It's no surprise that like other Canadian industries, British Columbia's tourism sector is feeling the effects of the economic downtown.
Statistics released by tourism consultant PJK Canada show that hotel occupancy in B.C. over the first five months in 2009 was down 6.3 percent from the same period last year.
At the same time, the number of European visitors to the province has dropped by 5.5 per cent and tourists are spending less while they are here.
Kerri Au-Yeung, owner of a Canadian souvenir shop in Vancouver's historic Gastown district, said that sales in her shop are down 40 per cent from last season at this time.
"We depend on summer to make money, and if in summer we don't do [well], and then winter is very risky," she said.
In response, the tourism industry is focusing on advertising some of B.C.'s key tourist areas. A Thursday photo-op in Whistler tried to lure in summer tourists by promoting the city's $52 million Peak to Peak gondola as well as hiking trails and mountain top wine tastings.
With concerns that the Olympics will keep skiers at bay, Tourism BC is hoping that the millions of dollars spend on the gondola will help to offset some of the shortfall by bringing visitors to Whistler during the summer months.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Sarah Galashan
