WINNIPEG – The low loonie may hurt some industries, but it appears to be increasing the number of visitors to Winnipeg, a tourism official says.
Lodgings and retailers seem to be getting more out-of-town business, particularly from American visitors, said Cody Chomiak of Tourism Winnipeg.
“We have seen a bit of lift in terms of the U.S. market coming here,” Chomiak told CJOB News. The FIFA Women’s World Cup games in Winnipeg also helped tourism, he said.
Meanwhile, the Greater Grand Forks Convention and Visitors Bureau said there have been fewer hotel stays in North Dakota, possibly because Manitobans have cut back on U.S. shopping trips.
“Our occupancy is down a little bit from last year at the same time, so it is having an impact,” said Julie Rygg, the tourism bureau’s executive director. “Our sales tax collection is still up. What we’re thinking is Manitobans are still coming, but maybe less often, or maybe not staying as long.”
The loonie was at 76.7 cents US at the close of trading Wednesday, its lowest value against the American dollar since Sept. 1, 2004.
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