Victoria’s tourism industry has maintained last year’s strong pace through the first quarter of 2019, but the spectre of the region’s labour shortage is hanging over the industry as it heads into the busiest months of the year.

Frank Bourree, hospitality industry consultant with Chemistry Consulting, said the region’s labour shortage is real and will likely mean tourism operators will have to go under-staffed again this year.

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“This year we may scrape by,” said Bourree, noting last year some hotels operated with dozens of positions unfilled. “It won’t be any better this year.”

The shortages have been most acute in the kitchens of restaurants and hotels, and in the housekeeping departments.

Bourree said students looking for work can basically name an entry-level job and it’s theirs, and they should expect to be making above minimum wage.

That’s down to Victoria’s diverse economy ticking over smoothly with entry-level and advanced positions available across the spectrum from high-tech and shipbuilding to construction and tourism.

Victoria’s unemployment rate remains the second lowest in the country at 3.0 per cent.

Bourree said the shortage of labour will translate into more hotel guests having to wait until later in the day to get into their rooms, or facing some delays in food service at restaurants.

But he doesn’t think it will be enough to tarnish the visitor experience, or have visitors opting for other destinations. “There will be more complaints, but we have such a good reputation for being a friendly, safe environment and for having courteous staff, I think that will carry us for a while,” he said.

Ian Robertson, chief executive of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, said the labour shortage is an issue across Canada and the U.S.

“It’s early to say, based on the start of the season, where there might be pinch points,” he said, though he noted an early cruise- ship season job fair did attract about 200 job seekers.

“Based on reports from various partners, there are job openings that are being filled. Hiring has been going well as the season ramps up,” he said.

The shortage hasn’t affected the tourist traffic so far this year.

Through the first quarter, ended March 31, hotels were reporting 63.8 per cent occupancy, a slight increase from the 63.3 per cent through the first three months of last year.

Revenue per available room was also up slightly to $89.05 from $87.33 last year.

B.C. Ferries ridership was also flat through the first quarter, with vehicle numbers at 374,810 this year compared with 372,781 in 2018, and passenger numbers were also virtually unchanged at 1.08 million this year compared with 1.07 million in 2018.

The number of passengers through Victoria International Airport’s gates so far this year was also flat, with 434,197 this year compared with 435,153 last year over the same period.