YEG - Edmonton Int Airport - Page 408

Rocket252 · #**8141** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 7:01 PM**

I would think the only way to make Jasper well know is to portray it as quiet retreat from the commercialism that is other popular resorts. Whether that is sufficient to generate enough interest remains to be seen but a good transportation system to Jasper from Edmonton would be crucial. The ability to use the Q400 on flights from Edmonton to Jasper/Hinton may make a difference - provided there is sufficient traffic.
It would be the ideal plane.

Hallsy's Toupee · #**8142** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 7:37 PM**

I've known people from the States and Europe who said they preferred Jasper because it's not as commercialized as Banff

Surrealplaces · #**8143** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 7:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hallsy's Toupee

I've known people from the States and Europe who said they preferred Jasper because it's not as commercialized as Banff

There is a small amount of people who are strict nature lovers that will prefer the less commercialized option. A lot of people go to Waterton for that reason. You can even go to places around the Banff area that are just as quiet as Jasper.

By and large though, the vast majority people want the more options, and this is even more-so the case with overseas tour operators.

240glt · #**8144** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 7:52 PM**

I have found that Europeans from places like Germany, Belgium & Switzerland often prefer the more naturalistic, less commercialized areas. This is why they tend to prefer Jasper, and travel extensively in Central and Northern BC. Many cottages up around our place in the Cariboo are owned by people from those regions, and there are always a tonne of Eurpean travellers there in the summer

Surrealplaces · #**8145** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 8:01 PM**

^I've found that it's mixed. Some Europeans prefer less commercialized areas, but their numbers aren't large. You can also go to places near Banff that aren't commercialized such as Kananaskis, or Lake Louise, which is also less commercialized than Jasper.

The number of people if any that skip Banff and instead travel to Jasper and central/northern BC are minute. Nowhere near large enough to affect flights.

240glt · #**8146** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 8:16 PM**

^ I think you're basing those assumptions on emotion rather than fact. I travel in Central BC extensively. I have seen the evidence first hand.

I like Banff well enough, but I can't stand the crowds and the ticky-tackyness is a bit over the top. I think more people than you think prefer quieter, more rustic places to vacation

Coldrsx · #**8147** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 8:21 PM**

Most friends in Europe I know are well aware of Banff/Lake Louise/Calgary and rarely know about or hear of Jasper.

Easily 10 to 1

Rocket252 · #**8148** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 8:28 PM**

And from what I hear there are bus trips from Calgary to Jasper for the ones that do want that sort of non commercial experience.

Unfortunatly that leaves YEG out

Coldrsx · #**8149** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 8:47 PM**

^Brewsters does tours from Banff to Jasper via the icefields.

Jasper and one o nin · #**8150** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 8:53 PM**

I was talking to a US customs officer who works at YEG during the airport trial run, (I got to pose as a US hunter) and he said that the majority of tourists (non-business) coming to Edmonton from thes states are hunters. Can't recall exactly what he said in terms of numbers, but it was much more than I would expect. he also said that about 10% of these hunters have big bucks (no pun intended) and can easily individually spend over $100 thousand dollars when they are here.

240glt · #**8151** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 9:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasper and one o nin

I was talking to a US customs officer who works at YEG during the airport trial run, (I got to pose as a US hunter) and he said that the majority of tourists (non-business) coming to Edmonton from thes states are hunters. Can't recall exactly what he said in terms of numbers, but it was much more than I would expect. he also said that about 10% of these hunters have big bucks (no pun intended) and can easily individually spend over $100 thousand dollars when they are here.

A good friend from back in Vernon spends about six weeks a year in northern BC guiding for wealthy European hunters. The outfit he works for charges in the tens of thousands- per person, not including the flight to get here- for the week long trips. Lat year he got a $10k tip from one of the hunters from Germany

@ Ian, are those poeple you know in Europe younger or older ? The people I primarily encounter on my trips to the Cariboo are in the 45+ year range, and are usually on extended travel. I can see Banff attracting the younger folks, but the older folks likely prefer Jasper

Coldrsx · #**8152** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 9:33 PM**

Most fly into calgary, hit banff/LL/icefields and then go back south to the interior and on to Van... all ages.

Jasper is not even on their radar.

240glt · #**8153** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 9:36 PM**

Very odd that you find that. I don't know about Jasper perse.. I really do not spend much time there... but as I stated, I run into a tonne of Europeans in Central BC, so at least some of them must have those areas on their radar

Surrealplaces · #**8154** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 9:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240glt

^ I think you're basing those assumptions on emotion rather than fact. I travel in Central BC extensively. I have seen the evidence first hand.

I like Banff well enough, but I can't stand the crowds and the ticky-tackyness is a bit over the top. I think more people than you think prefer quieter, more rustic places to vacation

I'm not basing it on emotion. I like Jasper and Banff both, I'm going by the numbers. The number of European tourists that fly into Calgary, and the amount of hotels in Banff/Canmore area that have European guest is vastly different than Jasper or northern BC. Banff is rife with Europeans all year around. The ski hills are chalk full of them and in the summer every hiking trail in the area is full of Europeans. I'm sure there are some Europeans that prefer Jasper...heck there are Calgarians that prefer Japser, but the numbers show they are all going to Banff. I know there are people that prefer a quieter destination, but again the numbers don't suggest it.

As for Central BC I can't say as I haven't spent as much time there as you have, but either way, judging by the amount of hotel and tourist industry in the area, the numbers can't be very large. You probably know lots of people from Europe traveling Central BC, but you also have to keep in mind that there are multiple flights daily from Europe into Calgary, and almost all of them will visit Banff.

LO 044 · #**8155** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 9:57 PM**

Jasper is a ghost town compared to Banff when you are talking the amount of tourists. The odd time i see a tourist, they look very perplexed about how quiet the main street is and how many of the stores are closed early. I must admit i felt the same the last time i went skiing in the area. I'm not saying that Banff is better than Jasper but you can't even compare the two in terms of the amount of foreign tourists. A webcam in both places would be proof enough of the difference.

Coldrsx · #**8156** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 10:05 PM**

^summer is busy, but not on the level that Banff/LL is. Winter season has a decent amount of tourists, but again, largely local/regional.

Surrealplaces · #**8157** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 10:13 PM**

Exactly. Banff isn't better than Japser, just a tasty apple compared to a tasty orange. Why Europeans pick Banff is likely due to amenities and also the European tour operators. I've met hoards of Europeans on the ski hills and most of them book a holiday package from a tour operator. Many of the packages also include Revelstoke, Fernie, Panorama, etc.. Other packages include Whistler, Silver Star, etc..

I like both for different reasons. The bar scene in Banff is great. Very lively and lots of people from around the world. When I was younger it was a great place to pick up

Jasper is more of the true nature park scene.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LO 044

Jasper is a ghost town compared to Banff when you are talking the amount of tourists. The odd time i see a tourist, they look very perplexed about how quiet the main street is and how many of the stores are closed early. I must admit i felt the same the last time i went skiing in the area. I'm not saying that Banff is better than Jasper but you can't even compare the two in terms of the amount of foreign tourists. A webcam in both places would be proof enough of the difference.

Cage · #**8158** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 10:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

There is a small amount of people who are strict nature lovers that will prefer the less commercialized option. A lot of people go to Waterton for that reason. You can even go to places around the Banff area that are just as quiet as Jasper.

By and large though, the vast majority people want the more options, and this is even more-so the case with overseas tour operators.

The problem with nature lover crowd is that they spend considerably less than contemporary tourists. Additionally one can get a lot more density (using the urban term) with contemporary tourists than nature lover crowd.

For these reasons it is sometime not profitable for tourist industry to support the nature lover crowd.

If tent site fees were $200 CAD/night with rack rate of $400/night, the nature loving crowd would be on par with the contemporary crowd.

cyeg66 · #**8159** Posted **Apr 30, 2013, 11:56 PM**

I take the wife and kids to Jasper at least once per year. We love it there, but mostly because it offers what Banff doesn't: a quieter getaway. It's more rugged, has nicer scenery, wildlife walking right in the middle of town, and the fact it's not (as) overrun with tourists and touristy trinkets makes it much more attractive to me. Lots of hiking trails, points of interest, etc. I even like the drive from Edmonton, it gets picturesque only about 45 mins into the trek. I normally cover the drive in approx 3hrs20mins. Don't even think of speeding around Edson or Hinton, tho....

Edit: Lol, my post may seem a tad repetitive. I hadn't read any posts from page 408 yet. Oops!

Hallsy's Toupee · #**8160** Posted **May 1, 2013, 1:23 AM**

Not a big fan of the drive to Jasper. They really need to build bypasses around Edson and Hinton. The stretch between Wabamun and Edson is especially quite boring...bush, bush and more bush. Maybe some enterprising group could open a resort at Chip Lake or something.

An express VIA Rail train between Edmonton and Jasper would be ideal.