LOUISE LOIK
E d i t o r
Tourism has had a heck of a boost in the
last couple of weeks.
Two weeks ago, a Vancouver hiking group
came over to walk Killarney Lake trails with
150 of their 400 members. “We find a different
place every week where we can walk
10 kilometres,” said hiker Monica Mo. This
was their 115th hike as a club. They arrived
in Horseshoe Bay by tour buses, walked into
Crippen Park, some with dogs or children,
and picnicked in the sun in the bike park and
around the picnic tables, lakeside.
Just a few days later, on Wednesday, 300
tourists from India, in B.C. for two weeks,
arrived by boats organized out of Horseshoe
Bay. As the top Indian producers for Asian
Paints, the group celebrated their success with
a corporate event on the Union Steamships
lawn and the Bowfest field. The group started
their tour earlier in the week in Victoria, and
after Bowen headed to Whistler. Because this
event was staged in New York City last year,
the company was looking for the antithesis of
big city excitement this year, instead wanting
to focus on the beauty of nature.
Doc Morgan’s staff helped at the event
where there was everything from mini golf
to races, a sit-down meal, live music and
dancing before wrapping up at 4 p.m. Union
Steamship, Doc Morgan’s and Sewell’s are in
conversation with Thomas Cook Vacations
of India to bring smaller groups of tourists to
Bowen from India next year.
