Let's talk about tourism...

For over 100 years, tourism has been one of our major industries. It was estimated that during the 1950's, at the height of the summer season, our population was three times more than in mid-winter. That translated into a lot of money and jobs for our local economy. With other travel options available, the borscht belt slowly became unfashionable and the days of Henny Youngman or Danny Kaye selling out a ballroom in a local hotel are but distant memories.

The First Tourism Transformation

The idea of weekenders as residents was born in the 60's and 70's. Young adults who once attended camps or stayed at the hotels, bungalows or guest houses as kids now started buying old farms, parcels of land and even old camps and bungalows and transforming them into vacation homes. For many, especially apartment dwelling city folks, their weekend getaway home was their primary real estate investment.

Are Weekenders good for our community?
Do Weekender dollars bring jobs? Good jobs?
Do Weekenders cost the community in terms of infrastructure, school costs or services?
What is the downside to Weekenders?

The New/Future Tourism Transformation

Investors and development companies are already planning out what they believe is our future - Mega Private Resorts for the Ultra Elite. The sale of Williams Lake to a group of development companies, who plan to build 100-200 gated condominium resort units in the million dollar price range, coupled with similar plans, and price ranges, being drawn up for the Hudson Valley Resort, surrounding a regulation PGA golf course, starts to make Mohonk Mountain House look like the low rent district of resorts!!

Are these new super elite gated private resorts good for us?
Will these resorts bring jobs? Good jobs?
Will these resorts cost our community in terms of infrastructure, school costs or services?
What is the downside of these super elite private gated resorts?

What are your thoughts on Tourism?

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