"You're doing what?" my friends asked. I had just told them I was flying across the world to see Renzo. "Yes, for a third date," I replied.
A Government Shutdown Would Cost U.S. Travel Economy Nearly $1 Billion Per Week
25.09.2023 - 13:55 / forbes.com / Geoff Freeman
The U.S. travel economy could lose nearly $1 billion for every week that the government is shut down, according to new analysis for the U.S. Travel Association. The trade group pointed to a recent Ipsos survey indicating that six in 10 Americans would cancel trips or avoid flying in the event of a shutdown.
As the narrowly-split U.S. Congress bumbles its way toward the September 30 deadline, industry officials are not mincing words. “Each day that passes will cost the travel economy $140 million, an unacceptable prospect that Congress must avoid before the clock runs out and the damages mount,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “A shutdown would be further proof of Washington’s inability to find reasonable solutions to problems that affect Americans nationwide.”
The last federal government shutdown, which stretched over 34 days from late 2018 to early 2019, during former President Donald Trump's administration, cost the nation’s economy $11 billion, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
A significant chunk of that loss was shouldered by towns and cities that rely on national parks and monuments as major tourism draws. The last government shutdown closed popular attractions from sea to shining sea — Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks in California, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and Fort Sumter in Charleston, to name a few — while others remained open but without key services like visitor centers, trash removal or working restrooms.
Would-be national park visitors were deterred by grim headlines mentioning ‘garbage’ and ‘feces.’ Yosemite, one of the nation’s most-visited national parks, closed its campgrounds “due to human waste issues and lack of staffing,” according to its website. With rangers furloughed, vandals ran amok in Joshua Tree National Park, chopping down some of the centuries-old namesake trees.
Once the 2018-2019 shutdown ended, the National Parks Service said it had lost $500 million. That paled, however, beside the estimated $20 million per day lost by small businesses located in the gateways to parks. These are towns like Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Bar Harbor, Maine; and Moab, Utah, which rely on tourism spending from visitors to the Great Smoky Mountain, Acadia and Arches national parks, respectively.
Perhaps no city is more disproportionately affected by federal government shutdowns than Washington, D.C., whose tourism appeal is fueled by dozens of government-run museums and monuments. During the last shutdown, the Smithsonian’s 19 museums lost an estimated $3.4 million in gross revenue just from its gift shops, concessions and IMAX film screenings. The National Gallery of Art lost an estimated $1.2 million in gross revenue from its shops and
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Autors
Popular Topics
cntraveler.com
11.10.2023 / 22:53
Learning Peru's Hidden History, From the Cloud Forests of Amazonas to the Volcanic City of Arequipa
For Conde Nast Traveler's Iconic Itineraries, we partner with our travel specialists to create classic trips through our favorite destinations that showcase the difference it makes to travel with the help of an expert. This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
lonelyplanet.com
11.10.2023 / 19:09
When to go to Costa Rica
The pura vida (pure life) spirit that characterizes Costa Rica is wonderfully contagious. It's one of the many reasons this Central American country is so popular. Travelers who yearn to slow down and be one with nature will find themselves at home among its cloud rainforests, scenic mountains and beautiful beaches.
matadornetwork.com
11.10.2023 / 16:13
An Overnight Train Is the Best Way To Experience Canada's Winter Wilderness
Modern travel is full of conveniences. Global air hubs connect travelers to faraway places in a matter of hours. But with all these modern comforts, it’s easy to pass right by the things that make the actual travel part of the journey worthwhile. Vacation by Rail’s Winter Magic trip, on board VIA Rail’s Vancouver to Jasper train, is the ultimate way to take in Canada’s winter wilderness the slow, nostalgic way. Views of towering mountain peaks and river-carved valleys combined with a memorable onboard experience sure beats cramming into an airplane seat in economy.
cntraveler.com
11.10.2023 / 14:37
In Costa Rica, Reconnecting With My Teenage Daughter
“You can do it, Mom,” shouted my daughter, Malu, 21, as I hung from a zipline that would take me into the clouds far below.
forbes.com
09.10.2023 / 01:53
How A Government Shutdown Would Affect Air Travel
A government shutdown was narrowly avoided when the deadline neared on October 01, 2023. Even though the government has remained open, the possibility of a shutdown remains as only a stopgap funding bill was passed. Should the government shutdown happen, one thing it will affect is travel, and it will be around the holidays. Here’s what you should know.
lonelyplanet.com
06.10.2023 / 21:47
The best things to do with kids in Costa Rica, from surf beaches to jungle hikes
Costa Rica is one of the most stable countries in Central America, with welcoming Ticos, lodgings to suit every style and budget, and long-established operators offering an array of family friendly activities, from easy wildlife encounters with sloths and toucans to adrenaline-fueled adventures.
skift.com
04.10.2023 / 21:21
New U.S. Tourism Secretary Won't Be 'Panacea' for Travel Troubles
The U.S. travel industry shouldn’t get its hopes up that the newly created assistant secretary of travel and tourism position will make the U.S. more globally competitive, said U.S. Travel CEO and President Geoff Freeman at the Skift Global Forum.
skift.com
03.10.2023 / 20:03
Visa Fixes, Airport Upgrades – What U.S. Travel Needs to Compete
Long wait times for visas and an outdated air infrastructure hobble the U.S.’s ability to attract travelers, said executives at the Skift Global Forum.
cntraveler.com
30.09.2023 / 14:45
Could a Government Shutdown Wreak Long-Term Havoc on Air Travel? We Asked Pete Buttigieg
Time is ticking for lawmakers in Congress to strike a budget deal and avoid a government shutdown, although chances of coming to an agreement in time are looking increasingly bleak. If a shutdown does happen on October 1 at 12:01 a.m., all non-essential government functions would cease, and the air travel system would be stretched to its limit, with air traffic controllers and TSA officers essentially working without pay.
forbes.com
29.09.2023 / 23:03
Government Shutdown 2023 Update: The Clever Ways Some National Parks Will Stay Open
Peak fall foliage is popping in Estes Park, the mountain town just outside of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. Soon, the elk will be bugling as part of their annual mating ritual, a wildlife spectacle that draws tourists to the mountain town for “Elktober.” Down in southern Colorado, the “ring of fire eclipse” is projected to pass directly through Mesa Verde National Park on Oct. 14, drawing tourists eager to catch the rare celestial event among the Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings.
thepointsguy.com
29.09.2023 / 22:05
Looming government shutdown underscores larger issues in travel, USTA president says
As a government shutdown becomes increasingly inevitable this weekend, flyers may soon see longer security lines and passport wait times.