"Tourism--a dirty word?" from the February 8, 1973 Door County Advocate
Guest editorial
EDITORIALS
Guest editorial Tourism--a dirty word?
Why has "Tourism" suddenly developed into a dirty word in Door county? Why is there more and more reference to "shutting the door" or "cutting back on tourism"?
Door county has been a vacationland since 1890 or before, according to records available. For over 75 years we have encouraged our neighbors from other states and around Wisconsin to visit us and enjoy the magnificent scenery, the northwoods solitude and our water playground.
If we have developed any problems are we to blame the tourist? Is he to blame for septic problems? Is he to blame for congested roads? No!• We are! We invited the tourist into Door county. We encouraged them. We built hundreds of accommodations and shops to satisfy them! So don't blame the tourist!
Let's really examine our problems! Many are making\ mountains out of molehills! Do we really have serious problems? Problems that can't be resolved with sound, long range planning? Sure, it will cost money to put in sanitary sewers, better roads and better highway controls - but - who is paying for it? The Tourist! The State! The Federal Government! That's who! The tourist annually drops over 100 million dollars into Door County! Who pays for the highways and bridges? The federal and state governments pay for most! Sanitary sewer systems are built largely with federal funds.
So, let's improve our roads, etc., so we can handle the tourist! Why chase him out? So what if our roads are a little busy for a few weekends in July and August! If we lived in a metropolitan area the roads would be like that (and worse) every day of the week all year long.
Many (4,000) Door county citizens (your neighbors and friends) are now dependent on the tourist dollar. If we "cut back" or "shut the door", many of these 4,000 will be out of jobs and many marginal business firms will go out of business.
What happens then?
1. Tax base is lost - raising our taxes.
2. Increased unemployment - raising our taxes.
3. More on welfare - raising our taxes.
4. Hourly wages and salaries will stagnate.
5. Fewer summer job opportunities for our youth.
Let's build sanitary systems, bridges and roads. Then watch our economy grow!
I know I would just as soon put up with a few busy weekends and the excitement that goes with it than higher taxes and some of my neighbors out of work.
Have we really got serious problems or are we making mountains out of molehills? Let's not jump off the deep end! Even if we cut back on tourism, it will still be necessary to correct our problems. If we have 500,000 tourists or 1,000,000 tourists our problems will still be with us. So, let's correct our problems and get on with creating a stronger economy.
No, Tourism is not a dirty name! After all, most of us are tourists in some other part of our state, nation or world - aren't we? We enjoy other places, just as others enjoy Door county. Let's all be happy - don't fret - it's only a molehill!—By John Hyland, manager, Door County Chamber of Commerce.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive