Despite variable weather, throngs of tourists bore down on the Jasper townsite and surrounding campgrounds for the much anticipated May long weekend.

Cars lined Connaught and Patricia Streets as tourists ventured in and outs of shops and furnished themselves with camping supplies. According to Jasper National Park spokesman Sean Nardella, about 75 per cent of the 1300 campsites spread across Pocahontas, Wapiti, Whistlers and Snaring campgrounds were booked, which is about average for the May long weekend.

Given the economic downturn, concerns have obviously been raised regarding summer business prospects, but if the May long weekend is any indicator, it bodes well for the rest of the season. Businesses on Patricia Street were busy with Glen Leitch of the Patricia Street Deli saying that “we were cranked” on Thursday and Friday and that he is looking forward to a successful summer.

Dave MacDowell, owner of the Wild Mountain/North Face store was similarly enthusiastic, saying that the foot traffic was “quite good” and that weekend success “bodes well for the summer.” Bruno Tassoni of Mac’s Convenience store also thinks that the weekend was a good indicator for summer success even though business was average, “not super, not dismal,” he added. Even though Cam Jenkins of Jasper Wine Merchants does not believe the long weekend is a good indicator for the rest of summer and is weather dependent, he said his business was “average, maybe a little bit better.”

Councillors were also taking a relatively positive view of the weekend, given the hard economic times. Coun. Rico Damota, who also manages the D’ed Dog at the Astoria Hotel said that their numbers were pretty much the same as last year and the front desk manager informed him that as of 8 p.m. on Saturday, there were only six hotel rooms left in Jasper.

Coun. Brian Skehill, who is also employed by the Jasper Inn said that the hotel was full all weekend, and Coun. Ralph Melnyk, manager at Pocahontas Cabins, echoed Skehill’s statement.

Coun. Mike Day, who is also a partner in Evil Dave’s restaurant said that his business was higher this long weekend than the long weekend last year. “It was solid from our perspective,” he said, adding that Jasper has been getting lots of press through Parks Canada’s ad campaign during the hockey playoffs. “My gut instinct is that this is a tell-tale for the summer time,” he said.

Although Damota said that the May long weekend is associated with more regional tourist traffic, Day sees this as a positive, saying that “regional traffic is where it’s going to be.”