San Diego Faces Own Medicine as Arizona Residents Cancel Travel Following Boycott of State
According to the newspaper, the convention bureau (California) has received about 25-30 emails from Arizona residents, with some saying they are canceling their reservations and taking their money elsewhere.
That has tourism officials urging Arizonans to consider the resolutions as merely symbolic and local politics at work.
“We’re in a very tough environment already because of everything else going on, and we don’t need another negative impact to our industry,” ConVis President Joe Terzi told the Union-Tribune. “This affects all the hardworking men and women who count on tourism for their livelihoods, so were saying, don’t do something that hurts their livelihoods.”
“I’ve been approached by a number of hotels who are very concerned because theyve received cancelations from Arizona guests,” Namara Mercer, executive director of the county Hotel-Motel Association, told the newspaper.
Roughly 2 million Arizonans visit San Diego each year but the recession has taken a toll on the hotel industry that was hoping for a comeback this year. Hotels are offering deep discounts to fill up their undersold rooms while the tourism board spends $7 million this spring and summer season to promote travel to the area.
San Diego Councilwoman Donna Frye said she believes some Arizona residents are acting out of a misunderstanding.
The City Council did not pass a resolution boycotting Arizona, and I would hope that the good citizens of Arizona understand that and will continue to visit San Diego, Frye said.
School board President Shelia Jackson said that while she was disappointed to hear of people opting to stay away from San Diego, she doesnt regret her vote.
Its sad that people would cancel their plans to come here in reaction to that, but I still think we did the right thing, Jackson said. Certainly, we know how important tourism is to San Diego, and it wasnt my intent to impact the tourism trade.
SD wants it bother way, they want to boycott AZ but they don’t want to be boycotted, well tough, I was due to go there this summer but not now I’ll drive to AZ and stay there and spend my money there .
these boycotts are only hurting the people they are trying to help, but then again the left have never been known for having brains or common sense.
Chip Franklin Show (KOGO, Roger Hedgecock's home station) A caller said his wife works at the Del Coronado and the have had about 3 dozen cancellations