is seeing crowds of Americans abroad, San Francisco is seeing an increase in tourism from international visitors, even though numbers are off from 2019 record year before the pandemic hit. CTV's Alice Wertz joining us live now from Pier 39, where San Francisco is continuing its bounce back. Alice That's right, Christina. Great weather here in the city and lots of events in the region are bringing in tourists from many places far and wide. It's the height of summer in the city. And according to unofficial experts we spoke to, tourism is picking up. Back in San Francisco, Sam has been a cable car grip man for 20 years. As to where people are coming from. A lot of Europeans are coming over Italy. You know, Denmark, all of it from everywhere. The cable car turnaround at Powell and Market is one indication that tourists are here. Last weekend was busy also in the weekends before that, even all week, starting like Tuesday, when I came back to work, it was a line out here, spillover from Taylor Swift shows in the South Bay brought Kirsten and her nieces from Canada to visit the city while they're here that we've been planning this trip since November, we're going to ride a cable car. We're going to go to Haight-Ashbury Fisherman's Wharf. We're going to a baseball game tonight. So everything five days in the city, shopping and spending. Well, we went to all the department stores. We walked around everywhere around here. And we heard that there's some boutique shopping in Haight-Ashbury. So that's where we're headed next. A Pier 39 spokesperson reported restaurants and shops are seeing 95% of the visitors. They saw in 2019 chowder, bowls and cocktails selling briskly. Haruka is visiting California from Japan. We just got here today. I'm excited to explore around Beach. Yeah shopping. Yes shopping. And I. I want to ride on cable Car? Yeah it looks interesting. This is first time Blazing Saddles Bike rental owner Jeff Sears says his business depends on tourists. And lately he has seen an uptick . Like European countries, South America, Asia, lots of international visitors from all over the world since 2019, when our domestic business was about not 80% of our business that it has flipped. And now international tourism visitors seem to be about 80% and domestic 20. So it's we're glad we're having international visitors, but it would be really nice to have more domestic. According to the SF Travel Association, currently almost half a million hotel room nights are already booked for next year, with 21 confirmed events at the Moscone Center. As the economy picks up and travel reignites, it's all expected to help San Francisco continue its reign as one of the most visited cities in the United States. It's nice to be loved, isn't it ? Yes And back here at Pier 39, you know what else is selling? Briskly, Sweat shirts. That's because wind and fog are always here in San Francisco during the summer. Live at Pier 39, Alice Wertz, ktvu
