Traffic through Kelowna International Airport has dropped as the global epidemic from the novel coronavirus takes hold.
Sam Samaddar, the airport香蕉视频直播檚 director, said traffic through the airport has decreased by 3.8 per cent when comparing January 2019 to January 2020.
Samaddar blamed part of the passenger decline through the airport on the spread of the virsus, which has infected more than 100,000 people around the world and killed more than 3,800 people.
香蕉视频直播淭he impacts from the novel coronavirus is definitely having an affect on the passenger decline,香蕉视频直播� said Samaddar.
香蕉视频直播淧eople have been adjusting, cancelling or rebooking their flights at the airport because of this.香蕉视频直播�
Samaddar said the airport has done all they can to help prevent the spread of the virus in the Interior.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e added additional cleaning measures at our airport on a daily basis,香蕉视频直播� said Samaddar.
香蕉视频直播淥ur Canadian customs香蕉视频直播� officers also are getting briefed everyday on the current state of the novel coronavirus.香蕉视频直播�
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Samaddar said the grounding of 737 max jets and deteriorating relations with China over the Huawei scandal have also had an impact.
CEO of Tourism Kelowna Lianne Ballantyne said visitor numbers are also down at some Kelowna hotels.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e heard from some hotels that they are suffering from a decline in group tours,香蕉视频直播� said Ballantyne.
香蕉视频直播淭hat includes cancellations from Asian companies that would香蕉视频直播檝e seen tourists come to Vancouver and the Interior.香蕉视频直播�
Ballantyne said a recent recommendation by the Public Health Agency travel could also mean less tourism to the Okanagan.
Ballayntine said if visitation is down at major ports like Vancouver, that means less people will be hopping on a bus to visit other popular tourism destinations like Kelowna.
According to the Health Canada, there have been 79 confirmed cases of the virus in Canada, including 37 in B.C. One death was also reported at a seniors care facility in B.C. on March 9.
If passengers are thinking of changing their travel plans, Samaddar said there香蕉视频直播檚 never been a better time for Canadians to explore their own country this summer.
香蕉视频直播淭he novel coronavirus is currently a low health risk in Canada,香蕉视频直播� said Samaddar.
香蕉视频直播淚 certainly advise people to travel in Canada as an alternative plan if they choose not to visit Asia due to the novel coronavirus.香蕉视频直播�
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