The tourism-dependent Upper Valley economy will soon be feeling the impact of the Sept. 11 attacks as travelers cancel their plans.
According to Clint Bean, President and CEO of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce, tourism always plays a significant role in the economy of the Upper Valley, especially during the fall foliage season.
Each fall, the state of New Hampshire brings in roughly $930 million from tourism, making it the state's second largest industry. Terry Rayne, Publicity Director for the New Hampshire Department of Travel and Tourism, expects that number to be much lower this year due to cancellations from both individual travelers and tour bus companies.
The problems, however, are expected to be short-term. Sherry Guyette, the sales representative for the Hanover Inn, said that although the Inn experienced "a great many cancellations" in the weeks following the attacks, future bookings have not suffered as much.
The Inn is planning on taking the month of September as a loss, Guyette says, and it will work to get back lost business later in the year. One promotional plan is to keep Dartmouth students informed of special rates and availability changes through email.
Unfortunately, the attacks came just as the Upper Valley was beginning to market itself more heavily to tourists. Local merchants recently debuted the slogan "Upper Valley Country of Vermont and New Hampshire " Real Places, Real People."
Another new program is "Discover New England," intended to lure tourists from the United Kingdom and other European nations.As a result of these recent efforts, local officials are hopeful that the tourism industry will undergo a rapid rebound. Bean, a member of the Advisory Committee on Tourism and Travel in New Hampshire, said that the general strategy is to "stay the course."Bean also noted one promising fact -- most of the area's target audience consists of New England residents who are within driving distance and therefore do not have to deal with the fear and inconvenience of flying.
He is hopeful that the Upper Valley's "sense of peace and security" will help to capture travelers from New York, New Jersey and other Northern New England states.
