Tourism, a pillar of La Plata County’s economy, accounts for about 30% of local revenue, supporting thousands of jobs (6,566 at last count, per Region 9 Economic Development). Visitors inject millions into our community, funding essential services and driving economic vitality.
Tourism jobs are valuable jobs. While many are entry-level, seasonal or part-time, the local industry offers more high-paying positions than most other local sectors. It also provides opportunities for those without specialized training or higher education to gain employment and build careers.
Without tourism, our economy would shrink resulting in fewer businesses, fewer jobs and higher costs for residents. Yet, in recent years, tourists and the hospitality industry have been vilified by some locals, new arrivals, government officials and even the media. Visitors are an easy target who can’t push back.
Tourists are falsely blamed for high housing costs, overcrowding, traffic congestion, and the lack of housing and child care. This scapegoating is a misguided, self-inflicted wound.
The real drivers of increased housing costs are:
- Wealthy retirees and second-home buyers inflating prices for existing units, land, and new construction.
- The proliferation of vacation rentals reducing housing stock for local workers.
- Remote workers contribute to our local economy through their personal spending, but they take housing from our homegrown labor force and businesses that need local employees.
- High material costs because of location and inflation, combined with soaring labor costs as construction workers leave because of cost of living.
Overly restrictive and costly city and county building regulations are a major factor in lack of supply. Contractors find it too expensive and cumbersome to build affordable housing. These barriers also deter businesses from starting, expanding or moving to Durango, limiting job creation. To solve these issues, we need to focus on local policies – not blame visitors.
Visitors more than pay their fair share for purchases, dining and entertainment – plus an additional lodgers tax for accommodations. Their spending circulates through the economy, supporting local businesses.
Our population alone isn’t large enough to sustain our restaurants, shops, recreation and entertainment venues. I know firsthand how generations of local businesses have depended on tourism to survive.
Traffic congestion is frustrating, but many out-of-state vehicles belong to part-time residents and second-home owners who don’t register in Colorado. Many New Mexico plates belong to locals priced out of Durango, now commuting from Aztec, Bloomfield, Farmington and Shiprock.
Ironically, some of the loudest critics of tourism are relatively new arrivals who now call themselves “locals.” Having secured their place in Durango, they want to shut the door behind them – disregarding families and businesses that have relied on the hospitality industry for generations.
No industry is without challenges, but tourism is relatively clean, sustainable and economically beneficial. Visitors “export” their money into Durango and then go home. Tourists are not a burden to our local school system, child care or social services.
Lodgers tax allocation is a separate discussion from the value of tourism. The tax was originally established by local tourism entities (they asked to be taxed extra) to market Durango and La Plata County as a destination.
While funding priorities may evolve, marketing remains essential to staying competitive. The idea that visitors will come without promotion, simply because we’re “great,” is naive. Tourism economies don’t work that way.
This isn’t an attempt to whitewash the downsides of tourism. I, too, grumble when traffic is clogged with RVs or when a restaurant is packed. No doubt, there are some “bad tourists” and inconveniences. But tourists are not our enemy.
Instead of pushing visitors away, we should focus on balanced solutions that support both tourism and community well-being. A thriving tourism industry means a stronger Durango for all of us – locals and visitors alike. Treat them as you’d like to be treated when you travel.
Jack Turner is a fifth generation Durango native with respect and appreciation for both locals and visitors.
