After a pandemic slump, outfitters see a much better landscape for the year ahead – CBC.ca

Newfoundland & Labrador

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share by Email

Posted: December 08, 2023

COVID-19 brought many obstacles to Newfoundland and Labrador's outfitting industry, but the head of the province's outfitting association says things are about to change for the better.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association has been hosting its annual general meeting in Deer Lake this week, with 65 companies represented.

Association president Brad LeDrew says it's great to see people return and enter the fold.

"We finally get a chance to see each other. Talk about the trials, tribulations, and also how everything went," LeDrew said.

All 250 of the province's outfitters closed at the beginning of the pandemic, but LeDrew said business is starting to expand once again. He says it gave operators time to reset and rethink their strategies which should pay off now that clients from other countries, particularly the United States, are booking again with family and friends.

"It's a chance that people took to maybe put some work into their lodges, maybe put some time into their business planning [and] marketing," LeDrewsaid.

WATCH| This outfitter is looking forward to what he thinks could be a banner season in 2024:

Show more

"Right now Newfoundland is on the world's bucket list. It always has been," he said.

"I think people are taking the chance now and saying 'let's go there', and we are seeing numbers of bookings that are higher than before. I think '24and 2025 have a good chance of being bumper years. "

But the pandemic isn't the only thing that has had a negative impact on outfitters in recent years.

Parts of the province have declining moose populations, lowersalmon stocks and warming rivers. That concern was most prevalent near the end of July, when the Department of Fisheries and Oceans restricted or closed fishing at certain rivers after reports of dead salmon washing up on localbeaches.

While outfitters like LeDrew say they're watching temperature patterns each year, they aren't panicked about the future of the industry.

"We expect that this year will be totally different. And we will know in the next couple of years if there is a pattern," he said.

"I wouldn't worry about it. We had some great fishing."

Speaking to CBC News, Fisheries, Foresrtry and Agriculture Minister Elvis Loveless said outfitting is an important industry to the province and is looking forward to the season beginning.

"2023 was a good year for our our outdoors, and we look forward to 2024 absolutely," Loveless said.

"And I want to thank them, thank them for what they do for this province and bringing people from outside to explore and enjoy what we have."

Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page .

See the rest here:

After a pandemic slump, outfitters see a much better landscape for the year ahead - CBC.ca