If 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.''