E. Idaho tourism still rebounding from recession

After a crippling downturn during the recession, some say Idaho’s tourism industry is finally back from the brink.

According to the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce, the Southeast Idaho region saw a 12.2 percent increase in tourism beginning last summer.

“No question about it. People are getting more interested in traveling,” said Larry Fisher, who owns the Black Swan Inn in Pocatello and the Destinations Inn in Idaho Falls.

Fisher said his hotels have seen a 10 to 20 percent increase in occupancy since July. It’s a welcome change.

“When the recession hit back in 2008 … our occupancy at our hotels did drop quite a bit,” said Fisher.

Fisher isn’t alone. In fact, the Chamber of Commerce said many hotels are just getting back to normal.

“As recent as last year, our hotels were still down and trying to recover from the recession,” said Matt Hunter, president of the local chamber. “This is looking like the first year that we’re really gonna come out and have a great year in tourism.”

Gov. “Butch” Otter recently appointed Hunter to the eight-member Idaho Travel Council. There, Hunter said he plans to interest Canadian tourists in Southeast Idaho.

“They have a lot of travel time. They get a lot of vacation up there,” said Hunter. “A halfway point between Calgary and Las Vegas is Pocatello, so we’re trying to get them to stop on their way through.”

The Travel Council will be meeting in March, after which, Hunter said he plans to make a trip to Canada.

Fisher said during the fourth quarter, which runs from October to December, he noticed a 30 percent uptick in web traffic for his hotels.