Tourism operators in Cape Breton reporting their busiest winter in years

It’s been a cold winter, but nonetheless it’s been great for outdoor activities - and some tourism operators in the Cape Breton Highlands are reporting one of their busiest winters in recent years.

On Wednesday, a group of snowmobilers took a trip into the heart of the Highlands with a guided tour that started and finished on Hunter’s Mountain.

Most of the participants were visiting from off-Island, and for one person, it wasn’t just any winter getaway.

“It was a milestone birthday. We won’t discuss the number,” Cathy Henderson of Halifax said with a laugh.

For the occasion, Henderson and her husband took a few days to snowmobile through the Highlands and ski at Cape Smokey.

“Well, it was kind of on my bucket list - snowmobiling - and we ski anyway, we’re outdoorsy,” Henderson said.

Some tourism operators say the couple choosing Cape Breton for their mid-winter trip is an example of something larger – it seems more people are coming to the island this winter for a taste of outdoor adventure.

“This month has been exceptional,” said Turk Tower, a snowmobile guide with T & T Outdoor Adventures. “I think I have three days that I’m not scheduled to go snowmobiling.”

On the other side of the Cabot Trail at Ski Cape Smokey, this has been their busiest season since reopening in the winter of 2021.

However, management would like to see more one-off visits to the resort become regulars on the slopes.

“January was about 35 per cent more visitation than last year,” said Martin Kejval, CEO of Cape Smokey Holdings. “I think people are finally realizing that Ingonish, and the wider area of Ingonish, is Nova Scotia’s winter playground.”

Any increase in winter tourism also means spinoffs in other communities in the Cape Breton Highlands for services like accommodations and places to eat.

“There’s quite an increase in some of the occupancy at some hotels,” said Dan Coffin, tourism and recreation manager for Victoria County.

Still, Coffin would like to see winter visitation in the area get even busier.

“(In the) summertime, we’re probably pushing 80 per cent for occupancy,” Coffin said. “In the winter, it’s not even close – not even half that, so there’s lots of room to grow.”

With the snow typically hanging around a bit longer at higher elevations, some operators - like Ski Cape Smokey - can often stay open for winter tourism well into April.

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