Helijet
and Oak Bay Marine Group launch Eco Adventure Tours to
Discovery Archipelago
More BC residents and
international visitors will have an opportunity to
observe bears in their natural habitat along the wilds of
coastal BC thanks to the new Wildlife Adventure Safaris
launched by Helijet International and the Oak Bay Marine
Group (OBMG). Helijet
International (see
page 1), North
America's largest scheduled helicopter airline, currently
operates a shuttle service between downtown Vancouver,
Victoria and Seattle, and a growing charter business from
its facility at Vancouver International Airport. As of
Oct. 1, 2001, Helijet will also offer three daily return
flights between Langley and Abbotsford airports and
downtown Victoria.
Helijet president and
CEO Danny Sitnam has now teamed up with OBMG to
capitalize on the growing adventure tourism business on
BC's central coast. The new service will whisk passengers
away from downtown Vancouver on a magical helicopter ride
to Quadra Island and the Discovery
Archipelago.
Launched in 1962 with
one marina in Oak Bay, Victoria-based OBMG has expanded
to include 18 divisions in three countries including
resorts, tourist attractions, restaurants and marinas.
OBMG is now North America's biggest adventure tourism
operator featuring eco-adventure activities such as
nature tours, bear viewing, whale watching, kayaking,
ocean rapids and much more.
"There's so much to see
and do in British Columbia, for many people it's really
just a matter of finding the time to get to their
destinations," said Sitnam. "This new venture gives us a
chance to do for the leisure traveller what we've been
doing for the business commuter for the past 15 years,
that's save them time and money."
The Wildlife Adventure
Safaris include round trip helicopter travel to and from
downtown Vancouver, one night's accommodation at April
Point Resort on Quadra Island or Painter's Lodge in
Campbell River and an exciting wildlife adventure tour
through the Discovery Archipelago.
The Discovery
Archipelago is part of a chain of islands that shelter
the British Columbia coastline between Hardwicke Island
and Savoury Island. The fleet of BC Ferries that services
some of them is not as large, nor are the sailings as
frequent, as that serving the Gulf Islands. Other islands
can only be reached by private transportation such as
water taxis, kayaks, canoes, or powerboats, and
occasionally airplanes.
"The scenery on the way
to Painter's Lodge and April Point Resort is so
breathtaking that getting there is half the fun," said
Sitnam. "When people travel by helicopter, they're amazed
at how close such pristine and rugged wilderness really
is to Vancouver and Victoria."
At April Point Resort
and Painter's Lodge, safari adventurers will enjoy all
the comforts of OBMG's first-class ocean front resorts,
including full service restaurants, swimming pool, tennis
courts, golf and more.
From there, it's an
exciting outdoor experience with "Hurricane Jack", OBMG
Director of Adventure, whose wit, knowledge and
competence has set the standard for the burgeoning
outdoor adventure industry. Folks can challenge
themselves to an extreme Ocean Rapids Tour guaranteed to
have them white-knuckled, wide-eyed and wet, or
experience the thrill of a wildlife adventure tour
through the Discovery Archipelago in search of bears in
their natural habitat.
Safari adventurers can
also expect to see eagles, seabirds, Stellar sea lions,
seals, orca whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins and
Dall's porpoises as they travel through some of the most
breathtakingly beautiful wilderness in the world. When
the adventure draws to an end, passengers will return to
Vancouver in style and comfort onboard a Helijet
helicopter.
Tickets for the Wildlife
Adventure Safaris are $445 per person, based on double
occupancy, and can be purchased by calling
1-800-663-7090. Space is limited so advance reservations
are required. For more information, visit
www.obmg.com
Helijet International is
a Canadian-owned company, publicly listed on the Canadian
Venture Exchange. The company is North America's largest
scheduled helicopter airline, winning numerous awards for
its helicopter service and safety excellence. For more
information, visit www.helijet.com.
Contact:
Rick Hill, VP Marketing
and Commercial Alliances
Tel:(604) 273-4688
Email: rickhill@helijet.com
Helijet International
Inc. 5911 Airport Road South, Richmond, BC, Canada V7B
1B5Tel: (604) 273-4688 Fax: (604) 273-5301 Website:
www.helijet.com CDNX Listing HJI
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