As more Canadians choose to explore their own country this summer, the owner of a chocolate shop located on Vancouver’s picturesque Granville Island has noticed a significant increase in local visitors compared to past years.
Vince Garcia, the owner of Kasama Chocolate, remarked on the growing number of visitors from various regions across Canada. “We’ve seen a rise in visitors from the Maritimes to the Prairies and even within B.C. Granville Island has been bustling with tour buses full of visitors,” Garcia shared.
This surge in Canadian visitors contrasts with the usual international tourist traffic from previous years. “In the past, we mainly welcomed Asian tourists followed by Americans and Europeans. However, this year, we are seeing a notable increase in Canadian visitors, likely due to the current global situation, with many opting for ‘staycations’ and exploring different parts of Canada,” Garcia explained.
Early forecasts suggest a promising tourism season in British Columbia, with Canadian tourists arriving from all corners of the country, as reported by Destination BC. Maya Lange, the vice president of global marketing at Destination BC, highlighted the trend of Canadians choosing to explore British Columbia over traveling to the U.S.
Despite uncertainties surrounding trade and geopolitical tensions, Kasama Chocolate continues to source ingredients from the U.S., expressing gratitude for the support from Canadian customers. Garcia emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses, particularly during challenging times. He mentioned plans to explore sourcing more ingredients from places like Southeast Asia in the future to mitigate risks and costs.
Recently, Kasama Chocolate received 13 awards at the International Chocolate Awards of the Americas, including the coveted title for the best flavor for their B.C. strawberry white chocolate. Garcia hopes that this recognition will attract more local customers to their shop and foster support for B.C. chocolate artisans.
“It’s crucial to back our local businesses, so if you can, please show your support for local artisans and creators,” Garcia urged.