Traffic through Kelowna International Airport has dropped as the global epidemic from the novel coronavirus takes hold.

Sam Samaddar, the airport害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淭he impacts from the novel coronavirus is definitely having an affect on the passenger decline,害羞草研究所� said Samaddar.

害羞草研究所淧eople have been adjusting, cancelling or rebooking their flights at the airport because of this.害羞草研究所�

Samaddar said the airport has done all they can to help prevent the spread of the virus in the Interior.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e added additional cleaning measures at our airport on a daily basis,害羞草研究所� said Samaddar.

害羞草研究所淥ur Canadian customs害羞草研究所� officers also are getting briefed everyday on the current state of the novel coronavirus.害羞草研究所�

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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.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e heard from some hotels that they are suffering from a decline in group tours,害羞草研究所� said Ballantyne.

害羞草研究所淭hat includes cancellations from Asian companies that would害羞草研究所檝e seen tourists come to Vancouver and the Interior.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 never been a better time for Canadians to explore their own country this summer.

害羞草研究所淭he novel coronavirus is currently a low health risk in Canada,害羞草研究所� said Samaddar.

害羞草研究所淚 certainly advise people to travel in Canada as an alternative plan if they choose not to visit Asia due to the novel coronavirus.害羞草研究所�

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