My feelings exactly, are with Elaine Thompson’s letter (A New Game Plan, The NEWS, March 26).
She is right, we don’t need any fancy expensive overpasses from the beach to businesses, nor do we need any under-passes.
We have street lights that work and can direct traffic without any extra costs. Parksville does not qualify or operate as a tourist-friendly city.
We moved here two years ago from a small town in Saskatchewan where stores were open until 9:30 p.m., the bars were swinging, happy hours invited people to partake with live music and bars were open until 1 a.m.
Now we are here, and love it by the way, but were shocked to see that the streets fold up at 6 p.m. There is nothing exciting happening or going on.
Our bars and restaurants have to come alive with live music on the streets, crafters and artists on the streets in downtown to invite the tourists here.
Things like the Craig Street market should happen nightly through the peak season. Perhaps a scheduled bus service from our nice beaches to our downtown services would help.
We have just returned from Waikiki beach, though on a larger scale, Parksville and Qualicum Beach should be able to copy most of the tourist actions.
The restaurants thrive from breakfast through happy hour and supper time. The streets are lined with tourists where all the stores are open late and musicians and crafters are on the street.
Let’s face it, we are both beach resort towns but on different scales. The new Parksville/Qualicum Beach tourism Association is suggesting promoting the outskirts and small centers. How about having scheduled bus tours around town and to the outskirts for example: Errington, Coombs, Qualicum River Falls, Englishman River Falls, Bowser and Horne Lake Caves?
We have nice beaches, we have the resorts and hotels we have bars and restaurants.
If we expect to bring more tourists to our town, we cannot fold up the streets at 6 p.m. If all there is to do after six is to sit in our hotel room and watch television, tourism will not work to its full advantage. Tourists can stay home and watch television.
Gord Roney
French Creek
