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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 6, 1982)
Well-planned tourist program could assist county economy By John Hart OfthaEmanrid Editor's Note: This is the first In a two-part series on tourism in Lane County. Today's article looks at possible positive and negative effects. The second article will explore what is being done to promote tourist attractions and what some of those attractions are. The idea of "destination point activities’ is to provide travelers with satisfying entertainment to occupy them while visiting this area "The city is beautiful and friendly, and tour ism is definitely a major part of our economic recovery," Wooten says. But she says she realises the area cannot depend on tourism as the single antidote for its Lane oounty residents are in financial trouble, and "outsiders” might be able to alleviate that trouble Tourism can stimulate econ omic recovery in Lane County and generate addi tional job oppor tunities for area residents, according to its local supporters. But promotion efforts can only be effective through com munity aware ness and sup port, they add Hampering the ability for organ izations to look to tourism as the much-needed spurt to em ployment is chronic under funding With more funds available to the organizations encouraging tourism, the county's job market would dramatically in prove Because tour ism is a "clean industry," the Eugene-Spring field Convention and Visitors Bu reau believes an increase will improve the quality of life for residents and as well encourage businesses look ing to this area for re-location or expansion, says r.onvention coor Rodeo, roses and running are just a few tourist attractions in this area. economic ills. Tourism can be used, however, as a means to in troduce potential business and in dustrial firms to Eugene’s busi ness climate and quality of life, Wooten says No major op position to promoting local recreation and business opportunities outside the im mediate area has surfaced. How ever, many take a cautious view of tourism. Tourism must do more than pay for itself, warns Dean Runyan, associate profes sor in the Univer sity's urban and regional plan ning department Speaking as a planner and not an opponent of current efforts, Runyan says the question is not whether or not tourism is good or bad, but rather “under what cir cumstances is it good.'' An increase in tourism might in cur unforeseen costs to area taxpayers if adequate plan ning is not im plemented, he says Public ser vice costs he projects include additions to tran sportation sys tems, sanitation systems, securitv dinator Jamie Brothers The immediate availability of people with service-oriented skills makes tourism the most viable approach to tackling the slumping job market, says Dick Reynolds, executive director of the Performing Arts Center Eugene City Councilor Cynthia Wooten says the ramifications of developing "destination point activities" here will have a long range of effects personnel, courts and roads. The taxpayer could be spared these costs, however, by passing them onto the tourist by taxing tourist-oriented activities, Runyan says. Last year alone, the visitor's bureau received $76,000, representing 25 percent of a “room tax” surcharge added to the price of local hotel bills. Conservationists accept the idea of an influx of visitors to the area, though guardedly. 0m mt ' .LLIWitvw ^Ownership Special Perm *25°° Reg. *40"’ Haircut «ooo Reg. *11°° Carol Hubbard New Owner 20 W. 25th 142-7661 - COUDOD SAHALIE Natural Foods 13th & Patterson Weekdays 9-9, Sat 484 6460 10 Sun we have BACKPACKING FOODS from ALPINE AIRE great for camping, cycling, hiking or anything! Now appearing in the Winner's Lounge THE GROWING EDGE Beginning Monday Night, July 5 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. Sunday nights see "Charlie” KZEL-KBDF Disc Jockey He'll be playing your favorite hits Sunday 8 p.m. till Closing Only at the Holiday Inn Holidome 225 Coburg Rd. a 342-5181 * ®" ~emu food service WEDNESDAY BEER GARDEN 3:30-6:30 in the EMU Dining Room & Courtyard 54 oz pitcher $2.50 16 oz glass .75 I.D. required iijii'iuuiiii'iiumiiiijiiimiuiiuiuiiiiiiuiiiiiu THE YANKEE CLIPPER BOUTIQUE GIANT QUITTING BUSINESS SALE NOW! Complete Liquidation Everything Goes! Cotton blouses, skirts & pants, rayon ~ dresses, Chinese enamelled earrings, etc.! The Yankee Clipper Smeede Hotel 767 Willamette m TnfnifimTmmuMMmmmnn iUUUUE
