To the Editor:
Walking through a very deserted downtown today was a potent reminder just how important tourism is to our local economy.
With our local ski areas just starting to open, here in mid-January (a month late), local restaurants and shop owners appear to be taking it on the proverbial chin. Downtown foot traffic, for a Saturday in January, was seemingly very sparse.
Few among us are not feeling good about lower heating costs brought about by lower fuel prices and milder weather. But, all of us should be concerned about the economic impact of a late winter on our local economy. And, all of us should be cognizant of the economic ripple effect. For example, fewer meals being consumed at local restaurants will lead to reduction in hours for staff. Which ripples into those impacted spending less money locally. Etc. Etc.
It is sad that at a time that so many local business owners are being squeezed by the absence of tourists, some locals are carrying on anti-tourism campaign. Sharon Gregory has become prolific in local publications that the Berkshires is not a tourist economy. Well, it certainly isn’t the only sector of the local economy, but is an important contributor.
I, for one, am grateful for our tourists. Was grateful before getting in the hospitality business; and am even now more so as I see every day what the tourists bring to the economy.
Sure, tourists sometimes slow the traffic downtown. And, sure some tourists can be rude, but that characteristic is certainly not an exclusive to tourists.
But, on the other hand, tourists bring spending that feeds our local businesses, which employ our local people; they purchase local goods and services; and they purchase or build homes. Yes, purchase or build homes! The way I see it, tourists aren’t some form of low life. They are visitors (or even “our guests”). Visitors who come to spend a weekend with friends. Or, to put their child in a local camp. Or, to get married here. Or, to partake in our cultural activities. Or, to experience our great outdoor activities. Or, to dine in our great assortment of restaurants.
For well over 100 years, the Berkshires has been known as a preferred place to visit by the affluent from New York City area and Boston area. Many visitors fall in love with the Berkshires as a result of their visit. That leads to more visits, and for some ultimately the purchase of a house, or the purchase of a large lot for building a custom home.
Tourist spending plays a large role in economically supporting so many of the things we love about the area. Would we have Tanglewood without tourists? Jacobs Pillow? The Mount? The Mahaiwe?
Closer to home, would we have the plethora of restaurant options without tourists? Would we have the TriPlex? Would we have Butternut as a place for local children to learn to ski? Could Castle Street Café exist without any tourists? What would be the impact on our embryonic agricultural renaissance if tourism is not supported?
Be against the Searles hotel project if you want, but badmouthing tourism is to support a kick in the stomach to so many of our citizens, and our neighbors.
Readers don’t need to take my word as to the impact of tourism on our local economy. Talk to any downtown merchant or downtown restaurateur, or downtown service provider. Ask them how they feel about the pace of business for the last four weeks. See the pain in their face with what has gone on since Christmas.
Then, ask them how they feel about converting the long vacant Searles School into an upscale hotel that will add meaningful foot traffic to downtown. Then, learn about the Mahida Family plans to balance out the peaks and valleys of the tourism influx by things like attracting “off-peak times” business conferences to the Searles Conference Center at the proposed hotel. Learn about the ways the planned hotel will be an important feeder for co-operating restaurants, shops, and local venues.
An appreciation for the financial impact of tourism does not translate to an automatic support of the proposed upscale hotel at Searles. Many concerned citizens have been working behind the scenes with the Mahida team to make the sure the proposed hotel becomes an asset that is great for the town. Plans have continued to be advanced to reflect wonderful citizen input. Example, a just concluded discussion with a leading local artist triggered my discussion with the Mahidas as to yet another way we could feature — in the hotel — the works of local artists. We long ago committed to another leading local artist that our public space would feature local art, and we have tasked our interior designer — William Caligari — with finding the best way to do so.
As with our personal health, local economies can have too much of a good thing. Clearly Great Barrington shouldn’t aim to become, for example, a tourist mecca like Orlando, Florida. Striking the right balance is as important a concept for the economy of the town as it is for our own health. But, I do believe that attracting an incremental year-round flow of the right visitors would be a very good thing for the town. And, I know that the Mahidas are passionate about the planned upscale hotel helping to accomplish that very worthwhile goal for Great Barrington.
Dave Carpenter
Great Barrington
The writer is director of administration for Mahida Family Hospitality Interests.
