Wildfire smoke choking tourism in Kamloops

So, which businesses are getting hit the hardest?

“Certainly our golf course partners are feeling the effects of this. But what we’ve really wanted to do is make sure that we’re communicating that there’s really a lot of great indoor activities still to be done here in Kamloops for all of our visitors. So, we’ve made a great effort to talk about some of our partners like the wineries and craft breweries where you can sample indoors,” says Dickinson, adding they’re also pushing other indoor attractions like the Kamloops Art Gallery and museums.

Though it will be two to three weeks before the July and August tourism numbers are released, she expects the smoke will set them back some.

“We really saw an amazing July, and May and June were strong for us as well. So, we’re hopeful things will turn around in the next little bit.”

And if the smoke dissipates quickly enough, she says Kamloops should be in store for a strong September.

“We all know that Kamloops is known for its endless summers so September is very important as well. Even into Thanksgiving based on weather conditions.”

She says some popular events scheduled for September should help as well, including the Tournament Games at the beginning of September and Brewloops at the end of the month.

Dickinson says the peak sockeye salmon run in the Shuswap also brings a lot of tourists through town starting at the end of September and running through October.

by Greg Fry

Wildfire smoke choking tourism in Kamloops

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