With less border restrictions, more tourists are arriving and booking campgrounds
Campgrounds across Nova Scotia have suddenly gotten pretty busy.
If the August long weekend was a litmus test for how the industry has been doing now that things have opened up a bit, it appears that the lull has passed.
"We were sold out," said Darrell Bernard, the co-owner of the Kluskap Ridge Campground in Englishtown, N.S.
He says being filled to capacity on the long weekend was a chance to make up for lost money.
After very little traffic the first month they were open, during the third wave back in the spring.
"We've got campers coming in from Ontario, New Brunswick, Quebec, and we've got bookings from Americans," Bernard said. "They're coming - sooner or later, I know."
Lee Fraser is the owner of Live Life in Tents, which is based in the Margaree area.
"You know, everything around here in rural Cape Breton's quite busy," Fraser says. "The traffic has picked up."
While he says they have been at, or near, capacity themselves, he wants to see the success shared with other accommodations and businesses all along the Cabot Trail.
"A lot of businesses that we deal with, that we send people to, were feeling the hit," Fraser said. "So, hopefully, they -- everybody -- gets a slice of the pie this year."
Nova Scotia's Department of Lands and Forests is responsible for provincial park campgrounds.
A spokesperson tells CTV News that for the month of June, camper nights increased by 36 per cent compared to the same month in 2019 - before the pandemic.
For July, camper nights were up three per cent compared to two years ago.
Terry Smith is the CEO of Destination Cape Breton.
"Just in the last couple of weeks, we've really seen that the traffic is picking up," Smith says.
He says after a slow start to the season in July, the recent influx of campers is having an impact on the bottom line.
"Whether that's in restaurants, or gas stations, or going to various attractions," Smith said.
Bernard recommends anyone looking to camp the rest of the summer book at least a couple of weeks in advance.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.