Packs of Tourists visit downtown Palm Springs this week.

Many have traveled from across the country to enjoy the last weeks of the season and the last week of vacation before summer.

For some, a day in the sunshine was therapeutic.

“Just being in nature and around people was really life-giving,” said Dancin Morgan of Chino.

Some visitors just enjoyed being in the presence of others for the first time in a while.

“It was really good to be outside and be with other people and eat,” said Dee Bjorklund of the Bay Area.

The busy downtown scene is in stark contrast to that time a year ago.

Back then the streets were empty and restaurants like Lulu California Bistro were closed.

But on Wednesday her terrace was full, mI am the general manager emotionally.

“It’s really great to get a sense of normalcy, it really is. It’s so overwhelming that it brings tears to my eyes, ”said Gabe Terrado, general manager of the Lulu California Bistro.

When the customers return, Terrado says he was able to bring all of his staff back.

And now that the county is preparing to potentially move to the orange reopening tier next week, hWe believe it should help the business even more.

“I think we’re going to see a summer we’ve never seen before. There have been a lot of people who have been quarantined and want to get out. The phone rings continuously. People ask where we are, ”said Terrado.

The Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism says in January, tThe city’s tax on hotel guests and holiday apartments decreased by 65 percent compared to 2020.

However, they expect that number to improve as restrictions relax and more guests come to visit.

“It was very busy but also very well done in terms of social distancing and the like. It felt very busy and very crowded, but we also felt absolutely safe, ”said Bjorklund.

A decision on the orange tier could be made next Tuesday. When approved, restaurants can resume dining indoors at 50 percent capacity.

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