Editor,

We at Clipper Vacations have an obvious self interest in expanding our excursion tours throughout the Pacific Northwest.

As you may know, our core business relates to our nearly 29 years of unsubsidized year-round service between Seattle and Victoria, British Columbia as well as 24 years of seasonal service between Seattle and Friday Harbor.

In addition, Clipper Vacations is a significant player in the tourism industry. It’s one of the largest sellers of hotels in Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver, Whistler and Portland; books more Amtrak product between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. than anyone else; and is Kenmore Air’s largest customer.

Clipper is the only company based in Seattle that provides service to Friday Harbor with whale watching. It is also the only one that promotes and sells a gray whale excursion.

Finally, it’s the largest provider of motor coach excursions to Leavenworth for the annual tree lighting weekends.

I mention these activities in order to let you know that we are looking to expand our excursion program, especially during the traditional off-season.

We have used a stopover in Coupeville for the past years for a number of reasons. Some of the reasons are as follows:

Access between the dock and the town is convenient for all of our customers;

Our demographics for the gray whale excursion skew to an older group including people with disabilities;

The local community worked with Clipper to ensure that the retail businesses and restaurants were open for our customers, and did not change the docking in consideration of Clipper’s promotion of Coupeville.

This year we are planning five visits to Langley. Our principal reason for scheduling these trips relates to low tides at Coupeville during these dates.

Our concern and greatest challenge relates to the walk from the dock up the hill. We have been advised that golf carts will be available for those individuals needing assistance.  We are not certain that the provision of the carts will be ADA compliant.

Recently we have been advised that the community is considering an alternative which is called a funicular.  This appears to be attractive for several reasons. It not only could accommodate our older and physically disabled passengers, but it could become an attraction to other visitors to Langley.

We are hopeful that Langley’s mayor and council will favorably consider this technology.

Thank you,

DARRELL BRYAN

president and CEO

Clipper Vacations