They are saying “if you end up in a gap, cease digging.” Not a day goes by that we don’t hear in regards to the lack of reasonably priced housing in Montana, the following huge subdivision or resort — and the issues they face with water availability and the air pollution they dump into rivers and streams. But, we proceed to dig the outlet ever deeper — not by chance, however by deliberative intense promoting and tourism promotion with out equally deliberative concern in regards to the ever-mounting impacts.
Merely put, yearly greater than 12 million vacationers come to Montana — that’s 12 vacationers for ever single resident. To these of us who reside right here, that looks as if plenty of out-of-staters coming to crowd your fishing holes, cop your powder traces, shoot your elk and deer, and suck up each out there tenting website. And sorry to say it, however many appear to not perceive the respect and customary courtesies that outline Montana’s “reside and let reside” fame and ethic. They wish to get no matter there’s to get — and for those who’re of their manner, too unhealthy.
Persons are additionally studying…
Nor do many appear to grasp the fragility of Montana’s assets. These days it’s common to seek out trout in our world-famous rivers lined with fungus — with hand prints within the fungus from being held out of the water to get just some extra pictures for Instagram. These pesky branches from the campsite bushes in the best way of your 45-foot RV? No downside, simply lower ‘em off. That bag of rubbish left over out of your keep in a state park with a “pack it in, pack it out” coverage? Toss it by the aspect of the highway — somebody will choose it up.
Considerably amazingly and alarmingly, there isn’t a devoted state effort to find out the precise price or impacts of this tourism tidal wave — nor whether or not state residents are all that joyful about these impacts. Like so most of the inconsiderate vacationers, Montana’s politicians appear content material to aggressively market any and each state useful resource and not using a thought for the sustainability of the very assets they’re advertising.
However in fact it’s all about cash…like at all times. When the state’s tourism lodging taxes usher in someplace within the neighborhood of $80 million yearly, why fear in regards to the impacts – or whether or not Montanans are involved about their diminishing high quality of life, which is the first purpose we love residing right here.
At one time it made sense to levy a tax on motels, inns, and campgrounds to fund tourism promotion. However this present day, when “Yellowstone” is the most well-liked sequence on nationwide tv for 332 million People, the necessity to proceed spending tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars} yearly on out-of-state promoting is now not a precedence — not to mention countless summer season season, winter season, and shoulder season promotions.
We’ve “been found” as they are saying. The problem now’s looking for a number of the silence and solitude, the courtesy and respect from others that was the true worth of Montana prior to now.
A month from now the Montana Legislature will convene for the common 90-day session. It’s and there’s a uncommon state finances surplus. Looks as if an excellent time for these legislators to consider simply how far more promoting Montanans want — or need.
Perhaps most of these tens of thousands and thousands of mattress tax {dollars} ought to now go to handle the impacts which have us “within the gap” on so many fronts. It’s not too late to cease digging that gap — however it’s gone time to give up selling Montana and begin shoveling the tourism cash towards the tourism impacts.
George Ochenski is a longtime Helena resident, an environmental activist and Montana’s longest operating columnist.