I've come to the conclusion that chasing that elusive tourist might just be for the birds.
There's been some debate recently over what Delta is doing, or perhaps not doing, to bolster our tourism fortunes, although I've long wondered whether an argument in that vein is a bit of a moot point.
Let's face it, there's not a whole lot in these parts, with one notable exception, that would attract out-of-towners in any great numbers. Don't get me wrong, Delta is a great place to live, but nice, quiet, safe bedroom communities aren't necessarily the draw for tourists you'd think they'd be.
The one hook we do enjoy, thanks to our strategic location, is an abundance of bird life. If we're not tops in Canada in the annual Christmas Bird Count, we're pretty darn close, so if this community is going to hang its hat on anything tourism-wise, it would have to be our feathered friends.
It would make sense then to alert birders from all over the globe about the opportunities available here, hoping they'd flock to our shores to spend copious amounts of their disposable income. The only problem is that even if we can get them in the door, so to speak, we're not really in a position to capitalize.
Their activity of choice, save for a nominal admission fee at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary on Westham Island, is free of charge and they're likely to arrive with all their own gear. We could try to score when it comes to lodging, food or shopping, three of the big ways to monetize tourist visits, but we're definitely leaner than most similar-sized jurisdictions in those regards.
It seems to me we could spend a bunch of money trying to lure tourists, and even if we're successful in our recruitment efforts, we could still be disappointed with the results. They could drive in and out of town without spending a nickel, much like they did a number of years back when Ladner merchants had a difficult time trying to cash in on what was then known as the Snow Goose Festival.
That's not to say there aren't places in town that would benefit from a concerted and sustained effort to attract tourists because there certainly are, but I'm not convinced there would be enough rewards to justify that kind of undertaking, particularly one financed by civic dollars.
Attracting tourists and showcasing our attributes are worthy goals, but unless we can stick our hands in visitors' pockets when they're here, it seems to me their charm quickly wanes.
