While many visitors are unimpressed with current gasoline prices, it hasn't deterred them from travelling in a big way, say local tourists and RV park owners.

But many believe the tourism sector could be hit harder next season, if gas prices stay where they are.

"I believe (business) has slowed down," Mary Anne Phillips, co-owner of the Philmar RV Centre, said Thursday afternoon. "It's down, but people are still coming. They think gas may be worse next year."

Phillips said local tourism has been affected the least by the change in fuel prices.

"What else are you going to do in the Yukon?" she asked. "We love our travelling."

The Philmar RV Centre is primarily a repair shop, but Phillips' customers hail from all over Canada and the U.S.

While many of her customers are Canadian, Phillips said she has seen a lot of visitors from such southerly states as Texas.

"I have a feeling that after they've planned, they just go ahead with it," she noted. Due to the high price of gas, however, Phillips said, many visitors are probably more selective about the tourist attractions they go to.

Owners of large vehicles or RVs can spend $400 or more for a single tank of gas, she said.

Her own vehicle, a one-tonne Dooley, costs about $200 to fill, said Phillips.

A couple from Kennett, Missouri, said it costs them $166 to fill the tank of their pickup, never mind their RV.

Larry and Linda Pritchard said it cost them at least $2,000 to drive to Whitehorse, via Nebraska, Montana, and Alberta to the Alaska Highway.

"Gas is worse here than in the U.S.," noted Larry, who spoke to the Star from the Wal-Mart parking lot Thursday.

Next year, the Pritchards said, they don't plan on making any long road trips - nothing more than a couple hundred miles away from home.

Gas prices at home in Missouri are $3.97 per gallon, they said. With those prices, the Pritchards said, they're not sure they will travel to Arizona and Florida this summer, a trip they usually take every year.

A family from Drayton Valley, Alta., is also staying in the Wal-Mart parking lot during their visit.

Debbie Schmydt said her family used to live in Dawson City, and make the trip north each year to see friends and family, regardless of gas prices.

So far, Debbie said, they have spent $750 on gas, whereas a year ago the same distance cost them $100 less.

It costs $600 just to fill the tank of the family's spacious RV, she said.

Debbie's husband, Bob, said gas prices are "damn high," but the situation in Whitehorse isn't as bad as he expected.

Gas was $1.68 a litre in Fort Nelson, B.C., he said, and they thought the price would be even higher here.

A woman from Dallas, Tex., said the price of gas here is "ridiculous."

When Mary Custer and her husband returned to the Yukon after touring Alaska, the price of gas was a dollar higher than when they left, she said.

But Duane Tucker, manager of the Mountain Ridge Trailer Park, said gas prices "haven't had much of an effect" on business.

He said there's the usual heavy traffic from Ontario and the U.S. this year.

But the price of gas may affect next year's business, he commented, since many people make their travel plans months or even years in advance.

There's a 50-50 chance that gas prices will be higher next year than they are now, he noted.

A couple staying at Mountain Ridge said gas prices here are similar to those in other areas of Canada.

Gas is $1.44 per litre in Ontario, they said.

"We decided to come and we came," said Victor Baltrusaitis. He added that gas prices are not the only expense included in a road trip, and that hotels can be pricey as well.

The couple said a relative of theirs who lives in Italy pays $3.50 for a litre of gas.

"They're not impressed," said Victor.

The couple said they're not sure how much money they've spent on gas driving across Canada.

"It's like counting empty wine bottles. You don't want to know!"