“We Predict Regional Travel Will Be First to Come Back,” Says Top Newport Tourism Exec
GoLocal LIVE
“We Predict Regional Travel Will Be First to Come Back,” Says Top Newport Tourism Exec
In a wide-ranging appearance on GoLocal LIVE, Smith spoke to the immediate challenges — as well as opportunities moving forward.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“We’re hoping that in the phases of reopening the economy we can start to turn up the economy again and rebuild, but I think the speed of that will have everything to do with how intrepid people are about traveling again,” said Smith.
“When I talk with people in the industry, their spirts are really high. People aren’t giving up, they really want to roll up their sleeves and get started again,” said Smith. “When I talk to hoteliers, when I talk to restaurants, when I talk to our attractions community, they really want to rebuild and get going — the spirt is there.”
Smith talked about the impact of Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo’s announcement that festivals and parades are canceled this summer.
“For Jazz and Folk, these are major events that have always kind of been part of the DNA of Newport,” said Smith. “They’ve been around with us for over 55 years, they’re synonymous with music in the city — it has an international recognition with both the city and state. So that was the latest and maybe the biggest punch in the gut."
Smith said the city is hopeful, however, that the events will come back “stronger and better next year.”
Summer Ahead
“We need to tell people that we will travel again, said Smith, during National Tourism and Travel Week. “We will be back and people will find that explorer in them again.”
“We predict that regional travel will be the first one to come back — ie people aren’t going to take long vacations this summer, I think people are going to travel within 200-400 mile,” said Smith. “We’re thinking from a marketing and promotion standpoint is to market in our backyard and have everybody in Rhode Island enjoy their state."
“I think it’s going to take us a year or two years to recover from where we are now,” said Smith, but added that there is one advantage for Rhode Islanders.
“This is going to be a great time for Rhode Islanders to have Rhode Island for themselves,” said Smith.