Cape Breton anticipates banner year for tourism

It's shaping up to be a banner tourism season on Cape Breton.

Some operators are reporting higher numbers through the spring, and others say bookings have been coming in earlier and in greater numbers than prior years.

"All indicators are that it's going to be a very strong season," said Dave Cameron, owner of Mabou River Inn. Bookings at his inn are up about 50 per centcompared to 2016, which was itself a strong year.

"So really a significant increase," he said.

Earlier bookings

In Baddeck, accommodations operators are seeing more of the same.DickGrubb, owner ofBaddeckHeritage House Bed and Breakfast, said he is almost totally booked up through to mid-October.

"The bookings came in extremely early this year, starting in November, December, January, as opposed to February, March and April," he said.

The Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique has been seeing travelers arriving earlier than usual.

"Even around April we had some international visitors. And certainly by the beginning of May there was a fair number at all ourSundayceilidhs every week," said executive director Cheryl Smith.

"I haven't really seen that before."

Help wanted

More bodies to lodge and feed does create some challenges.

Mainstreet Restaurant and Bakery in Ingonish Beach has had trouble hiring enough staff for the summer, said owner John Williams, who blames population decline in the rural community.

"A lot of businesses are struggling just to get by with what they have, and even closing for certain times because we just don't have the people to be able to supply the services," said Williams.

Another challenge is the scarcity of large-scale accommodations that can handle bus tours and other big groups, said Cameron.

Festival, golf course factor

The tourism season in Cape Breton has expanded in recent years from aboutfour to sixweeks to about three to fourmonths, said Cameron, who credits the Celtic Colours International Festival and the Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs golf courses in Inverness with attracting more tourists in the shoulder seasons.

"So there's a lot of different things that are happening and it's just made the demand a lot higher than it used to be," he said.

• Tourism in Cape Breton is already heating up for next summer