Bay Ferries CEO is commenting on the return of the CAT.
Mark MacDonald discussed what paints the best picture of how the season is going.
“We think the best indication at this point is what the forward sales look like, so we look at those and compare them in great detail against records from previous seasons,” says MacDonald. “We think the pattern is also different this year because of the different factors in the travel market.”
He cited economic challenges such as the price of fuel as a factor in this tourism season.
On June 7th Bay Ferries stated they had, at that time, sold tickets for approximately 15,100 passengers.
MacDonald says the numbers right now are similar to the 2017-18 seasons, adding they also decided to start this season earlier than usual.
Nova Scotians are currently able to buy a ticket on the Yarmouth to Bar Harbor, Maine, ferry for 50% off.
MacDonald explained why Nova Scotians are getting that discount.
“The ticket prices for the ship are, and have always been, in U.S. dollars. We have in our mind trying to make the price somewhat similar in Canadian currency to what it would be in U.S. currency,” says MacDonald. “it’s never going to be exactly that.”
He adds they’re also hoping it will encourage more Nova Scotians to use the ferry.
The province recently provided information by Bay Ferries on the CAT’s ridership so far.
From May 19th to June 16th the ferry had seen a total of 2888 passengers.
CAT Ferry, File Photo
