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With everyone encouraged to limit themselves to essential trips and to avoid social gatherings, the tourism industry — which includes everything from hotels to restaurants, as well as attractions — across the state has taken a huge hit.
In Perry County, the situation is no different.
“I know our hotels are hurting,” said Perry County Heritage Tourism director Trish Erzfeld. “That’s just a given, statewide. They say they are being impacted severely on the travel restraints that are happening. Obviously, our restaurants are in dire need too. When you look at all of our restaurants and our local shops and our hotels, they’re all very vital to our state and local economic impact, so we can see with their closures and their low attendance, we know that that it’s going to be hard for us, tourism-wise.”
During a recent news briefing from the state capitol, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson was asked if he had a plan to “assist and preserve the future of the state’s tourism industry, which is made up of many small businesses.”
Parson responded by saying tourism is a priority.
“Every day, we’re trying to put the pieces together and hold them together,” Parson said. “Tourism has always been a priority of mine. I think it’s a huge impact on the state of Missouri, for who we are and what we represent. I believe tourism will come back once we get past this virus, but it’s going to be tough. It’s going to be tough for a few months and everybody is just going to have to realize that it’s going to happen.”
Last week, Parson announced the state would be withholding millions of dollars from several state budget items in a move to balance the 2020 budget after the COVID-19 outbreak disrupted the state’s economy. Hardest hit were the state’s public universities and community colleges, which will see a reduction in funding of approximately $80 million.
Included in the reductions are $54 million taken out of the facilities maintenance fund; $12 million from a fund intended for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and $6.4 million to promote tourism.
Combined, the reductions would equal approximately $180 million. The 2020 fiscal year ends on June 30, and Parson could restore the money if funds become available.
“I’m going to do everything I can as governor of this state to make sure that we’re able to get people into this state when it’s safe, when we get past this virus, when we try to promote tourism, and whatever resources I have to help that,” Parson said. “We’re going to try to find that out, as much as we can, from the government’s position.”
In the short term, that’s small comfort.
Erzfeld, who’s been leading Perry County’s tourism efforts for the past five years, said the pandemic has put up a “brick wall” blocking her efforts.
“Tourism has a huge impact on the Missouri economy,” Erzfeld said. “After the five years of Perry County having a dedicated tourism presence, we were starting to show signs of growth. And that’s all about getting people to come into your communities. Obviously, we’ve hit a brick wall with everything that’s going on with COVID-19. Everybody in tourism across Missouri is going through some big hardships.”
And it’s not just for-profit businesses that are hurting. Erzfeld pointed to several of the non-profit attractions around the county that are also experiencing tough times as a result of the pandemic.
“As far as our heritage sites in our museums, the Missouri National Veterans Memorial in St. Mary’s of the Barrens out there — we’re used to getting thousands of people in,” Erzfeld said. “This is when things are really starting to happen usually for us — Mayfest was rescheduled, the May soccer tournaments were canceled, Old-Timer’s Days in May is still questionable. There’s just a lot of things that we’re not going to have that we usually have.”
Once the state gets back to business, Erzfeld is hopeful the state will have a plan to reinvigorate tourism.
“I think they already know that tourism is going to be what carries the flag out of this,” Erzfeld said. “We’re going to be the ones that, once the all-clear is given to start promoting all of our events and attractions and tourism sites again, to get people moving around and to get them to come back to the state. They know that that we’re going to be the first out of the gate to help jumpstart the economic motor again for the state.”
Especially since everyone will likely be tired of staying at home and eager to find something — anything — to do.
“That would be a great case,” Erzfeld said. “Everybody’s got cabin fever and they’re ready to put this all behind them in and go out and have some fun with their friends and their families. Again, there’s always the fear that there’s going to be those who maybe feel like it’s going to be a little slow out of the gate because people are still going to be timid on traveling. We’ll have to see how that works.”
