By Jane Smith
4/25/07 — Crawford County’s economy could lose an estimated $12.45 million to $17 million in tourism dollars this summer should Conneaut Lake Park not open this year, according to the county’s top tourism executive.
Juanita Hampton, director of the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau, has cited statistics showing that for every dollar spent by tourists, another $7 is spent on in “spin-off” money.
Conneaut Lake Park had a gross revenue in 2006 of $2 million and the Beach Club had another $360,000, making the total revenues at $2.36 million. Multiply that by $7 and the impact could be $16.5 million.
Hampton said state studies from last year show an average tourist leaves behind $83 in direct or indirect spending when visiting an area. She estimates the park brings in 150,000 people a season, for a total impact of $12.45 million.
“People don’t just come and go to Conneaut Lake Park, they go to Meadville, Cambridge Springs, Titusville and Pymatuning. They don’t just stay in one place,” Hampton said.
“I’m just sick (about the potential closing). It’s a devastating blow to the area. It’s sad,” she said.
It’s not just the impact of the lost tourism dollars, it’s also the hotel bed tax that will be lost, she said. That tax is collected and sent to the county, which in turn sends it to the bureau to spend on promoting the county. “People are already booked for DoWopp Weekend,” she said, referring to the Memorial Day events at the park.
She said while some people don’t care to stay in a hotel with no television, phone or air conditioning in the room, many do.
“It’s a ripple effect,” she said, noting if the park is closed, motels on routes 6, 618 and 18 will be affected as well. In addition, many younger people will have no summer jobs.
The park can be a profitable operation with the right management despite its debt and legal issues, she believes.
The management has to include more than a few people. “It all can’t be done by one person,” she said. “You need a manager for the hotel, for the food service and the Beach Club.”
The bureau’s board was to discuss the issue at a meeting this week.
