Aah, the staycation.

Many individuals from the work-crazed world are still taking off their allotted vacation time, but increasingly they’re opting to stay home.

The “staycation” has become entrenched.

“I think it definitely has,” says Brian Coombes of Tourism Chilliwack. “It’s the state of the economy and gas prices that are making people consider and choose to have a staycation.”

Chilliwack’s main visitor market is “rubber tire traffic,” meaning those hitting the road from within a three-hour radius from here.

“We’re really a regional tourism destination for the province,” he says.

About half of visitations and overnight stays are actually British Columbians exploring their own province, Coombes points out.

“That is a huge number. You can never take closed-in markets for granted because we spend a lot of money in B.C.”

So while the mandate of Tourism Chilliwack is partially to generate overnight stays because of the 2% hotel tax, Coombes says they know that day trips mean spinoffs for local businesses as well.

“So those who are pulling trailers and boats out of the city these days are looking to Cultus Lake and Harrison Lake because of the proximity,” he says.

The communities of the upper and central Fraser Valley are also key to the success of local tourism hotspots.

“It offers people an opportunity to really study what’s available here in terms of the incredible recreational choices and attractions. The list of options is so long,” he says.

“They may find they don’t have to drive to the Okanagan or to Kamloops to find great quality golf courses and exciting family entertainment.”

The implications of the growing staycation trend are not lost either on Ian Maw, director of marketing for the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa.

“Anything I read regarding people’s travel patterns in this economic environment says people are staying close to home and spending less,” he says.

Occupancy rates for the large resort are still fairly good of late, Maw said, but clients may be spending a little less while they’re there. They may opt to soak in the delicious hot pools at the hotel but skip out on the massage.

“Certainly we’ve see that recently,” he noted.

Spa revenues for the Harrison institution are also down somewhat. Food and beverage sales have dropped “at a greater rate” than room occupancy rates, he underlined.

So just how are they faring in tougher economic times?

“Everyone is down, but we’re down less than others,” he said. “We’re doing OK, not great, but OK.”

Maw estimated that 75 per cent of their annual business comes from the Lower Mainland, with a huge potential market of about two million people.

So “staycation” dollars are likely to continue to be “crucial” for the resort, says Maw, especially given the U.S. segment of the business that’s now disappeared because of perceived border issues and the devalued dollar.

When Maw first arrived in 2001, about 30 per cent of the hotel business was from Washington State.

That figure dipped to 12 per cent last year, he pointed out.

But if it’s a question of staying in your own backyard for a little getaway, that has always been a solid part what the Harrison resort offers the whole region.

“We’re a big part of that backyard, especially for local communities like Chilliwack, whether it’s a trip for one night’s stay, or coming to the Copper Room for dinner or a visit to the spa.”

The staycation is seen as an alternative to expensive trips, and the term hit critical mass in the U.S. last year when gas prices skyrocketed to record levels.

The concept took hold in Canada after it became central to a 2005 plot of the hilarious episode “Mail Fraud” from the Canadian TV show, Corner Gas. Series creator Brent Butt sends fake travel postcards from far-off locales, while actually staying home, chilling in a lawn chair across the street from the gas station.

“I’ve heard the term mentioned at conferences in the last few years,” said Coombes. “So I think it’s a fairly recent phenomena, but it’s also attaching a name to something that’s been around for a while.”