USATP Blog //

Saturday, June 6, 2009

US Tourism needs stronger lobbyists

I spent a recent Friday morning on Central Park West and the NYC DOT was out in full force, making sure motor coaches stay off its length. A major tourist drop-off location remains vacant at 72nd Street as the coach drivers, already made to feel as uncomfortable as a Democrat in South Daktoa, are told to stay off all the roads surrounding our Central Park. The reason given?

The wealthy.

You got it, the powerful tenants of the streets paved with old money are upset motor coaches are clogging their street corners. You know, the same street corners where public transportation busses frequent and motor coaches ARE allowed to drop-off and pick-up at. These tenants, if the DOT officers are actually telling the truth, are the reason we are being asked to drop anywhere but where the tourist want to frequent at this busiest time of the year.

It’s the same story in DC. They want to make sure no one has to see or hear the coaches, all the while asking tourists to leave as much of their green behind in order to keep the local tax rates at a manageable rate, or to assure the survival of Broadway shows - which make their living off of tour groups.

I’ve heard of the American Bus Association, the National Tour Operators Association, the DC Guild, the NYC Guide Association, etc, etc. But how powerful are the lobbyists for these organizations? Or, is there anyone even pushing our agenda to the powers that be?