SEATTLE — If recent trends are any indication, Seattle could see its busiest summer of tourism since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
In each of the last three years, visitor totals have steadily increased, typically peaking in July, according to the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA), which covers 12 neighborhoods.
The organization releases a monthly economic development report; in April downtown had 2.2 million visitors, which is 87% of the total seen during the same month in 2019.
Last July, about 3.2 million people visited downtown, which is about 100,000 fewer than July of 2019.
If the steady year-by-year growth continues, this July would surpass even the 2019 visitor totals.
"With the darkest days of the pandemic now behind us, DSA remains the organization leading downtown's revitalization efforts and working to ensure a strong and inclusive economic recovery," the organization wrote on its website. "DSA remains committed to our core mission of creating a healthy, vibrant downtown for all. We are a resource, an advocate, a convener and a partner working to get the heart of Seattle beating strong again."
This month, Billy Joel and The Rolling Stones packed T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field, respectively.
The Seattle Storm home game against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever drew the Storm's largest attendance of all time, and marked the squad's fifth consecutive sellout.
On Saturday, crowd packed Seattle Center for the 53rd annual Northwest Folklife Festival, which, according to DSA, is expected to draw 250,000 visitors this weekend.
"Honestly it seems like it's pretty much back to normal for me," said Sage Payne, a longtime festival-goer. "It's like almost nostalgic for me."
The anticipated crowds are welcome news to vendors like Ali Farhoud, whose family has run a Hawaiian food stand for three decades.
"We've been coming here for about six years, this is our seventh year now. It's a great time," said Farhoud. "COVID... now that we're back, it's awesome seeing all the people."
The festival continues through Monday.