Regarding Bill Hudson’s editorial series on tourism, particularly some comments made by Jesse Hensle, a candidate for the Pagosa Springs Area Tourism Board:
“If we look at the conversions, and we look at bring in the right type of affluent markets, bringing in people, bring in visitors who have a higher threshold for the average daily rate at our hotels, and spending more money in the restaurants, they will probably behave more normally within the town. Throwing less parties. Less trash around the community…”
In this forum, in 2021, I tried to warn Pagosans where striving for tourism can lead, based on having lived in a tourist Mecca all my life. I concluded the warning this way:
“…tourism might look like the goose to lay the golden eggs. But like Blanche Dubois in dim light, the tourism economic panacea is a seductive illusion. The promise of growth that comes with an economy dependent on tourism is a siren’s song…”
As reported in Part Four of Hudson’s series, it seems the Colorado Tourism Board is at least beginning to see the light. “The Colorado Tourism Office now wants communities to collect data about social impacts, and environmental impacts.”
Speaking from a lifetime of observing the social and environmental impacts of ever-increasing tourism on the quality of life of the “locals” who live in tourist areas, I commend the Tourism Board if they are trying to prevent what has happened to much of Florida.
Which brings me to the comments by a candidate for the Pagosa tourism board, Jesse Hensle, as reported in Hudson’s Part Three.
Apparently what Pagosa needs are the “right type” of people, which Mr. Hensle defines as “… visitors who have a higher threshold for the average daily rate at our hotels, and spending more money in the restaurants …”.
Mr. Hensle wants “Less trash around the community”. Would that be ‘white trash’?
His comments reminded me of the line by Rose’s erstwhile fiancé, Cal, in a scene from the movie Titanic. When Rose confronts her mother with the fact, that because of the shortage of lifeboats, half the people on the boat are going to die, Cal responds, “Not the better half…”
Mr. Hensle’s comments about what type of tourist he wants to see visiting Pagosa is the most blatant example of unbridled elitest arrogance I’ve ever heard from a candidate for a public position. So I’m curious if Mrs. Beatty and I — who have made multiple visits to Pagosa since 2000, and are taxpaying Archuleta property owners — are “the right type of people” Mr. Hensle wants to attract.
Or are we “trash around the community” because we aren’t the “type” with a “higher threshold for the average daily rate” and look for the best deals when we travel?
But Mr. Hensle needn’t worry. Although we’ve stayed at the Springs Resort in the past, we’ll refrain from doing so on our future visits — so the hoi aristoi won’t have to be exposed to us peasants. To further help out, we’ll also refrain from recommending the Springs Resort to others when they inquire about places to go in Colorado.
Bill Hudson reports that Mr. Hensle was not selected for the Pagosa tourism board. I’d like to think that’s because those doing the selection are seeing the light about the downside of tourism as well. Or maybe they were as offended as I was, by Mr. Hensle’s attitude .
Gary Beatty lives between Florida and Pagosa Springs. He retired after 30 years as a prosecutor for the State of Florida, has a doctorate in law, is Board Certified in Criminal Trial law by the Florida Supreme Court, and is now a law professor.