High gas prices don’t seem to be hurting Pulaski County tourism, according to Tourism Bureau Executive Director Andy Thiem, and may even help local venues as vacationers choose to stay closer to home.
Speaking at Thursday evening’s meeting of the Pulaski County Tourism Board, Thiem said national surveys indicate most Americans won’t give up their summer vacations regardless of gas prices.
The tourism bureau’s primary revenue source is a transient guest tax levied on hotel and motel visitors, and that revenue stream is running about $8,000 better than budget for the month of March — the last available revenue report — and $26,000 better than budget for the first quarter. That’s not a large increase, but it does indicate there isn’t a major problem caused by rising gas prices, Thiem said.
While some hotels have been late in payments in the past, Thiem reported that only two properties were late with their March tax payments, Hometown Suites and Super 8. He said he didn’t expect either to be a long-term problem and the late payments were likely due to accounting issues. Revenues were up 14 percent from last year for March and 5 percent for the first quarter, he said.
A recent survey by the Travel Industry of America backs those numbers up nationally, Thiem said.
“Vacations are a non-negotiable part of contemporary life, even in challenging economic times,” Thiem said, citing the survey results.
Thiem said only 41 percent of those who responded to the survey said their vacation plans would change if gas prices continue to rise, but the greatest percentage of those — 38 percent  — would simply drive a shorter distance for their vacations. About 36 percent say they’ll take fewer trips; 30 percent will spend less on shopping, and 27 percent would spend less on meals and entertainment.
“Gas continues to be a challenge, we’ll look at that, but right now the indicators are that everybody’s still traveling. They’re alternating where they’re traveling but they are still traveling,” Thiem said.
Changes in airline rules that include charging for luggage could mean more people choosing to travel by car and for shorter distances, Thiem said.
The organized group travel market seems to also be improving, with groups of people traveling to multiple locations on a bus.
“Right now it looks like they are going to have a relatively strong season compared to last year,” Thiem said.
The Pulaski County Tourism Bureau’s role includes promoting local attractions, and Thiem read a thank-you letter from a New York visitor who appreciated the assistance of Tourism Bureau staff members in helping her find places to visit including Devil’s Elbow, the Roubidoux Spring and a local restaurant during her travel along Route 66.
“I just had to laugh at people who say, ‘What is there to do in Missouri, or anyplace.’ There are always interesting things to see and do,” Thiem read from the visitor’s letter.
Thiem told board members that potential visitor inquiries are up 40 percent from last year, with the major states being Missouri, Illinois, Texas and Iowa.
“Again, we’re seeing the change back to those contiguous states; they’re not coming from as far out as they were last year,” Thiem said.
In other business, tourism bureau members reviewed plans for the upcoming tourism guide, which will include a fold-out map of local tourist attractions. Maps have been a major problems in prior years with businesses being placed in the wrong location; board members changed their procedure for the upcoming guide to include pointers to specific businesses on the map, but only if they pay for an advertisement in the guide. Thiem also asked for board comments on whether the primary cover photo would focus on Route 66, as it did with the current guide, or on local rivers, which was the alternate cover.
Thiem said upcoming organized major events in Pulaski County he’s helping promote include:
• The Pulaski County Fair, which will be held from June 12 to 15 at St. Robert Community Park.
• On Sept. 11, the “Tour of Missouri” bike ride will go through Pulaski County and may go through Fort Leonard Wood, though Thiem said details haven’t yet been worked out.