With the return of the Canadian Tulip Festival, hundreds of thousands of flowers are blooming in the capital, kicking off a busy summer season of festivals that draw in waves of visitors. Ottawa Tourism says the national capital region welcomes 9.8 million visitors every year. Grant Killorn says he has visited Ottawa many times before but being able to take in the tulips this year is a first. “Oh, they’re so beautiful,” he said. “It’s so nice just to be able to take note and see the beauty of it since I’ve heard about it for so long.” He’s from Prince Edward Island and says family, concerts and tourist sites often draw him to the city. “It’s one of my favourite cities,” he said. The start of the Canadian Tulip Festival marks the beginning of Ottawa’s busiest tourism season. Jo Hall, executive director of the Canadian Tulip Festival, says the event can bring in hundreds of thousands of people each year, and the majority of them come from outside the capital region. “We really do kick off the entire festival season,” she said. “We’re literally the fourth festival in line in Ontario.” Hall says the free festival alone creates a $50 million economic boost. “That’s why it’s a little hard to find a hotel room during the festival season,” she said. “We do see a lot of folks from all around the world and when we’re driving our ‘Tulip Taxis’ up and down the park as a little golf cart ride, you get to meet so many people. The best part is seeing our city from their eyes.” In Little Italy, Nathan Bouchard at Evoo Greek Kitchen says events like this and Italian Week help bring in new faces and regulars. “Definitely more reservations on during the Tulip Festival,” he said. “A normal Sunday, we’ll do 50 to 60 covers for lunch. We’re going to probably do 100 to 200 today, and that’s before dinner time. We’re raring to go.” Coming from Newfoundland, Buena McIntosh says she didn’t want to miss the blooms while she visited with family and friends for Mother’s Day. “They’re beautiful and they’re just, you know, a sign of spring. It’s just nice to be here.”
