Love it or hate it … tourism pays
Steve Campbell | Jun 06, 2017 | Comments 72
Steve Campbell
I was going to pass on a column this week, while consumed with the production of our Summer issue of County Magazine. But then three things drew my attention.
First was Dennis Fox’s letter in The Picton Gazette, questioning the benefits of tourism in Prince Edward County.
I am deeply involved in the cause and effects of tourism, and have worked with the County on various projects, and my own independent Breakaway Magazine. I’m here to tell you that tourist dollars sustain enormous numbers of people in the County. Not just businesses, although that’s a big one.
If you truly explore the spread of these dollars, you can see that it appears in virtually every home. Let’s face it, the County lives and breathes through small businesses, and home-based businesses. Where do you think this money goes? It doesn’t just stick in the bottom of an owner’s pockets, never to see the light of day. Take my word for it, money coming into my business moves out into the County almost as fast as it comes in.
And, like every business owner I know (and I have over 300 clients, all of them active), we spend the bulk of our money here. Locals support us, and we support them.
A smart person would know that tourist money spreads into the community everywhere, in thousands of ways. In discussion with several councillors, I am assured that Council understands the critical importance of home-based businesses – from B&Bs, art studios, tax-preparers, carpenters, lawnmower repairers. This is our lifeblood.
Much of that useless tourism money filters through businesses to other businesses. If you walk into Giant Tiger, or any grocery store, there’s tourist money (and empty shelves!) as well as locals making purchases with that tourism money.
Sure, tourists can be a pain, we all know that. But to deny the benefits is ridiculous. The writer’s myopic view that only a few businesses make money and “the majority of County residents” do not benefit … well, that’s just wrong, plain and simple.
Concern that tourism money does not turn up in Shire Hall is not an issue for me, since the dollars are going directly to the community – where they are needed most – with every purchase, and every rented room, every restaurant meal and, yes, every bottle of wine or beer.
Some people poo-poo these jobs as just seasonal … not really worth anything. But they are jobs. And they are real jobs which, with proper motivation, can grow into better positions.
Yes, Shire Hall puts money into tourism and, if you study what they are doing through its community development department, you would see new businesses sprouting up like crazy. They are attracted by the very thing condemned in this letter. And, partly through this department, many of them are young people. And they are creative – I don’t mean they are all artists … they are creative business people, with new ideas and growth potential. Would they have come here without that hideous tourist market? Doubtful. Will they help grow our economy? Certainly.
Oddly enough, Rick Conroy addressed the very same topic in that same week’s Times Comment. His optimistic analysis is the perfect counterpoint to the dark cloud of negativity of the Gazette letter.
Rick’s right. I’ve seen years of Councils pounding money into the search for big industries, with year-round union jobs. Ain’t gonna happen. Ten years ago, businesses gathered to expand our money-making tourism season beyond June to August. Now we see activity from April to end of October, and moving into the winter months.
That’s why it’s so important that “all those tax dollars are being spent on tourism.” Because it continues to pay us back.
Hillier Blues
And, on a final note, I was struck by Mihal’s report on the Hillier Hall, which is stymied by bureaucracy in their efforts to create something exciting and useful for the area, and perhaps attract some of those nasty visitors too.
Great ideas, thorough research, solid commitment, spawned by an increasingly vibrant community, which has been dormant for years – hampered by bureaucratic angst on the part of County staff.
Of course I understand that rulebook-thumping County staff have their SOP (Standard Operational Procedure) for their CYA (Cover Your Something) files, but really! Decisions based on “what ifs” do not tend to serve anyone, other than to grind progress to a halt. What if there’s a pyrotechnics show? What if someone hangs an elephant from that hook? What if, God forbid, a one-man show becomes a two-man show? Does that not require double the liability insurance? What if Nessy, the giant Hillier Swamp Snake, arrives during a performance and eats all our children? Think about the children!
Jeez, it’s a wonder we can get anything done in Canada, since were so immobilized by phantom fears.
I’m sensitive to this, having been forced to read and comment on a contract on a rental space owned by the County. Frankly, I was insulted by the very wording of the contract, which seemed to indicate they were dealing with naked, drug-addicted troglodytes with bike gang connections, instead of a reputable village business association with a long track record of improving the community.
In all fairness, I’m not a contract kind of guy. I’ve had contracts broken through lots of legal jargon, but I’ve never been burned on a handshake deal. With a handshake, your integrity is at stake.
I’ve seen a lot of councils since I became politically active, and they always defer to their staff. And rightly so, since councillors come and go, and the staff maintains ‘the way of doing things’ to ease the transition, and keep the continuity.
In this case, staff concerns are impeding a concept that fits in completely with the natural appeal of the County, to locals and visitors alike.
My advice to Council: Please use your heads and your instincts, not fear of reprisal, or the terrifying monster of liability, to make your decisions.
“What if” it’s actually a really great idea?
Filed Under: News from Everywhere Else • Steve Campbell
I done – as I mentioned several days ago, responding to this site is taking a lot of my time – particularly addressing those who have not read my “Letter to the Editor” in The Gazette AND which is also listed earlier in these comments. (Just scroll down and find it under June 7th) What I am getting to is that unless new information is forth coming, I am finished talking about this. I have stated my position and have explained why on numerous occasions – and still some just don’t seem to get it because they have read what I have written. Oh well.
It is obvious that it caught the attention of many, but it is not my job to convince people to think the way I do about this topic. I only ask that you become a critical thinker and not allow yourself to be bullied into thinking something is good for you because the politicians or business say it is. To me, we have been misled on the benefits of tourism to the average person in our community.
At the end of the day I know that I asked questions that not even the “Gurus of Tourism or of Shire Hall” could answer without feeling that their world was being threatened. Too bad, because it is again obvious that these people don’t know what they claim to know. All I did was ask questions and look at their reaction. Call your councillor and ask good hard questions about how YOU benefit from tourism.. Maybe you do and maybe you don’t – my point is no one has shown any real proof that the majority of County people do. Sad isn’t it?
Dennis Fox: “How does this community, as a whole, benefit from tourism? I don’t want guesses or the imaginary connecting the dots like what appeared in The Times – I want hard financial facts showing that what we as a community benefit from tourism. I would like to know how many tourist dollars are actually collected at Shire Hall that benefit the community. I find it very interesting that those who claim that we all benefit from tourism are unable to prove it.”
Dennis, as you applied conditions to answer my straightforward question, maybe the explanation below will shed some light on why I asked it. Thank you for answering in the meantime, however.
Tourists come in many forms, not just as drivers or pedestrians on Picton Main St. or shoppers at Beach Bum or at CTC stocking up on flip-flops or beach toys. A resident in SM has been watching this blog and commented the other day, ”If I’d read all this a few years ago, I’d have re-considered my investment.”
He was a tourist, here’s his story, abbreviated for space considerations:
Visits PEC for the first time on word of mouth and a whim in the late 1980s; stays at an ‘Austrian place in Bloomfield’ and falls in love with the ‘county’; returns yearly thereafter, each year casting a wider net as to use of local restaurants, inns, shops etc.; uses a local realtor and eventually invests in a property in 2008 with an eye to moving from the city to the ‘county’ permanently to set up a business; Picton law firm handles the transaction; Picton insurance company provides coverage; over the years invests in upgrades to the property (kitchen, bathrooms, outbuildings, landscaping), employs only PEC trades (carpentry, electrical, plumbing), local suppliers (Evans, Home Hardware, Canadian Tire) and local services (kitchen planner, landscaper, snowplowing, home fuels etc.); patronizes No Frills, Metro, Sobeys, Giant Tiger for household needs such as groceries, and other retailers for specialty items such as pet food and prescriptions; discretionary purchases such as clothing, books, entertainment etc.; and car purchase and servicing of two vehicles. He eventually moves here full-time. Year to year entertains friends from afar who shop ‘local’ while they visit.
He calculates his investment over the years – 99% of it to local, read PEC, businesses – at well over $150K. He’s not the only former tourist to have invested in local businesses.
He has also taken the time to get involved in local organizations and groups, believing the strength of a community – any community – involves participation. And he’s a strong believer in community…and in participation and engagement.
I remain a strong believer that the net the County has cast, as well as the now much more prevalent word of mouth that got my friend here originally, compounded by the global recognition and reach of the Drake Devonshire, Norman Hardie et al will enable future investment to allow all the people and companies my friend hired, paid, shopped at and so on, to thrive, prosper and, as a result, contribute in their own ways to the local economy be it through their taxes or other investments in their business or the community.
Dennis, with all due respect, you point to the shortcomings of council to deal with an issue you consider worth ‘public involvement and discussion’ yet you fail to put forward a plan to initiate said discussion.
If you think this issue is that important, then please do something. For starters, you can make a deputation to council about the investment in tourism vs. the return, or, as of January 1st, 2018, you can throw your hat into the ring as a candidate for municipal council or for mayor and, if elected, contribute to Council’s decision making process including that involving investment in tourism.
As for an answer to your questions, the estimated spend is contained in the budget for 2017, for your convenience here is the link for your research; you can also get to other historical data.
http://www.thecounty.ca/county-government/departments/finance/#municipalbudgets
The return on investment for 2017 is not available for obvious reasons, but you may get some answers from any one of the trades people in PEC and their tax payments or local expenditures.
I was asked earlier by Councillor Steve Ferguson for my “definition” of both tourism and tourist. I’m not sure if there are different “definitions”, but no doubt there are different ways to explain them. Here are my explanations of these words…
Tourism is basically the business of promoting and attracting out of town visitors to your area, for commercial reasons. Tourists are those out of town visitors.
In the meantime, I await for Steve’s response to my questions.
JHS – thanks for your comments. Please be assured that I am not anti-business nor opposed to tourism. I am however interested in knowing how many tax dollars goes into to the promotion of tourism and whether or not the general public gets a return on their money. Now that one of our councillors has entered into the online discussion, as you can see I have asked him a couple of questions that should help clarify the matter. Here’s hoping!
some thoughts on travel and tourism
“Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one’s lifetime.” » Mark Twain
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” » Mark Twain
One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” » Henry Miller
“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” » Seneca
“People don’t take trips, trips take people.” » John Steinbeck
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”unknown
“I have seen the tourism market shift over the last ten years with greater value attached to the culture of places” James Rebanks
Not only providing travelers differing experiences such as the County’s physical beauty and history and traditional economies the County could advance its creative economy using tourism as an important market.
“The creative economy is a vital and growing engine of growth and employment in many countries. It spans sectors such as advertising, broadcasting, architecture, arts, crafts, design, fashion, gastronomy, music, publishing, theatre and technology. They are becoming a key force in entrepreneurship and innovation, helping to boost social development and employment. According to UNESCO, the creative economy is “one of the most rapidly growing sectors of the world economy and a highly transformative one in terms of income generation, job creation and export earnings” World Economic Forum
Tourism could be one worthwhile market generator to help us diversify our economy making it more resilient and attractive for those who remain here or are looking to become part of our community
Steve Ferguson – No, I don’t mind giving you my definitions of tourism or tourist , if you don’t mind explaining why you are asking. Now I want to ask you a question or two – how much does the municipality spend on promoting tourism and how much does Shire Hall receive in the way of tourist dollars coming back into the municipal treasury?
Dennis – as a business owner that operates from me till the end of October I can tell you that I spend thousands on advertising personally. I never once asked the County to take over my advertising budget nor have explicitly told him that I wanted them to represent me. So if the county is doing this it is up their own doing. As some have mentioned –tourist based businesses make money; money we make turn back into the community by paying our electrical contractors construction contractor, cement contractors, gardening contractors employees, increase in insurance rates to the local insurance company. We also purchase over $100,000 worth of local product from local producers. And that is just one business. Without the tourists none of this would happen.
It seems to be that your issue is with the local government advertising for businesses that are private. I understand that. But it is important that you understand as far as I am concerned I never asked them to do this- they have taken this on themselves.
Dennis:
Would you mind defining what you mean by ‘tourism’ and ‘tourist’?
Gary – thank you! That is my very point – everything connected to tourism is anecdotal. I don’t pretend to know the financial facts about the tourist trade -but it appears that no one else does either. Which is an interesting discovery – don’t you think – considering taxpayer are supporting it??? I am asking for financial facts as to whether or not tourism is paying to carry its own freight. As you have witnessed, having someone just ask this basic question gets a very strong response – even in our press!
Now I hope the public will start asking our council and town staff the same question (but asking for proof) – does tourism benefit this community as a whole?
BTW – if you had read my letter you would have read that I am NOT opposed to tourism because I know that many benefit from it. But I also know that this community has been taxed to death to keep up with road repairs and infrastructure demands – I simply believe that unless tax dollars are showing some kind of return that benefits most of the people, then we need to question what we are spending tax dollars on. Personally, I don’t believe that tourism benefits the general public and if we are supporting it, then I want to see a financial benefit to this community – and surprisingly no one seems to be able to prove that! Hmmm? If a business wants to attract tourists – great – but they pay for it.
Tourists are not hurting 49. If you travel down 49 after a heavy rain you will notice all kinds of water laying next to the cement.If the side of the road was properly graded and let the water drain properly no water could get under the cement.In the summer it can get soft under the cement and in the winter it can freeze and tend to heave the cement a cause it to crack.Also the crappy patching job let’s water under the cement too.
Dennis, your evidence is anecdotal, taking the opinions of a few people and relabellingg them as facts. My evidence is research, which generates facts.
As far a the value of tourism is concerned, there’s an old saying that “you dance with the one that brung ya”. Tourism has created a vibrant economy here, and it makes no sense not to continue to promote it.
The County went through a pretty dismal period during the last four decades of the 20th century, following the demise of the canning business, and with dairy farmers selling off their quotas to farmers outside the County. It was only with the advent of the wineries, and the County’s promotion of them (notably the Economic Development Officer Dan Taylor) that we experienced an economic renaissance.
I hope that’s what our Councillors are elected to do….explain decisions made by Council whether they agree with it or not.
Very well put Dennis. Just provide the financial answers. And you are quite correct in that we should not as taxpayers be subsidizing private tourism business.
To Gary Mooney – Thanks for your comments. I find it odd that while my letter prompted both an editorial and a feature article in The Times, that same newspaper didn’t print my letter. Just goes to show how controversial this topic is when Steve Campbell has to read The Gazette as his source of inspiration.
My comments were based on as good of information that is available – I talked with ER people at the hospital and they claim that tourist season is busier than normal and as your numbers prove – it is increasing. The problem with only showing percentages, they don’t reveal the actual numbers. But as we know, our hospital has been under pressure for a long time and staffing is in short supply, I’m sure the increase in out of town patients has to be a challenge that we need to recognize.
My point about heavy traffic going through town is based on the All Candidates debate organized by the BIA, plus the many comments that people make during tourist season. If you were there, you might recall at that debate many resident complained of the tourist traffic and the lack of parking – they wanted council to consider a by-pass. But the BIA wanted the traffic to remain of Main St. because it was good for business. The point is tourist traffic is quite significant and it does clog our roads – but it is profitable for business so nothing happens to resolve the problem.
As far as road damage – our own council has often claimed that the damage done to Hwy 49 and roads leading to The Sandbanks is due to tourist traffic and on occasion Council has discussed placing on a road toll to help cover costs and have also asked the province for additional dollars for the road repairs associated with this provincial park. Surely you must remember these discussions?? So to go from Hwy 49 to the Sandbanks requires traffic to travel on many roads- isn’t it easy to conclude that those roads would likely get damaged too? Your weighing of vehicles, while interesting to some, does not address the number of them during tourist season, nor is it possible to measure how much damage is done by any given vehicle. If it is the truck traffic(as you claim) causing this problem, then that too is an issue that needs to be addressed.
My point is Gary, my comments are based on talking to and listening to a lot of people. Steve’s rebuttal that you refer to is based on his own self-interest and that of his friends – all who no doubt benefit from the tourist trade – which is just fine by me – provided they pay for it and not the taxpayer. I don’t believe Steve addressed this point in his article.
As you point out, my comments did promote discussion on this topic – which was my intent. I find it amazing how a “Letter to the Editor” which simply asked questions – no one was attacked or accused of any wrong doing – but a letter asking basic questions about what affects our daily life here in PEC – man what a reaction!
However Gary, neither you nor anyone else has answered my most basic question – How does this community, as a whole, benefit from tourism? I don’t want guesses or the imaginary connecting the dots like what appeared in The Times – I want hard financial facts showing that what we as a community benefit from tourism. I would like to know how many tourist dollars are actually collected at Shire Hall that benefit the community. I find it very interesting that those who claim that we all benefit from tourism are unable to prove it.
Dennis, it was useful for you to start a discussion on tourism in PEC, in particular because it has prompted Steve’s rebuttal.
You call out Steve for not providing hard facts, but you did the same when you blamed tourists for clogging our streets and hospital ER, and ruining our roads. Your comments prompted me to dig up some facts.
Re PECMH hospital visits, QHC kindly provided some stats. The percentage visits by non-County residents has increased from 23% to 28% over the past four years. Unfortunately, there is no breakdown available of visits by residents of nearby municipalities vs visits by tourists.
Most road damage is caused by heavy trucks, not by passenger cars. Example: one trip by an 18-wheeler weighting 80,000 lbs can cause as much damage as the same trip by 9,600 cars, each weighing 4,000 lbs. (I have lots of references to prove this.)
As far as clogging up our streets, this is an oft-repeated exaggeration. If there’s any clogging, it’s mostly Main Street Picton in July and August, and secondarily Wellington and Bloomfield Main Streets. About 4 km of the County’s 880 km of roads.
One more thought I always wondered why The County never jumped all over the Casino opportunity that Belleville managed to snag. Just imagine the year round tourist draw that would have went hand in hand with the Winery push and would have provided year round employment with good wages and kick back money to The County for roads and infrastructure. I supposed shoulda coulda woulda made a big difference but oh well.
This will likely be my last posting on this topic – that is unless something very unusual occurs. While I appreciate the comments and discussion that we have created, I found Steve’s article totally off-base and it answered nothing on the questions that I posed on my letter – in fact it blurred the reality of the issue. What needs to be remembered by all of us, is that there isn’t a person anywhere in this County who hasn’t had the discussion with friends or family about how tourists over-run the County and at times how it bothers us. The purpose of my letter to the press was to bring this topic of tourism into focus for a community discussion – it needs to happen. I tried, so now it is left up to someone else to give it a go.
Tourism has benefits but also downfalls. I am a little uncomfortable being a playground for the well off. And it offers our youth little in terms of making gòod wages and settling down with a family. We should be more than that.
To Dennis Fox,, who blames Council for everything,no use argueing or trying to change your mind but with a bit of searching I think you will find that most all tourist operators do spend to advertise their business,and they tend to be the more established, successful ones. Can be $500.00+ depending how you want it ! Check out InfoLink with Anne VanVlack if you need more proof. Oh, and she employs people, pays wages to them and they in turn spend here in the community. I just don’t get your reasoning but that’s ok….to each his own.
On the assessment argument though,,my house and property was assessed from far off distant Toronto without a view of said property and when I asked how and why I was told “oh,your property is comparable to other properties in your area so a visual isn’t necessary! Not to mention they had no clue where Picton or PEC was situated! So THEN, the County sends out my tax bill based on that number and set mil rate. Like throwing darts at the board. So, don’t think I can blame the tourist for that one either.
BTW (that’s short for By the Way) ADJ? It’s Dayton Johnson and I’m not hiding behind anything,,I shortened it to initials and announced it when I did that it was just for convenience. Sorry it got your drawers in a knot all this time. I’m done with this so CU! ,oops, darn, See You.
You have it right, Paul. People are always looking for something new and right now the county is the in destination. But this is not likely to remain the case indefinitely.
Tourism always has and always will be a part of The County and it should be. That being said putting all your eggs in one basket has never turned out well for anyone. When Industry comes knockin hell breaks loose and the tourism and retiree folks wage war yet a new resort is welcomed. The fad will wear off people will move onto the next great getaway spot when its to crowded and expensive people will stop coming.
Sounds great ADJ but one day we may wake up the victims of our own success. We are well on our way to being the next Alexandria Bay.
ADJ and LRB – QRS and XYZ – everyone claims to have knowledge of the facts and yet so few are ready to stand by them with their names attached. So many money people are benefiting from the tax break and tourist ad support that they no longer can see the problem or obvious solution – if you want tourism and if you own a business that caters to them – then PAY for your own advertisement. MPAC sets the assessment, but it is COUNCIL who sets the all important mil rate that determines your taxes. Tax dollars that are needed for far more important matters than putting tourists dollars into the pockets of a few.
BTW – LRB all tourists are welcome here – no one has said differently. The problem is having people staying on topic.
LRB,you and others are welcomed here anytime! There’s a few on here that have had a bad experience with tourism and need to vent. Their opinions are their own only. This County will never have the permanent job base like the good old days and that’s progress. A few on here need to wake up to the facts of things like online shopping,online banking and electric cars!! All things that eliminate jobs yes but not the fault of visitors to the County.Taxes are NOT assessed by the local Council!! Blame that on MPAC. Tourist should never be forced to pay an extra TAX because they wish to vacation here! Ask any operators of spinoff jobs created by tourism : Could you afford to live in PEC if there was zero tourism? Highly doubtful. Try and find a building contractor who isn’t booked a year or more ahead on local building jobs! How many are there and how many people do they employ or apprentice at $20+ bucks an hour! Think of the trickle down effect. Consider yourselves darn lucky we have things that attract tourists.
To repeat once again – I stated very clearly that I am not opposed to tourism. However, I am opposed to having the promotion of tourism being paid for by the taxpayers. Tourism has not created a new nor prosperous community – our population is declining and job creation is virtually frozen and has been for years. I am suggesting that our community begin a dialogue with our council to find new ways of doing things.
To find my article, please scroll down the comment page – it is the same letter that appeared on the press.
Dear PEC: Wow. Kinda not feeling the love in the County. My license plate says “Ontario, yours to discover”. So many places spend a great deal of money in advertising to attract a share of the summer tourism dollar. Generally tourism must be good for the County, no? I love the County! I love the water & the countryside, love the people (especially the warmth of the locals), the good vibes, adore the arts, music and the wine – and the food – wow! So good! Can’t believe how great the entrepreneurial spirit is in the County and the effort & long hours that people put in to make it great. I visit often. I never throw trash but sometimes drive over 80. Sorry. Also, sorry your shoe prices went up and your roads turned to dust from too much use (in fairness, some of the roads were crappy when I got here). Really love you guys & hope you have me back. Don’t hate me. – Love your faithful tourist oxoxox
I’ve read the pro’s and con’s of this topic the last few days and in my opinion if it wasn’t for the influx of people into the area May—Oct.(call them tourist if it makes you feel better) I see a low income,depressed area,high crime rate with no opportunities for the up and coming work force as to seasonal employment. The “tourist” operator employs students but also have a need for machanics,welders,fabricators,building contractors who in turn employ several laborers who require materials from a supplier. and Also they purchase their everyday needs here from fuels to groceries. Round and round it goes.These “tourist operators” have a facility that attracts customers BUT they also pay more taxes for the waterfronts,larger venues,cottage rentals,or B+Bs. Taxes that go to the municipality to look after everything local from snowplowing to street lights. I don’t understand this negative attitude toward the tourist… Sure, there is the few that can’t spell respect but they soon get educated. It appears to be more of a “dog in the manger” perception. “How is it they have and I don’t” Well Boo Hoo! Get a life,stop blaming County Council for every bump in the road. Take the initiative and stop whining! Run for Council if you got the cahonies,forward a petition, organize a steet march demonstration,,something but stop blaming the tourist for their contribution to your better community life.
I totally agree with Chris Keen as to his comments…it’s not the tourist who leave their tires, couches,garbage on the back roads and at the Second time Around store.Put the blame where it belongs and that’s some locals who would rather buy a two/four than a garbage tag .Pitiful!
Kinda getting away from the meat of the discussion. That being an unbiased study and “Facts” on the benefits and downfalls of being a tourist destination. We know of some positives and we know of some negatives. What we do not know is the overall costs to the taxpayer. If your municipal government is totally entrenched into tourism and arts those answers and figures won’t come quickly.
And I suppose it’s tourists who toss trash along the roadsides and at stop signs, leave sofas and chairs in ditches, and blow by me at 100 kph in an 80 kph zone between September and May 24th?
Jaded – you are well named. Read my letter, it is positive and it is meant to foster debate and well thought out discussion. On a personal note, I am tired of seeing good tax money being spent on a tourist trade that is not benefiting the community as a whole. This is not negative comment, just stating my position and hoping to see more positive outcomes with our tax dollars.
Yawn. Anyone who owns or works in the tourist trade also pays municipal taxes so I’m not sure what all the “we” is about.
It’s not tourists flying down residential King Street so you can’t easily safely cross. (It’s not tourists who decided crosswalks on a very busy Main Street is charmingly frustrating for everyone!) It’s not tourists dumping their garbage on the roadside, and at the thrift shops and any dumpster they can find. Or stealing money from honour-system roadside stands and breaking into small businesses. It’s not tourists who don’t pick up after their gigantic dog who defecates on my street 365 days a year.
Dennis: try looking on the positive side. You might find more followers.
Konrad, can you tell those tourists who share ib our awe to stop driving so aggressively and tossing their garbage on our roadsides? They may share the awe but we are the ones who keep the county open year-round.
You are wrong, Ken. At stores like Payless you can buy lots of shoes that do not fall apart after just a few wearings. I agree that it is pointless to buy dirt cheap shoes that last for only a few months but it is not necessary to go top of the line to have good, serviceable footwear. Sure Richard Davis may not have turned a profit here but did you check his prices. Do you really think that most people cab afford them? A lot of people in the county work for minimum wage or very little more.
Hello RobB –
Thanks for your comments.
As I stated in my letter – I am not opposed to tourism, but believe that those businesses benefiting from it should be the ones to pay. We have seen our tax dollars supporting tourism for many years – without the result we were hoping for – meaning better paying full time jobs that can support a family. Unless that happens, the low student enrollment will continue. Tourism has not provide this community with a viable future. Attracting small businesses is a fine, but a young business person will not settle here unless schools are here. Plus making a baby and waiting for it to become school age takes about 5 years – at this rate our student population will take years to come back form where it was. Frankly, I am now of the belief that to support tourism now from tax dollars is a waste of money. Tax dollars are needed for far more important things!
Good post Dennis. Doubt you get a response however.
“Careful what you wish for” for sure. I used to curse the tourism influx as it added a few extra minutes to my day negotiating around town. I cursed them right up until my kids were old enough to get summer jobs and low and behold, the jobs available were tourism based. Critics may say that these jobs are low paying without benefits, but they are JOBS!! In the County’s heyday there were lots of canning factory jobs. This was a bit before my time ( not much) but I find it hard to believe that those jobs were high paying with benefits.The days of heading out of high school and landing that well paying job with benefits that you stayed at until retirement and then rode out your pension are gone!! Those are the fortunate ones who are retiring to the County and providing the service based employment. As for declining school enrollment, I believe this is more of a correction than a trend. How many generations went to one room school houses? I don’t think we will get back to one room schoolhouses but its part of the ebb and flow of the population of the County…but I digress. Maybe the States will raise their taxes on whiskey and we will be able to recreate the prosperity of the Barley Days…until then, tourism it is
Before my Letter to the Editor(which was submitted to both papers – The Gazette and The Times) gets too misquoted – please find it copied below.
Community Input Needed
Many changes are taking place within our community without public input into decisions that directly affect them. From tourism to parking meters, from the occupation of public lands and roads by private businesses, to allowing new industry on Picton Harbour, our council makes decisions without the benefit of public discussion. It is time for the public to have input into what happens to our community – before it happens.
It is my hope this letter will encourage others to promote much needed and overdue discussion on matters important to this community. As tourist season just began with the May 24 weekend, I’d like to begin a discussion on “Tourism in PEC.”
I want to make it very clear that I am not opposed to tourists. Many businesses benefit from the tourist trade and it puts money into their pockets. My question is: How is the community as a whole benefiting from tourism? Are most people in our community getting a return for having our streets plugged with tourists, their vehicles pounding our roads into dust, or for having our hospital over-loaded with emergency visits? Considering that council has now taken over the promotion of tourism, how much is it costing the taxpayers? More importantly, how are the taxpayers benefiting from this investment, and how do tourists contribute to the municipal coffers? From what I can see, very few tourist dollars make their way back to Shire Hall. Why then are tax dollars being spent to promote tourism? Isn’t it the responsibility of tourist based businesses to promote themselves?
Has municipal support for tourism attracted year round businesses that will provide permanent employment for locals? Do these jobs pay well enough to allow their employees and their families to stay in PEC?
There is a common belief that a community “indirectly benefits” from spin-off wealth resulting from tourism. I don’t believe there are many, if any “indirect benefits,” but I am open to discussion on this point. Our community has been in the business of promoting tourism for many years and yet, as the Stats Can Report has shown, it has not increased our permanent population at all – in fact our population is on the decline and our need for tax dollars is ever increasing. The idea of “indirect benefits” sounds a lot like what big business refers to as “trickle down” wealth. We know that has not worked to benefit the public.
Our community is facing a serious situation with an aging population combined with a serious declining population of young people, so serious it presents challenges to keep schools open. The ongoing promotion of tourism has not helped our community to grow in a viable and sustainable manner. While it may have made some businesses money, tourism has not benefitted the majority of county residents. Community and council need to work together on a new plan that will benefit those who live here year round, one that will ensure we have a real chance for a viable future. It cannot be a single solution, it has to be a multi-layered approach that aggressively promotes PEC as a place to move to, to set up businesses that will provide good jobs for local young people. Promoting tourism may be a small part of this, but it needs to pay for itself.
Council must also find methods for tourists to pay their way, as their numbers take a toll on the infrastructure of our community. A B&B/hotel tax, or a tourist retail tax like they have in Niagara, are only a few ideas. Then council needs to ensure there are concrete and identified benefits such as road and water improvements, lower taxes etc. from additional tourist dollars coming into Shire Hall.
Unless Prince Edward County residents are benefiting, what is the point of encouraging tourists to our community?
Dennis Fox
Northport
A finishing story…. after seeing my Letter being used by two Times columnists – one for an editorial and one feature article -I find it laughable and totally lacking in credibility that The Times refuses to publish my letter. Hardly trying to give a balanced approach to encourage a community discussion.
The secret is out. This is a beautiful, friendly welcoming place. Just the type of place to visit and live in. Tourists are not ‘the other’, they share in the love of this place. Things always change. Stedmans isn’t coming back.
Id rather have people here who share in our awe and spend money on good food, great wine, rent, fishing, nature and whatever is wonderful here than have industries here that pollute and ruin the things that we love.
Careful what you wish for.
Consider a County without tourism. Few shops. Fewer artists. Older citizenry. Poorer. What was Wellington like in 1968? Careful what you wish for.
We don’t have many tourists in the winter so someone must be shopping here or these stores would close
There is a reason you can’t buy a men’s suit or a sport jacket in Picton, there isn’t enough demand for it. The last men’s clothing store in downtown Picton was Richard Davis. And he couldn’t turn enough profit to make it feasible. The Home Furnishing store obviously met the same fate. As for women’s shoes and winter boots, unless you want cheap footwear that will quickly fall apart, you will have to spend money for quality. The prices at Crowes are comparable to shopping at the mall in Belleville once you factor in your gas and time travelling.
Ken, just try buying a man’s suit or sports jacket in Picton, or a lamp shade or women’s clothing that is reasonably priced. We have the GT boutique or some high-end stores that the average woman would find too pricey for her pocketbook. Ditto for shoes. That good shoe store you mentioned sells shoes for about $200. a pair and winter boots for $250. and up. Tell me how the average family can afford this? There was a time when you could buy almost any everyday item in Picton but this is no longer the case. Main Street is top-heavy on gift shops.
Marnie, two patios in Downtown Picton on opposite sides of the street and quite a distance away from each other is hardly dodging.
Now if include going out as far as the traffic circle, there are plenty of essentials you can buy in Picton. We have a nice big Home Hardware store out there, a Canadian Tire, County Farm has lots of stuff too. Three major grocery stores, three pharmacies, a few specialty food shops, a butcher shop out on Lake St. multiple barber and hairstyling places, a very decent shoe shop, a couple of ladies clothing shops. Restaurants ranging from simple diners, to the more upper crust places.
Yes Lipsons and Stedmans are gone. Rick at Stedmans had the business for sale for quite a while, but no one was interested in it, so he closed out.
Parking has always been tricky on Main St, but show me any town where that isn’t true. Try downtown Kingston, Trenton, Napanee or even Belleville during the day.
The people who hate the tourists will always hate them, they will be the perceived root of all the problems that are associated with the area. But the tourist dollars also spin off into lots of work for our local tradespeople, and all the business that sub trade for them, and the local suppliers. If you aren’t profiting or benefiting off the tourists, or people who have moved here from “away” odds are, you know someone who has.
Check out Main Street – very few “real” stores selling essential goods. We now cater to the tourists. Even walking downtown is an adventure in dodging sidewalk patios. It is almost impossible to park thanks to the tourists. Bloomfield and Wellington have lost much of their original character thanks to the tourist invasion. Picton has become a place to avoid in the summer months.
Fred you echo my own thoughts.
And, the bulk of the toursim jobs are temporary, low paying, and not permanent.
I believe since Steve mentioned me by name, that I have a right to respond to his article, in the same manner that he responded to my letter – through Countylive.
Steve’s article did not address the most basic point of my letter to the Gazette. He used the same old rationale to justify tax dollars going to support tourism – that “somehow” we all benefit. Prove it I say! Be specific and no general glossing over with comments like “tourism dollars are going directly into the community.” Sorry this is simply not true – it is nothing more than a convenient self-serving excuse to take tax dollars. The fact that he and other businesses benefit from tourism is great – my point is that they should be paying for it – not taxpayers. If tourism dollars aren’t going into Shire Hall(as he notes) to support taxpayers, then tax dollars should not be going out of Shire Hall to promote tourism.
I was not expecting any business person who caters to tourists, like Steve does, to agree with my point of view – but I do appreciate the conversation.
Businesses that double profits do not pay anymore property tax so Shire Hall does not gain. Infrastructure particularly roads take a pounding and are left to local taxpayers. Escalated prices that many locals cannot afford or attend the fine cuisine. Lack of affordable housing for many as available rentals become high priced tourist lodgings. Low paying seasonal jobs with few benefits. Escalated house sale prices that hurt young start up families from being able to purchase here. Which in turn hurts schools. More costs for policing, EMS, health care services, waste management,etc.Good article if it provided both sides of the equation . Not sure the wizard has crunched the numbers on the gains and losses.
Another great column Steve. As a local business owner who is NOT tourism related, I still sell my product to local people who derive a lot of their incomes from tourism based businesses. This income then supports four local people who spend their money here in the County year round. To the naysayers of tourism, drive through Wellington,Bloomfield and Picton and see how many people work for all these tourism related businesses…imagine if there was no tourism..ghost towns. During tourism season it may take longer to get through town but enjoy the wait, if you didn’t have to wait you might have to dodge tumbleweeds!
Right on point, Mr. Campbell!! Thanks!