A low Canadian dollar means extra tourism for Caribbean Carnival this weekend
Posted July 30, 2015 8:28 pm.
Last Updated July 30, 2015 8:30 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Canadian dollar may be sinking in value but, as Toronto prepares for this weekend’s Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival, the local tourism industry is expected to cash in.
The annual event is always a big draw. Around 1.2 million people turned up last year. But the weak Loony is likely to bring even more attendees from south of the border this year.
“We have tonnes of Americans coming here because their dollar is strong compared to the Canadian dollar,” Caribbean Carnival CAO Chris Alexander said.
Also a good sign for the 2015 installment of the carnival is that it lands between the Pan Am and Parapan Am games. Many people will have come to town to enjoy both the athletics and this weekends festivities, Alexander said.
Ken Gruber of Chelsea Hotel Toronto said business is always good around Caribbean Carnival time.
“But I think there seems to be a lot more going on in the city this weekend. Not just (the carnival) but everything from the Blue Jays, to different festivals… and also the aftermath of Pan Am,” he said.
