A director of the Saskatchewan Country Vacations Association says 2003 was a bad year for the industry.
The association gained nine new members but lost 12, said Sharon Oberding, who runs the Prairie Rose Bed and Breakfast in Moose Jaw.
“There were several that closed partly because of the age of their owners and some of it was just a financial thing. Tourism was slow this year.”
For country vacation farms that also raise cattle, the BSE crisis resulted in a double whammy this year.
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The association now has 92 members who operate bed and breakfasts, guest houses and guest ranches in communities from Aylesbury to Yorkton.
More than two-thirds are located outside the province’s six major cities, but there are a growing number of urban businesses joining the association.
That prompted a debate at the Feb. 6-7 annual general meeting about taking the word “country” out of the association’s name. Oberding said a new name hasn’t yet been chosen.
Continue program
The association did decide to continue participating in CAA Saskatchewan’s Show Your Card and Save program.
“We reviewed that this year and decided to run it for another year.”
The program gives CAA members a 10 percent discount for showing their card at businesses that belong to the Saskatchewan Country Vacations Association. In return, CAA lists the bed and breakfasts in one of its magazines. Last year was the first year of the partnership.
“It didn’t get widely used but I think a lot of people that have CAA cards don’t really realize yet that we’re doing this,” Oberding said.
The association relies heavily on membership fees for its funding, but despite the slight decline in numbers in 2003, finances look good.
“The organization as a whole is sitting pretty well right now,” said Oberding, who didn’t feel comfortable divulging 2003 revenues.
