Cape Cod hoteliers, restaurateurs, and other business owners are looking forward to an economically sunny summer.

Though gas prices and unemployment remained high heading into the Memorial Day weekend, all signs point to a solid tourism season on the Cape and Islands, thanks to a slowly improving economy and pent-up demand for outdoor fun after a brutal local winter, tourism officials said. Hotel owners say advance bookings are running 5 to 10 percent ahead of last year, while the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce projects overall spending at local hotels, restaurants, and other establishments will increase by double-digits.

At the other end of the Cape, Jerry Swartz, a manager at Provincetown’s Glass Half Full, a beer, wine, and cigar store on Commercial Street, was so confident of a strong Memorial Day weekend and early season that he stocked an “extra hefty’’ 250 cases of wine.

“People are really anxious for summer this year,’’ said Swartz. “My numbers were way up this spring until early May, when the weather turned bad, but I think it’s going to be a good year.’’

Any improvements would be welcomed in the popular tourist destination, which attracts an estimated 4 million visitors during the summer season but was hard hit during the recent recession as tourists cut spending significantly. Overall business fell by as much as 20 percent during 2008 and 2009, tourism industry specialists estimated.

Spending rebounded a bit last year as economic conditions strengthened. Now, Cape business owners are hoping to build upon those gains.

In addition to improved economic conditions increasing domestic tourism, a weak dollar is attracting more international visitors, especially from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Germany, Cape officials added. A weak dollar increases the purchasing power of foreign currencies, making goods and services here cheaper for international visitors.

The euro and the British pound rose against the dollar in currency markets yesterday.

In Hyannis, George “Skip’’ Simpson, co-owner of the 42-room Anchor In Hotel, estimated his advance bookings are up about 10 percent over last year, thanks in part to an increase in international tourists.

“We’re optimistic, as long as the weather cooperates,’’ said Simpson. “It appears at this moment — and it can always change on a dime — that we’re headed for a good season this year.’’

Clark Guinn, general manager at Falmouth’s 263-room Sea Crest Beach Hotel, agreed. Bookings are estimated to be up by about 5 percent this year, based on preliminary data.

As a sign of confidence in the slowly improving economy, the Sea Crest, owned by Scout Real Estate Capital LLC, underwent an $18 million renovation over the winter. “We’re in better shape this year,’’ said Guinn.

But hotel owners are still seeing some caution among consumers. Short-term bookings, such as for weekends, are up, but more expensive stays of a week or more are flat. “There’s still a softness in the market,’’ said Jay Zavala, president of the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce.

Overall business in the Falmouth area — as measured by dollars spent at hotels, restaurants, and other establishments — is expected to increase by more than 10 percent this year, following a 2010 season that was “just short of robust growth,’’ said Zavala.

But Zavala said overall business activity still isn’t at prerecession levels. “Even with a good summer, we’ll be about 8 to 9 percent shy of where we were before the recession,’’ he said.

© Copyright 2011 Globe Newspaper Company.