett says it’s important to check the arrival and departure times carefully. Think of it as the perfect excuse to spend a little more time exploring the fjords, waterfalls, and friendly locals Rencontre East has to offer.
Nova Scotia
Kayak Cape Breton has been practicing social distancing since before it was even part of our everyday vocabulary.
Owner Katie LeBlanc says they’re located on about 70 acres of land in St. Peter’s, Cape Breton where guests have always enjoyed the ability to reconnect with nature while disconnecting from their phone.
Since Kayak Cape Breton’s five accommodation options have always been well-spaced and remote, LeBlanc says not much has changed for the 2020 season as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
“The major difference would be in our cleaning protocols,” says LeBlanc. “We’ve started using medical-grade disinfecting products to clean our accommodations. But aside from that, it’s pretty much business as usual for us this summer. And it’s shaping up to be a very busy year.”
Most of the business usually came from international and out-of-province travellers, but local bookings have been up significantly this year as more people are inspired to explore their own backyards.
Prince Edward Island
As Atlantic Canadians looked for ways to get outside and exercise, there was a surge in cycling. Bike shops were considered an essential service when the pandemic first started and business has been booming for spots like MacQueen’s Bike Shop and Island Tours.
“We’ve seen bikes that have been sitting in a garage for probably 50 years come through our doors this spring to get a tune up,” laughs owner Kelly MacQueen. “We’ve stayed open and we really needed all hands on deck to keep up. We’ve also gotten to the point where it’s hard to get inventory from suppliers to keep up with the demand for new bikes.”
The interest in cycling hasn’t slowed down, either. It’s a popular summertime recreation and tourism activity as anybody who has ever driven down a side road in the summer can attest.
MacQueen says most of their summer tour business usually comes from out-of-province folks, so they’ve unfortunately dealt with many cancellations as the border remains closed to U.S. visitors.
But the slow-down in the bike tours area has led to ingenuity. MacQueen’s Bike Shop is now Prince Edward Island’s largest supplier of disc golf supplies—a sport that is gaining traction as another way to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors right here in Atlantic Canada.
Need a little help budgeting for your summer staycation? Your local credit union can help. HonestMoney.ca offers honest financial advice for Atlantic Canadians, all brought to you by Atlantic Credit Unions—a network serving nearly 304,000 members across Atlantic Canada. Set up a meeting with your local credit union today by visiting HonestMoney.ca.
