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Show r THE ZEPHYR from the western association of land users Tourism: the Business of the Future? by Raquel Shumway First of all, don't know about you, but I sometimes get claustrophobic with all these tourists coming In. I also get extremely tired and disgusted with their sometimes belligerent and obnoxious attitude and behavior. Don't get me wrong -- like people and I I 1 usually enjoy them and enjoy sharing our beautiful country with them. But I dtellke paying the price for the obnoxious conversation, the shoplifting, the search and rescue, and the sanitary clean-u- p. Wilderness advocates win tell you that tourism Is the business of the future. Tourism Is going to bring In the revenue to save Utah,s declining economy. There are a few things wrong with that philosophy. First of all - the majority of us don't work In the tourist Industry. And If we did we couldnt make the wages we are making now! Any Elementary child can figure the following: Each tourist brings In $14.00 a day (so they tell us). We average 2,000 to 3,000 tourist a day. There are 2,000 - 4,000 people working In Moab at approximately $30.00 -$100.00 a day. $14.00 3.000 $42,000.00 Total Income for tourists $30.00 X2.000 $62,000.00 Total Income for the working Moabites Notice I used the high estimate for the tourist total and the low estimate for the average working wage. We lose $18,000 a day even at Hurt. You can see that tourism Is never going to bring In the Income that has kept Utahs economy going thus far. To think that It can Is an unrealistic attitude. Tourism and wilderness make Interesting bedfellows. We are going to save the land so people can enjoy the solitude of nature, but we don't want to allow them (the people) access! And that Includes access by foot! In talking to people from the Wasatch front, they think as do others, that wilderness Is going to protect their playgrounds so that you and I dont destroy them. They are under the Impression that they can come here at their leisure, pull up to camp In their motorhome, fish, relax, etc. for the weekend and go home to tell others of their wonderful wilderness experience. They know nothing of the reality of having to hike Into the area they want to see simply because there are no roads and no motorized vehicles allowed. These facts have been conveniently left out of the ads and cries for more wilderness. They don't know the reality of not even being able to mountain bike Into the area they'd most like to see! Another fact conveniently left out In the BLM Wilderness Management Policy there Is an entire section on recreation and visitor use. It says and I quote, "The wilderness resource will be dominant In all management decisions where a choice must be made between preservation of wilderness character and visitor use. THERE ARE PLACES AND TIMES within wilderness where unique values may require THAT RECREATION AND VISITOR USE ACTIVITIES BE restricted or ENTIRELY PROHIBITED In order to preserve an enduring resource of wilderness. (emphasis added) The policy also lists 16 direct and Indirect methods to limit andor prohibit visitor use In a wilderness area. This decision to limit or prohibit visitor use Is left up to the one man, "The designated officer". Or has been proven In past decisions the decision Is made by preservationist groups who have the power and finances to push government agencies Into making decisions In their favor. First they say that tourism will save our economy and then they say: but were only going to let so many people In. At one wilderness area they have already begun to limit the number of visitors allowed because the Impact was hurting the wilderness values of naturalists and solitude In that area. Even here In our own community. The Jeep Safari brought In 1,200 vehicles, the largest group yet The BLM Is now talking about limiting the number of vehicles allowed because of the Impact to the Wilderness Study areas. But tourism Is going to save our economy. I havent noticed Robin Groff limiting his Income to 10 people a day or City Market limiting theirs to a certain number. I haven't noticed any business In town limiting their Income jiotentlal to a certain number of people. Why should any of us limit our possible Income? Youve also heard noises from wilderness advocates that the visitors are making an awful on Negro Bill Canyon. They would like to eliminate or at least limit the number of visitors allowed In the canyon. Of course, that doesn't Include them because they are more considerate about the waste and litter they leave behind than are the tourists! Just like anything - we have to be reasonable. Just as It Is possMe to "overgraze cattle In one area. It Is possible to "overgraze people. Wise management can take care of either problem. You notice I said wise management not exclusive management Also a little bit of common courtesy and unselfishness from people can help take care of the visitor use problem. A whole lot of forethought could also help! We advertise and entice people to visit our area. We sell the Idea of tourism as a booming Industry. Its a little late to say, "Oops, we thought about It and we changed our minds. Only a few select people can come In! I guess what I'm saying Is this: People make an Impact on an area and sometimes they arent even caring or thoughtful about It and that Is sad because I love this country as does everyone. But tourism Isn't going to save our economy all by Itself. Especially If people are restricted or prehMted from entering wilderness areas. There are a lot of contradictions In the policies and Ideas of wilderness advocates concerning tourism and wilderness. Because of these contradictions, they will cause the loss of our freedoms. Just a few short years ago people worked for a living. Now, we either play for a or to play. work living There Is something scary about a society that wants to "save everything so they can play. Especially when this same society wants to selfishly select who can play. (Have you noticed - very few of these people will tell you what they do for a living?) I suggest that using our resources to play In Is a great side value of this great We have the right and opportunity to use IL Others shouldnt prohibit that right country. But we should also remember that we need to be wise and courteous users. Ive decided In the last few months that It's not really the wilderness that Is the but rather the selfish and cunning attitudes of people, especially of those people problem, In the hierarchy of these groups and politicians who would like to take away our freedoms. They will tell you that tourism Is great and so Is wilderness! They'll sell you on the Idea and then pull the rug out from under you at the first profitable opportunity. BUYER BEWARE. 2! Ja ch! Now that youve gotten your wish... SUMMER IS HERE. What are you gonna do about it? Weve got some class(y) ideas at S.dC.C.E. 471 S. Main 259-518- 0 restore lost power i Jot omly Wool, like to have mv "Power ReSlotfb 1 i all foreign & domestic custom exhaust work ait work guaranteed 259-721- 3 Utah State University in Moab A & B AUTO 405 N. Main PAGE 21 JULY 1990 , UKE FOR S0MSM6 3 wovqj T op wy compuxioa). M.KoRtA CLEAR |
