(Dreamstime)

By David Opinko

2020 sees record campsite usage at provincial parks

Dec 31, 2020 | 2:27 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – With not many other options for recreation this year, Albertans flocked to provincial parks.

Alberta Parks announced Thursday that a new all-time record has been set for campsite bookings.

“Wow! Here’s to another incredible camping season We processed a record-breaking 288,000 campsite bookings online in 2020. That’s a lot of camping trips taken, s’mores consumed and memories made! Thank you for choosing Alberta Parks. We can’t wait to see you all next year!”

The exact number, provided by the Alberta Tourism Market Monitor, is 288,113 from the period of January to the end of November.

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Meanwhile, visitation to national parks was down in the first 11 months of this year compared to the same period in 2019.

That number fell in both Banff and Jasper by 25.5 per cent and in Waterton by 7.5 per cent.

Many of the other statistics from the Alberta Tourism Market Monitor have not been updated for November.