Funny How a Recession Can Do That

In America, the tourism industry is generally dismissed as a fairly unimportant component of the economy. We are the Rodney Dangerfield of economic development. No Respect.

Until there is a recession. Then the media salivates over stories about how the tourism economy is thriving or surviving. Governments with a clue (which is, sadly, the minority) begin to invest in tourism promotion in ways they never do in good times. And, the public slowly begins to take notice.

Like in Hawaii, where a recent poll shows that 78% of residents think that tourism is good for their state...up from 71% a year ago.

Funny how Tourism is a good thing when times are tough.