Obama’s Plan Could Hurt Tourism
By Patrick Fanelli pfanelli@post-journal.comIf President Obama's extended 11-month school year becomes a reality, it could have a big impact on Chautauqua County's $180 million-a-year tourism industry.
If children are in school for most of the summer, families might not have as much time or flexibility to go on typical weeklong vacations. Fewer families vacationing in Chautauqua County means fewer visitors at area attractions like Chautauqua Institution and Midway Park; fewer cottage and hotel room rentals; and fewer boat rentals, restaurant trips and shopping excursions.
''It would be extremely detrimental to tourism spending,'' said Andrew Nixon, Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau executive director. ''The reason for that is the peak period of travel is June, July and August.''
June, July and August - that's when children are out of school on summer vacation. It is also the busiest time by far for Chautauqua County's tourism industry, which helps prop up the local economy.
If the tourism industry is worth $180 million each year, more than $90 million could come from the pockets of tourists in those three months alone since Nixon estimates that at least half of all tourists visit Chautauqua County during that time period.
Obama's extended school year could cripple many facets of the summer tourism industry. The cottage industry, says Nixon, would be especially hard hit since so many cottages are booked by families for a full week.
''It would kill them,'' Nixon said. ''It would totally kill them.''
Mike Sullivan, Chautauqua Institution spokesman, said an 11-month school year would probably require the organization to rethink its programming schedule. Right now, family-oriented programs for every age group are especially popular between the second and ninth week of the season since that's when school is out and families vacation at the Chautauqua Institution.
Sullivan isn't certain an 11-month school year would necessarily hurt the Chautauqua Institution, but he believes it would more than certainly be a challenge with timing and scheduling issues.
''It's one of those things that have implications all over the place, so it has to be looked at carefully,'' Sullivan said.
With all those implications, Nixon believes this is not an issue to take lightly.
''I'd be interested to know what this is even based on,'' Nixon said. ''It would just be nice to see some research into why we want to do this and why the president would want to suggest this.''
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03-21-09 6:29 AM
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Oh by the way, it is Midway STATE Park now.
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Herodotus
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03-15-09 7:02 PM
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Been to Chat County. Never again! What a disgusting step back in time. Dirty and run down buildings and people who look like albino's. Does anyone up there ever go out in the sun? And what's with the females having mustaches?
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NYNana
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03-15-09 5:07 PM
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One thing that would truly allow teachers to teach again, is if the schoolboards quit pushing testing only education so the kids do well on the government issued tests, the SAT's, test that is done every 2 years from grade school through high school. These tests are NOT teaching our children, but if teachers were allowed to TEACH and DISCIPLINE, those government issue tests would not be necessary. As for what teachers make, one could not raise a family of 4 on a teachers salary alone. They really don't make that much, at least not for the first several years. What I do believe is they either need to get rid of the union OR get rid of tenure. Keep one but NOT both.
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NPGREEN
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03-15-09 3:56 PM
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The US sends its children to school for less days and for less than time then any industrialized nation. The truth is simple, continue the U.S. slide in worldwide standing or send our kids to school so that they have the tools to be competitive.
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qtadisi
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03-15-09 10:53 AM
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what is the federal government doing messing around with the local school systems. If 0sambo wants to do anything he can raise medicade paid to the states. The feds start something and forget to fund it. TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT. This is a country of government by the people, not 0sambo!! RZ Hill
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Larry1
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03-15-09 9:33 AM
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Many people cannot read, follow, or comprehend simple instructions. It is rare that a cashier properly counts out the change. Would another month of education fix these basic problems? Here is a simple test: A cash register is full of every coin and bill. You must do the math in your head. No computer, no calculator, no paper and pencil. I owe the store $3.83. I hand you a twenty-dollar bill, a nickel, and three pennies. What will you give me back for change?
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averagejoe
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03-15-09 9:24 AM
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What comes first, educating our children or business. Seems to me that if all the county governments and businesses work together that a good part of the unproven $$ lost would be made up. Also, our educators will finally have a FULL-TIME job all year round like the rest of us and still earn more than the average worker. Now that's getting our tax money worth!!
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pamkpamk55
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03-15-09 8:47 AM
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I'm thinking more of the children of Chaut. Co., not so much the ones that come here on vacation, nor the tourism industry. MOST of my students DO NOT travel or vacation in the summer.Their parents simply can't afford it. What they COULD use is another month of school...yes, you're hearing a teacher say this...not necessarily to just "learn more school stuff", but for some cultural enrichment as well. I have kids who have never been to the beach, the public library, or a "sit down" restaurant. Ideally, this is their parents' job, but since it's not being done by many parents, perhaps that extra month could give MY students a wider view of the world and broaden their knowledge base. Academics is not the only thing that could happen in the extended year school. I KNOW that the tourism industry would most likely suffer, but I'm looking at the "possible" advantages.
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Coppergoat
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03-15-09 8:43 AM
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Seems like a complicated issue. If the summer season is shortened, the demand for cottages, etc. during that shortened season would support higher prices, at least partially offsetting any losses. I didn't see any references to studies of the economic impact, only on the educational benefits from a longer school year. If those benefits are real, they would of course in the long term improve the economy, but this is America, we're not really interested in the long term, are we? .
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minuteman
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03-15-09 8:28 AM
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However is the research out there done in an area like Chaut. Co? And the CI response is expected, only worried about the "pc" impications, they wouldn't want to offend the person that most of them voted for, now would they?
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utherjorge
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03-15-09 5:05 AM
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Nixon should do some checking. There's all sorts of research for it. Not knowing that by now makes hm look quite silly.
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