Campgrounds in northeast Ontario (Canada) and around the province anticipate a camping season free of COVID-19 restrictions.
As per a report, Camping in Ontario‘s executive director, Alexandra Anderson, said campground owners aren’t expecting the same camping boom experienced last year when campers sought to get rid of COVID-19 fatigue.
However, the provincial association noted that having fewer public health restrictions to account for makes preparing for the season less stressful.
“The owners are ecstatic. The last two years, they haven’t been able to, for example, run any of the events,” Anderson said.
All the events are back, so they’re able to welcome their guests into their campground, as they did pre-pandemic.
Timmins-based Big Water Campground is putting final touches on its site to prepare for what owner Forrest Tremblay hopes will be a busy season.
The site is expected to include new lots this year, which Tremblay hopes will help meet the increased demand that he noticed in 2021.
“We’re just hoping that interest continues, but seemingly it is,” Tremblay said.
“Fewer restrictions make things a little bit easier, a little more seamless at the gate. A little bit easier for people to have guests, a little bit easier for our regular campers. That’s something I think everyone’s happy about,” Tremblay added.
Anderson said that seasonal campgrounds such as Big Water could see a higher turnout than others because of a desire to spend a vacation in one place due to rising gas prices.
Anderson added that other campgrounds could have a more relaxed season as COVID-19 fatigue is waning.
“This year, they’re actually going to be pleasantly surprised that they’re able to go, maybe, to their favorite campground that they haven’t been able to go to for the last two years,” Anderson said.
This story originally appeared on CTV News. Featured image from Camping in Ontario.