How The Government Shut The Tourism Industry Down

Because of the unyielding tendencies and inclinations of each political party, a happy ending to the recent government shutdown is clearly not in sight. Federal employees who were furloughed without pay are often the focus of any discussion about those directly affected by the shuttered government. When the focus turns to economic forecasts, one phrase is echoed by almost all experts: debt ceiling crisis. Washington D.C. is also being highlighted because of its description as a "company town". This means that because almost all of its residents work for the Federal Government, the term non-Federal business is basically a moot point when talking about the state's financial status.

More than this, the stress and backlash associated with the federal government's shutdown are evident and tangible all over the country. Although all industries were hit hard, one of the most heavily affected is the hotel industry.

About $152 million is lost per day due to lost travel-related activity. This is according to the U.S. Travel Association. Beyond affecting almost 450,000 US workers, the government shutdown is costing the country's economy in more ways than previously estimated.

With a plea saying it "respectfully urge[s] Congress and the President to reach an immediate agreement to fund the government and establish a degree of economic certainty to allow for continued growth," the American Hotel & Lodging Association (which counts Best Western International, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and Marriott International as members) wrote an open letter to Congress and President Obama begging for a resolution to the shutdown.

The letter further states that for each week of the shutdown, almost $57.6 million is being lost by hotels across the country. Cancelation of travel plans is the main reason for these losses. Because of the shutdown, national parks all over the country are shutting their gates.

The shutdown's domino effect doesn't end there. Communities around national parks and monuments are losing an estimated $76 million per day. This is due to lost hotel taxes, service industry revenues and souvenir sales.

The tourist season this year, economic experts agree, is going to be a poor one. The system-wide furlough is mirrored in hotels and communities who are not receiving any guests because vacationers have changed their travel plans. Hotel owners and employees further fear that their losses could not be made up because any short-term refunding of the government only brings the nation to the next crisis - the debt ceiling debate. They believe that it will take a long time for the tourism business to recover if and when things go back to "normal." They share a universal concern that families may not take the chance to travel again next year, and make other plans because they have spent money and time planning a vacation only to have their destination closed to them.

Comments? Questions? Email Here

© HowtoAdvice.com

How to Advice .com