Vancouver businesses optimistic despite cancellation of first cruise ship arrival
CTV
Businesses in downtown Vancouver are remaining optimistic despite cruise ship season being delayed.
Businesses in downtown Vancouver are remaining optimistic despite cruise ship season being delayed.
The first cruise ship scheduled to dock in Vancouver since 2019 has cancelled its visit, meaning the first arrival in the city will happen on April 10, rather than April 7.
“(We’re) slightly disappointed, but these things happen,” said Wally Wargolet, executive director of the Gastown Business Improvement Association.
However, Wargolet says that the past two years have been devastating for Gastown businesses, many of whom heavily rely on tourism.
"Folks saw revenues down 80, 90 per cent and in some cases, we did have some businesses close," he said.
For MAKE Gastown, a newly opened gift shop, 2022 will be the first cruise ship season.
“The whole COVID-19 pandemic has been a whole lot of pivots and turns, so it was disappointing, but not surprising,” said store manager John Ong of the delayed start to the season.