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SALT LAKE CITY -- Many government services that millions of Americans may feel are essential could be shut down unless Congress and the president can reach an agreement on federal spending by March 4. If that happens, it could hit Utah's tourism industry hard.
Keith Griffall is the CEO of Western Leisure, a company that runs scenic tours by motorcoach for visitors from around the world.
"[A shutdown] would be devastating because all of the businesses in the area are either hotels, restaurants, guides [or] outfitters," Jean Seiler, Ruby's Inn.
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"Utah really relies on her national parks to attract tourists," Griffall said.
Utah has 5 national parks, seven national monuments, and two national recreation areas. Those destinations are the lifeblood of Utah's $6.2 billion tourism industry. If shut down, tourists would likely go elsewhere.
"If they're going to spend enough money for a week or two week trip, then they might just decide to either postpone or change it all together," Griffall said.
In 1996, protesters marched into Zion National Park to protest a lengthy budget crisis and closure of the national park system
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The budget fight has taken center stage in Congress. Democrats are bending to Republican demands for spending cuts to avoid a shutdown of the federal government next week."I estimate during the shutdown time it's probably costing 75 percent of our business," protestor and business owner Lane Young said.
During the shutdowns of the mid-90s, more than 360 national parks closed their doors and gates. The folks at Ruby's Inn, which is located next to Bryce Canyon, were hit hard and would be again in a county where just 97 percent of the land is controlled by government.
"It would be devastating because all of the businesses in the area are either hotels, restaurants, guides [or] outfitters," said Jean Seiler, marketing director at Ruby's Inn.
Over the last 15 years, tourism from overseas has exploded. Explaining a closure isn't easy.
It appears Republicans and Democrats in Washington D.C. may have a short-term deal in the works that would kick the same debate down the road to March 18.
E-mail: jdaley@ksl.com
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