The arrival of Holland America鈥檚 cruise ship Zaandam at Ogden Point this week signals the start of the cruise season for Victoria. The vessel is the first of 207 ships scheduled to stop here on their way to and from Alaska. The hundreds of thousands of tourists those ships will bring are a boon to businesses and a bane to many James Bay residents.
Tourism is often touted as a sustainable industry, one that takes advantage of nature without depleting it. Visitors arriving by ship are treated to a magnificent harbour approach, and then the charms of the Inner Harbour itself, before fanning out to view and photograph the flowers, scenery, historic sites and other attractions with which the region is blessed.
But it鈥檚 not all flowers and fresh air for those whose homes lie close to the pier and along the route to downtown. They put up with noise, traffic and diesel fumes while deriving no direct benefits from the tourism trade. A water shuttle implemented this year to ease road traffic will help a little, but the fact remains that tourism will always bring traffic.
Tourism is important to Victoria, but it鈥檚 an industry that brings disruption and congestion to a community even as it brings in money. The industry鈥檚 impact must be managed, for its sake, as well as for the communities it affects.
Let鈥檚 welcome the cruise-ship visitors 鈥� as they beam their selfies and scenic shots around the world, our region becomes better known 鈥� but let鈥檚 also ensure the rights of residents are respected.
