In the April issue of TRAVELER, we take a look at the perils of tourism
success—Port Townsend, Washington, for example, on the Olympic peninsula
near Seattle. The economy of this community used to rely on its seaport and on
the papermill on the edge of town. In recent decades, Port Townsend has
succeeded in revitalizing its Victorian-era downtown, designated a national
landmark. It has resisted the arrival of corporate chain stores such as Rite Aid. In fact, the town has made itself so appealing that it has become a regional tourist destination, with increasing numbers of galleries, restaurants, upscale boutiques, and a lively cultural scene.
Now, some residents with an eye on the future fear success might go too far.
They look at Aspen and Carmel and Santa Fe and want to be sure their
community doesn’t become expensive and exclusive. They don’t want a
downtown where you can buy a $3 latte and a $3,000 sculpture, but not
pliers or pantyhose. They want visitors to come, not for high-toned shops,
but to appreciate the town’s Victorian mansions and its tradition of marine
craftsmanship. In short, they don’t want Port Townsend to lose its soul.
This month, the Tourism Forum asks:
Do you like visiting attractive, upscale towns even if their main industry has become tourism? How many tourist shops is too many?
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