Letter: In defense of tourism-based businesses

Graphic by Lori Deaton

The letter by Geoff Kemmish about our tourism-based economy was outrageous, ill-informed and improper in tone for the moment we are in [“Build Foundation for a Less Tourist-dependent Asheville,” April 8, Xpress]. His remark that our tourism industry has the morals of a “West Virginia strip miner” is insulting and about 99.9% overblown.

I know many people who work in this industry. I also know many of the business owners, small and large, who serve the tourists. They are anything but immoral. Look right now at how are they are working just to stay alive. Look at how hard many of these businesses are working to feed our health care workers and first responders. They are hardworking, civic-minded and a part of our neighborhoods and families.

When it is safe, I hope the tourists come back in droves to help put our friends and families back to work.

— Les Vann
Asheville

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6 thoughts on “Letter: In defense of tourism-based businesses

  1. henry

    “When it is safe, I hope the tourists come back in droves to help put our friends and families back to work.”
    Each individual and family will decide when it is safe to either go back to work or to travel to Asheville to be tourists again. Most likely, it’s going to be later than sooner. When that decision is made by the majority of local residents, it will be a turning point. Tourists will not get to make that decision for us.

    • James

      Can you point to the part of the letter where its writer said that? Or are you creating a strawman to beat up to deflect attention from the valid point he made?

        • James

          Umm… yeah it is – “When it is safe” WHERE does it say the TOURISTS determine that rather than science and medicine in the hands of grownups? I certainly wouldn’t want it it to be in the hands of the clueless whether locals or out of towners.

          • indy499

            Strawman #2. The letter writer said nothing about the process for determining safe timing.

  2. James

    Most reasonable adults would be able to infer from the general tone of the letter that we should follow reasonable timing and heal;thy processes — unlike the Trumpanistas who are demanding we open right away, with no vaccine and no testing. That is no doubt one of the more extreme viewpoints on that side but still a reflection of their ignorance that endangers us. And leads to petty rants about whether reasonable people who support tourism must be anti-process if they don’t say so in language clear enough for you, BSummers and Henry to understand.

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