InTouch with Southern Kentucky June 2020 | Page 36

drawing power of this area’s appeal.
“The Lake Cumberland region is
resilient,” said Allen. “Look how well
we recovered from the lowering of
the lake in 2007. Even though this
is not to be compared, but we as a
community helped one another and
we are doing that again. Folks will
travel to our community and spend
their money with us, it just won’t be
that many. However, I’m hoping our
fall season will be better than it has
been and we can have some hope in
our seasonal months.”
Make no mistake, the area has
taken a hit because of restrictions
placed by governments as a
reaction to the COVID-19 crisis,
resulting in closed businesses,
empty dining rooms, and an
extra-cautious populace. In 2018,
tourism had a $119 million impact
on the county; Allen expects it the
difference to be “significant” this
year, considering in particular the
loss of attractions like the canceled
Master Musicians Festival and
at least some Somernites Cruise
weekends.
“COVID-19 has been detrimental
to the tourism industry in Pulaski
County because of the travel
restrictions,” said Allen. “However,
we are more fortunate than most
tourism destinations because of
Lake Cumberland. Lake Cumberland
is a location where folks can still
follow the CDC rules, and enjoy the
outdoors for the summer months.
As many know our season usually
begins with Memorial Day. However,
our hotels are missing those events
that have been cancelled and the
business travel.
“Every business is hurting,” she
added. We have to remember
it doesn’t matter what type of
business you are, you a part of
the tourism industry. Restaurants,
hotels, gas stations, boat sales, the
list goes on. ... There have been so
many events that have had to be
cancelled. Those events not only
hurt our lodging facilities but gas
stations, restaurants, boutiques,
supply stores, etc. One dollar
spent in the tourism industry
travels seven different times in a
community.”
Ikerd called the loss of revenue for
hotels the “most visible change that
directly impacts tourism” to come
about from the crisis.
“(The City of) Somerset tourism
office operates from the transient
tax that is collected by our visitors
who stay overnight in our hotels,
Airbnb’s and VRBO’s (Vacation
Rental by Owner),” said Ikerd. “Most
hotels in our area have a 70-80
percent drop in revenue from their
typical occupancy. The residual
effect not only severely impacts our
local hotel owners and employees,
but also creates a tremendous loss
to our working budget for this fiscal
year.
“In years past, we were able to
fund many events and conferences
that were able to take place in
Somerset,” she added. “We also are
able to promote and market our
area with those tax dollars as well.
In light of this drastic change, the
economic forecast for the short and
long term will need to be different
than in years past.”
Another thought, however, is that
more tourists may take advantage
of rental homes and cabins, where
they can bring the whole family to
get away from it all and still practice
“social distancing,” the buzzword of
the year.
“’What the crisis is’ isn’t as
important as ‘what we do’ to adapt
and move forward,” said Crabtree.
“The coronavirus is going to hurt
crowded destinations like the
beach, casinos, concerts, sporting
events, and things where masses
of people gather and control is less
likely ... it will make destinations
like houseboats, cabins, camping,
fishing, and other options where
a person can control their
environment more attractive. If our
marketing efforts communicate that
effectively then we should attract
new clientele and then it’s our job
to keep them with our service.”
Crabtree’s tourism operation
is faced with the most significant
reduction in the Burnside city
budget. He noted that moving
ahead, how the virus is portrayed
could “make people lose hope
and instill fear,” and addressing
those concerns is part of the
crisis recovery. The promotion
of tourism is essential, especially
for communities like his, and
Crabtree has done his research,
leading him to conclude that with a
comprehensive plan that protects
citizens, visitors, and the workforce,
Lake Cumberland is a “completely
viable plan for safe” summer fun.
“The lake is still the lake — will
that experience be the same, or
do extra precautions apply even
to the water?” he asked. “I have
looked at a combination of research
by PhD, MD, and discussed it
with well respected physicians;
all have had the same response.
Transmission through water is not
a concern. What was concerning
was the breeze associated around
waterways. They said to observe
extra space above the standard
six feet while social distancing to
account for the typical breeze on
the water. This would apply to the
dock, launch ramps, gas pumps,
shoreline, and heavily occupied
coves. Other than that you probably
won’t find a better scenario to have
safe vacation time.”
Added Ikerd, “Our lake will really
help our community as well at a
crucial time when we will need a
jump back into travel and overnight
stays. Lake Cumberland has over
65,000 acres and 1200 miles of
shoreline, with wide open spaces
like that, it is a lake that can allow
social distance that you can really
enjoy!”
Somerset in particular has
been hit hard by the call to limit
social gatherings. The city itself
starting developing a strong series
of outdoor events that packed
downtown streets in 2019, like
Foodstock and the Moonlight
Festival, and this year’s plans
for a Kentucky Derby bash were
also dampened by the reaction to
COVID-19. Ikerd pledged that these
events “will be back to highlight our
downtown.”
Burnside’s Independence Day
festival in 2019 was extremely
successful, bringing out 10,000
people; it will have to be postponed,
but Crabtree is still hopeful to have
36 • In Touch with Southern Kentucky June 2020