Kelowna, B.C., noticed a surge in journey this summer season, with airline visitors climbing to new heights. According to Kelowna International Airport, passenger numbers had been up considerably, breaking earlier information.
“We’ve had a really busy summer season — very optimistic,” stated Sam Samaddar, CEO of Kelowna International Airport.
The airport reported a 7.6-per cent improve in passengers in June, 7.8 per cent in July, and a record-setting 8.5 per cent in August.
The crowds on the airport had been matched by busy streets and packed seashores throughout the town.
George Greenwood, CEO of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, stated it was clear that folks got here out in robust numbers.
“We didn’t have the hearth points this 12 months, fruit manufacturing was nice, and the whole lot was sturdy,” Greenwood stated. “People actually had this mentality that they needed to help Canadians — they had been dedicated to coming right here.”
But whereas the town regarded busy, not each tourism-related enterprise benefited equally. Some operators say spending habits have shifted.
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“A variety of companies didn’t see the amount they had been hoping for,” Greenwood added. “Restaurants weren’t as busy — you possibly can stroll into virtually anyplace outdoors of downtown with no reservation. Even different tourism providers didn’t see the numbers that they had in previous years. People had been simply usually spending much less.”
Among these impacted was Kelowna Cabs, the place enterprise didn’t decide up as anticipated.
“People did come, however we observed all of the resort parking heaps had been full,” stated Roy Paulson of Kelowna Cabs. “They introduced their very own automobiles, in order that they didn’t want taxis throughout the day.
“It received slightly busier at night time when folks had been going out for drinks, however total, it form of stung us. We had been anticipating it to be higher.”
Despite the dip in spending, the visitors knowledge tells a narrative of its personal. The Ministry of Transportation reported practically 50,000 extra autos crossing the William R. Bennett Bridge this summer season in comparison with final. That visitors got here from throughout the nation — and past.
“I spoke to tourism operators as far down as Osoyoos who stated they noticed a report variety of Washington State licence plates,” Greenwood stated. “And right here in Kelowna, I noticed a lot from throughout Canada, and nonetheless fairly a number of from Washington, California, and Oregon.”
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