Local businesses preparing for winter visitors
Joaquin Hight
Reporter Joaquin Hight spoke to several businesses in Downtown Yuma to see how they are preparing for the visitors, and if they are at all worried about a drop in winter visitor population.
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – With the ongoing trade wars with Canada and the U.S., it has locals worried about how many of our Canadian winter visitors will be here this year.
The Yuma County population grows by almost 80,000 people during the winter months, and winter visitors contribute $452 million to Yuma’s economy every year, according to the Economic Development Basics on the Yuma County website.
With Downtown Yuma being a hotspot for tourists, many of the shops in the area are already seeing more customers.
Serena Koogle, owner of the local shop Rebel and Rove, shared how she is already beginning to see Canadian visitors and that she is not worried about a drop in numbers.
A new local business owner, Benya Blonski, says that even if the numbers drop, he believes Yuma’s local customers will be more than enough to continue to support shops.