Low gas prices could help boost numbers of independent visitors to Haines this summer to the highest numbers in years, but some of the anticipated gain may be lost to ferry schedule changes and cancellations, according to owners and operators of tourism businesses.

Unleaded prices are down about one dollar from the same time last year and already rubber-tire numbers are up.

According to figures from U.S. and Canada customs, the numbers of travelers northbound between January and May (5,620) is up 47 percent from the same months last year and the number of southbound travelers this year (5,338), represents a 26 percent increase.

The traffic numbers are the highest since at least 2011, but campgrounds and RV parks aren’t yet seeing a big uptick from last year’s traffic, operators said this week.

“I’ve been staying pretty steady but I’ve had lots of cancellations as well,” said Joyce Town at Oceanfront RV Park. Town said her numbers so far are on par with last year’s, but she expected a bump from reduced gas prices, including from a record number of reservations from Florida.

The ferry Taku will be beached for the season after July 1 and the Malaspina won’t be back online until almost August.

One of her customers was scheduled to make five ferry stops along the Panhandle, Town said. “She had to change everything and then she’s arriving here at 2 a.m. A lot of people are doing that… As far as the ferry system, that’s messed us up for sure. I have a lot of reservations, but they’re constantly changing now.”

At six or seven sites rented a night, visitation at Chilkoot Lake Wayside is down at least 30 percent, said Bob Deck, campground host there for five years. The campground typically sees between 12 and 15 sites rented daily, Deck said.

Haines Borough Tourism Director Leslie Ross said the ferry changes cost Haines Hitch-Up RV park two “enormous” RV caravans that each were going to be in Haines for three days. “It’s a pretty significant chunk for the Hitch-Up,” Ross said.

Hitch-Up owner Fred Bretthauer did not respond to calls this week.

Allison Jacobson is co-owner of the Fjordland catamaran that runs between Haines and Juneau, a business dependent on independent travelers.

Jacobson said it’s too early to predict, but she’s expecting a spike in road travelers in July and August.

“I still think we’re going to see a lot of RV traffic. There are a lot of people who live in motorhome parks in Arizona and Florida, and they don’t necessarily make plans in advance,” Jacobson said.

Jacobson said she typically sees a lot of Canadian business for her tour in early summer, and more visitors from the Lower 48 later.

She said business so far is “pretty even” with past years. The reason the numbers aren’t higher may be because the Canadian dollar is currently weak against U.S. currency, Jacobson said.

Jacobson is basing some of her hopes on the size of the drop in gas prices. “This is significantly lower. This is a different trend over the last few years.”

Jillian Simpson, an official with the Alaska Tourism Industry Association, said this week her group is expecting a strong visitor season, including increased numbers of independent travelers.