Tourism industry hopes for an economic thaw
Some proprietors cut rates in an effort to jump-start spring
By RICK BARRETT rbarrett@journalsentinel.com, Journal Sentinel
Saturday, May 24, 2003
Larry MacDonald says it's a good sign that the last of the ice has finally melted in Lake Superior, especially since some marinas near Bayfield were choked with floating bergs only about a week ago.
It's been a chilly start for spring tourism, says MacDonald, Bayfield's mayor and the owner of Apostle Islands Outfitters.
"But now we are starting to wake up," he says. "It's like somebody flipped a switch and turned up the heat."
Eager to come out of winter hibernation, some northern Wisconsin tourism businesses are offering travelers hefty discounts for the next few weeks.
For the first time, several motels in Bayfield are pitching up to 35% off weekday room rates or a free night with the purchase of two nights at the regular price. The specials are tied to Bayfield in Bloom, a horticulture festival that runs through June 15.
Superior Charters is offering 20% off the price of boat trips. "It certainly helps that the marina is no longer socked in with ice," says Bernice Nixon, one of the Bayfield company's owners.
Compared with some other states, Wisconsin always has been a cheap place to vacation, according to AAA Wisconsin, the state's chapter of the American Automobile Association.
State rankings
This year, the state ranks 33rd in the nation for vacation costs, lower than Michigan and Minnesota, according to AAA. The least expensive vacations in the United States, unchanged from last year, are in North Dakota. The most expensive are in Hawaii.
In Wisconsin, AAA's 2003 vacation survey shows that a family of two adults and two children can expect to pay about $217 a day for food and lodging, $27 less than the national average. Lodging rates in the state average $113 a night, up $1 from last year. Meals cost $103 a day, unchanged from last year.
The sluggish economy and nervousness about the war in Iraq have resulted in fewer travel bookings this spring, which means there are still some bargains to be found this summer, says Michael Bie, AAA Wisconsin spokesman.
