Cold driving people south

It seems the drop in the thermometer last month caused a spike in travel plans among local residents— particularly for destinations south.
“We’ve been extremely busy,” said Pat Herr, manager of International Travel Services here.
“There are a lot of people travelling this year,” agreed Wendy Spottiswood, owner of Border Travel American Express. “I would say probably 10-15 percent more [than last year].”^But the increase in travel may not just be the result of the bitter cold snap.
“9/11 hurt us bad and last year it was just starting to come back,” noted Herr, adding it’s difficult to tell if the high traffic this year is due to the cold or the fact people are willing to travel again.
“But the weather always helps,” she admitted.
Spottiswood also said this increase appears to be part of a trend. “It’s been on a steady increase since about two years ago,” she remarked.
Some of the more popular destinations for those seeking to escape the winter doldrums include the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Mexico.
“Mexico is always a favourite in this area,” Spottiswood noted. “It’s good value for the dollar.”^The cold spell hasn’t been limited to the Borderland area—and neither has the urge to go south.
“That’s how you can tell if a lot of people from Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario are travelling.
We’re not seeing the sell-offs that we usually see this time of year,” noted Spottiswood.
This increase in demand means seats are going fast, particularly for last-minute travellers.
“Space is limited,” she warned.
“There is some one-week space, but not a lot of two-week space, if any.”^Spottiswood stressed it’s important to book early to get the times and destinations you want.