If you have been out and about in Kelowna this summer you wouldn’t think anything was amiss with the tourism, but businesses downtown have seen fewer people in the shops and on the patios.

Tourism and business associations have reported that although tourists have less cash in their pockets, events and initiatives like Meet Me on Bernard and this week’s Canadian Country Music Awards have been helping bring customers to businesses downtown.

Tourism Kelowna said that hotel occupancy is up 3 per cent year-over-year and jumped to 7 per cent year-over-year in July. Kelowna International Airport traffic is up 8 per cent for the year and similarly spiked in July to 9 per cent more traffic than last year.

Destination BC’s data shows fewer international travellers are coming to the province, but hotel occupancy has gone up nearly everywhere in B.C.

“Accommodation, food and beverage, and retail spending have increased, while recreation and entertainment have declined as visitors look for no- or low-cost options during their time in the region. While complete visitation and spending data will arrive later this year, these mid-year insights and seasonal booking patterns highlight Kelowna’s position as one of Canada’s most sought-after four-season destinations,” Tourism Kelowna said in an emailed statement to iNFOnews.ca.

The executive director for the Downtown Kelowna Association Paula Quinn said tourists have been pickier about where they spend their money and are taking advantage of all the free things to do in the Okanagan.

“With the high prices in the hotels in this season, they’re finding it difficult to eat out every night, going for picnics on the beach with the family, etc., or doing other activities like horse riding or hikes and more culture,” she said. “It is very, very noticeable. And a lot of people have their favorites that they go to, so they’ll choose them first before experimenting with something else maybe.”

She said the initiatives to make downtown more vibrant like Meet me on Bernard’s Night Market and the Canadian Country Music Awards are definitely helping businesses.

“It does make a difference, obviously, to the businesses and establishments in the main thoroughfare here in Bernard,” she said. “With all of the activities that downtown Kelowna has been putting on, the night market has been a huge success … When we hosted our Boots and Batter pancake breakfast… as a kickoff to the CCMAs, we had a huge, huge audience turnout and put on a great event, lots of good music. The city came out.”

Even though tensions are high with our neighbours to the south, Quinn said folks from the U.S. told her they have felt welcome in Kelowna.

“They were so pleased to feel comfortable and invited, and didn’t feel at all like they weren’t wanted by the locals. And that’s always encouraging, because at the end of the day, we’re all humans, and we’re all here to have a good time,” she said.

The summer tourism season’s full economic impact hasn’t been tallied up yet.