Bonners Ferry Local Guide including all of Boundary County Idaho

Gas prices fail to put brakes on tourism

Tuesday, June 5, 2007; DB

"We've been busier this year than every year before," said Baillie, a reservations for Sandpoint Vacation Rentals. "Most of our units are filled for the summer. It's been a very, very busy time." A recent Associated Press survey indicated gas prices, which on Monday dipped to a $3.15 national average, was creating hardships for 46 percent of respondents. But slightly fewer said they were restricting their vacations. Some said they are cutting their getaways by a day; others are ruling out vacations. In Sandpoint, it's business as usual -- maybe even better. "I don't think we'll feel it in terms of reduced traffic and people coming to town," said Judy Baird, executive director for Sandpoint Area Chamber of Commerce. "I think however people in the Northwest will look for opportunities to travel closer to home and explore more of what's in their backyard." Baird said she's noticed traffic increasing and has seen vehicles with license plates from around the country. Visitors who recently signed the guest book at the chamber's Fifth Avenue visitors' bureau came from Minnesota, Montana, Washington, Michigan, California, Oregon, Virginia, New York, Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Missouri, England, Canada and Vermont, she said. The most have been from Canada and then Washington. "Early indications are people are traveling," Baird said. "I think what may change is the frequency of trips. Instead of three to four trips, they may take one stay-a-little-longer trip." "As a society, we are in love with our vehicles and love to travel." Sandpoint Vacation Rentals manages more than 50 properties including condominiums, and single-family and waterfront homes. "Sandpoint is growing and growing and people are flooding to this area," Baillie said. "I think for vacation, it hasn't slowed things." When it's hot in the Southwest, gas prices won't keep people away from the Northwest, said Jack Miller, manager for Holiday Shores Resort & Marina in East Hope. "This weekend, it was busy," Miller said. "I just dropped my gas prices down to $3.23 a gallon. If it stays like this . . . people will get accustomed to it." For a third year in a row, the 180-dock marina on Lake Pend Oreille is full. Schweitzer Mountain Resort also expects to keep busy. "We have Selkirk Lodge and White Pine Lodge, and so far, we're looking at a pretty typical summer," said Jennifer Ekstrom, communication manager for Schweitzer. At Wal-Mart in Ponderay, sales are up over last year, said manager Will VanCorbach. He's noticed, however, that people are making fewer trips to the Highway 95 Supercenter and buying more. "We're still getting our normal amount of people from Canada and Montana," VanCorbach said. "The Canadians are chartering buses. I've had one once a week for the last couple weeks." At Dub's Drive-In on Highway 2 West, weather dictates business not gasoline prices. "Over the weekend, we did good," said owner Marty Mire. "It's the first time in June we've been this busy." Mire isn't sure what to expect from the tourist season, noting that 90 percent of his customers are local. AAA of Idaho says the Gem State ranks 13th among states as an affordable place to travel. The average food-and-lodging cost per day for a family of four is just over $220, less than the national average of $270. The cheapest spots to vacation are North Dakota, at about $187 a day. Hawaii is the most expensive at $650 daily. - Full Story