Tourism in America is tanking, so some news organizations are trying to blame climate change instead of record-shattering fuel prices.
It would seem obvious what is driving the tourism and hospitality industries into the ground. Data we’ve shared before at That Park Place has shown that only 18% of American citizens are willing to travel more than 500 miles due to gas prices. That data was collected in May though, so it’s likely the numbers are even smaller now that an average gallon of gasoline is over five dollars. But obvious it is not to some members of journalism who seem to believe the driving factor for cratering travel plans is… weather.
Climate change is impacting companies of all kinds. Those catering to tourists are witnessing changes firsthand and that’s changing how they run their businesses. Now we have new details on how one Portland, Oregon company is transforming their trips because of drought-fueled wildfires.
– Maggie Brown, WRAL
I understand there’s a heat wave covering much of the country, wildfires are raging in the west’s ill-managed forests, and a drought is driving water reservoirs like Lake Mead to dangerously low levels (again, poor management). But I’m also not interested in debating the vast issues of climate change and how much of any listed problems are due to such when the topic is being weaponized. I find it very interesting that suddenly, now that gas prices are out of this world, it’s climate change that is hurting tourism. Years and years of hearing about climate change, but finally in 2022 it’s the culprit for terrible tourism. You might have thought it was fuel costs, but never trust your lying eyes or logic!
And it’s not just raging wildfires canceling tourism in Portland, Oregon. Why no, climate change is also the cause for terrible tourism in New England! All of a sudden, rising sea levels are the reason people just aren’t showing up. Again, I’m not arguing against rising sea levels — perhaps it’s a huge problem happening this year. I just find it interesting that news sources seem to be ranking climate change as the bogeyman rate than gas costs.
Climate change, with its rising and warming seas, more frequent and severe storms, poses an increasing threat to shoreline tourism communities, like Newport and Rhode Island’s south coast, according to a leading Rhode Island tourism official.
“People are drawn to the water,” says Evan Smith, executive director of Discover Newport, and a 30- year veteran of the tourism industry. “We’re fascinated by water, always drawn to the sea.”
But climate change, he says, is taking its toll.
— Frank Prosnitz, WUN
And if that’s not bad enough, now there’s some debate about whether or not you can even travel without guilt. I’m betting this guilt only applies to the middle class though. The wealthy are far too important to stop traveling. They need private jets, you simpleton!
https://twitter.com/LeeTyler/status/1537106945588355072
So what’s really going on here?
Clearly tourism is down because of two major factors: inflation and gas prices. Those might seem the same, but not necessarily. And though other excuses may come up, we don’t fall for them. Nothing else is even close. Yes, we should absolutely take care of the environment. We need more national and state parks, we need wildlife bridges, we should be planting trees at every chance — and stop destroying forests for solar farms! But climate change has almost nothing at all to do with tourism for now, and tying poor forest and water management to it is gaslighting the public to hide incompetence. What we need now more than anything else is wisdom and skilled management of all the things that matter. Until the people in charge take responsibility and act in ways that promote both the environment and cheap energy, neither nature nor our vacations are going to be doing very well.
Frankly, I find that sad. Visiting incredible national parks and forests is one of the best ways we can inspire new generations to caretake our world. With our current fuel costs, kids will learn about nature from videos instead of experience. Maybe that’s by design?
For all the latest news that should be fun, keep reading That Park Place. Drop a comment down below and let me know what I got right and where I could be wrong.
