It should hardly come as a surprise that the Delta Visitor Centre saw the number of warm bodies walking through the front door decrease for the third straight year in 2012.
That's not a knock on the centre and its staff, or a reflection on the attractions in these parts, but rather a simple recognition of the ever-evolving way in which tourists gather information about the places they visit.
It wasn't that many years ago that planning a trip to pretty much anywhere in North America necessitated, at least for me, a stop at the nearest BCAA office to pick up guidebooks and maps.
These were integral tools in figuring out not only how to get there but what I'd find upon arrival. These guidebooks were a treasure trove of information, listing hotels, restaurants, attractions and more in one indispensable and, invariably, dog-eared package.
I enjoyed flipping through them for hours in anticipation of a holiday, although I must admit I can't remember the last time I cracked one open. The Internet has, in many respects, made the guidebook obsolete, while GPS and smart phones have done the same to the printed map.
As for the traditional visitor centre, there's still value in hometown hospitality and insider knowledge, but there's no denying it too has been impacted by the technological revolution. Just as customers are now more informed when they show up in stores thanks to the Internet, travellers are better versed in their destination before they ever leave home. It only stands to reason that fewer of them would then need assistance once they hit the ground.
I suspect the Delta Visitor Centre, along with others throughout the province and beyond, will have to adapt to maintain their relevance. In Delta's case, fewer people coming through the front door doesn't necessarily equate to fewer visitors to the area or a reduced need to promote local attractions and businesses.
In the 21st century visitors are accessing information in a different way, so that means the Delta Chamber of Commerce-run centre must cater to that new reality.
Its enhanced web presence is a good start and will likely be the building block of future initiatives.
Up until now the effectiveness of a visitor centre has largely been measured by the number of people that walk through its doors, but I suspect page views and individual users will replace that kind of calculation. We still need to attract and cater to tourists, but technology dictates we do that in a different way.
