GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A local tourism official discusses the effect Hurricane Harvey is having on the economies of impacted communities.
Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitor’s Bureau President Brad Toll notes lost conventions, sporting events, and concerts will take a toll on places like Houston.
“The community is depending on the tax revenue that’s generated from having those visitors come in.”
Toll notes tourism officials will need to work to inform people that some parts of their cities may still be accessible.
“Literally, we can operate from just about anywhere. The Houston bureau, if they’re not able to get into their offices, will find an off-site location and communicate with their staff and get people in.”
He says bureau officals typically start planning as soon as possible when a disaster is on the way.
“They were likely working with the conventions that were planning on coming in, either to reschedule or delay.”
Toll expects many people planning to go to areas like Houston will cancel their trips after seeing images of the flooding, even though their event might still go on as planned.
He notes Wisconsin tourism officials had their own crisis back in 2008, after national media reports on flooding in Wisconsin Dells encouraged people to stay away for the summer.
“The bureau had to very quickly work to try to overcome that perception. These communities need that influx of visitor dollars now more than ever.”
Toll expects his organization, as well as others throughout the country, will have an opportunity to help their affected counterparts through efforts organized by the U.S. Travel Association and Destination International.
