You'll soon be able to relax at your favourite campsite as BC Parks online reservation system re-opened this morning, May 25, 2020.

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)

British Columbia campers can reserve their favourite campsite in a provincial park as of today.

The province’s online reservation system opened for business this morning, May 25, with new policies created due to the COVID-19 pandemic that include allowing reservations only by B.C. residents.

Ministry of Environment spokesperson David Karn says the reservation system has been slowed somewhat due to volume this morning, but remains up and operating.

"Although the system was slow, reservations are getting through and there are still lots of sites available within this two-month rolling window," Karn said in a release issued this morning, May 25.

He said more than 50,000 were trying to access the system when it opened this morning.

"The site's speed is picking up now, with more than 27,500 reservations made as of 11 a.m. today, and 10 reservations being processed every second," Karn says.

He says while the ministry made every effort to be ready for the increased demand, the rate of reservations is exceeding those seen anywhere.

Karn apologized for the inconvenience being caused by those having difficulties accessing the system and thanked them for their patience. He urged them to continue trying.

Sites can be reserved two months in advance of the arrival date instead of four, a temporary measure geared to spread out the demand during the busy summer months.

Most existing reservations made for dates after June 1 will be honoured, so campsites in popular campgrounds may already be booked.

Most of B.C.'s campgrounds open for the season on June 1.

To reserve a campsite, go to the B.C. Parks website here.

- This story was updated at 12:15 p.m. May 25 to include statements from the Ministry of Environment.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to tips@infonews.ca and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.

News from © iNFOnews, 2020