The Baytown Sun du lieu suivant : Baytown, Texas • Page 15

THEBAYTOWNSUN Dtctmbtr 1973 Energy Crisis Halts Texas Tourism Growth AUSTIN (AP) Mention "energy crisis" to Texas tourism officials and they shudder. The gasoline shortage and allied woes have brought at least temporary halt to the spectacular growth of Texas' attraction to travelers throughout the nation. One source estimates the lower speed limit alone could cost the state's tourism industry $303 million the next year. If gas rationing comes along, the outlook is even bleaker. "Most people have not thought through what this actually means to Texas," said George Dillman of Richardson, chairman of the Texas Tourist Development Agency.

"This crisis affects 13 per cent of the entire Texas labor force and affects an industry that has returned $113 for each dollar that has been spent on tourism." At a recent special meeting, the Tourist Development Agency board threw away all its optimistic plans for 1974 and instead adopted an ab breviated budget for part of the year that cut the January a a i i scheduled to $16,300 for key midwestern cities and Canada--where it is hoped they will find travelers who want to spend the winter in Texas' warmer climate. Through March and April, the agency will spend $121,541 on advertising in magazines directed at travelers in adjoining states who can get to Texas on one tank of gas. The board thought about but decided against canceling all of next spring's auto-travel advertising and returning the funds to the agency treasury for possible use later. There will be another crucial meeting Jan. 18 when they decide what to do with the $105,000 remaining out of its $475,000 marketing budget for this business year.

trying to shift more distant markets from family cars to public transportation and by suggesting close-to-home tours for Texans, the board feels that it can help serve the need for energy conservation while at the same time help keep viable the Texas tourist industry which last year meant $2.2 billion to the state's economy," Dillman said. Dillman says that 85 per cent of the 22.3 million visitors to Texas in 1972 came by automobile. These travelers were served by more than 600,000 Texans employed by such tourist and travel-oriented businesses as hotels, restaurants, tourst-attractions and service stations--nearly 13 per cent of the state's work force. The average party of travelers drove 350 miles to get to the state's borders, then traveled 1,222 miles within the state. The average stay was days and the average spending was $15.92 per day per person.

'If we reduce the speed limit to 50 miles per hour, as the! president recommended, that's reducing the speed limit about 30 per cent, and increasing the driving time by 30 per cent, which will reduce the typical visitor's stay by at least one day," said Dillrnan. "Instead of tourists spending $2.2 billion the total expenditures next year would be more like $1.89 billion or a direct lost of some $303 million to the state's economy. This is just from a reduced speed limit." The Tourist Development Agency is not the only group taking immediate steps to try to head off effects of the gasoline shortage. The Discover Texas Association of San Antonio has adopted a new down--Discover Texas" for a two-year program designed to cope with energy conservation and expected shorter vacations. "A full public service program will be undertaken with the media and the general public," the association said.

"The theme will be the cornerstone of a statewide Americans do not plan to give up their vacations. They might take shorter vacations if they have to, but a vacation is one of the most cherished American habits." Hold and motel operators in Corpw Qruti have adopted a new attraction for weekend tourists fearful of being stranded without gasoline because of gas station closings on Sunday. If a customer pay for lodging on Friday and Saturday nights then Sunday's lodging will be free of charge. The Corpus Christ! Area Tourist bureau argues that travelers can stay the extra night, get up a little earlier Monday morning and still get to work on time without worrying about the gasoline ban. Tourism officials still have high hopes for the convention visitors who.

make up most of the other 15 per cent of Texas' tourists. There has been almost no cancellation of conventions for 1974 despite the energy crisis. Many of these visitors, who go mostly to Texas' largest cities, come by plane, train and bus. will try to expand the attractions offered convention visitors said Dillman. "Try to get them to stay a day longer and see some of the attractions just outside the big city, either by reiit car or public transportation.

This is one of our alternatives." What if there is gasoline rationing? "There is no doubt that will hurt the family tourist business bad, the people who load their family in the car to travel," says Dillman. "This is going to require a lot more thought. Rationing would almost certainly restrict any hope we might have for attracting meaningful numbers of visitors to Texas except from those who reside in im- i a surrounding states." WlMTHROt fry Dick WHERE VGOIN0, RALPHIE? TO TAKE TWS SfOT RBttOVBK RACK TO FRANKLIN'S. kt NU. TH.

ttt US. Nt. OM. WON'T IT GET THE OKMONEVttQULP BE REFUNDED OUT, ALL WGHT The osprey lives mainly on firt, which it captures in shallow waters by diving from con- heights in the air. LOAD-UP Food ViiIvies Acepanos CUPONES PARA COUIDAl PRICES EFFECTIVE DEC 27 THRU JAN.

2 OPEN JAN. 1 8 A.M. TIL 6 P.M. 710W. Main FOOD STAMPS 422425C rvvif FIRST PRIZE DRIED BLACK EYE PEAS BORDCNS MELLORINE KLSEY BATHROOM TISSUE NESTlfS QUICK WESSON OIL 3 CTN.

2 ROLL PUS. 2 LB. (BOX 41 Oil BTL 1 49 RANCH STYLE BLACK EYE PEAS ft 300 CAN HATHWmrS COUPON FOLGER'S COFFEE Good Oalj At Hathmy's. Expires Jin. 2, 1973 OLSH FRENCH ONION DIP LIGHT CRUST CORN BREAD MIX CANADA DRY GINGER ALE CONTADINE WHOLE TOMATOES 49C 2 PKGS.

NO QT. BTLOlC LIGHT CRUST FLOUR 5 LB. BAG 4 300 CANS $1. FIRESIDE SALTINE CRACKERS TOWIE STUFFED OLIVES FOR DISHES LIQUID VEL BONDWARE SO COUNT COLD CUPS 39c 14 OZ. 59c 79C LIQUID IVORY 32 OZ.

No Purchase Necessary ROSCDUE VEGETABLES KRAFT STRAWBERRY PRESERVES DM CHOPPED HAM JOHNSON STEP SAVER 4-cANs 89c 65c BTL 1 1. CONTAC COLD EVERT NITE BALSAM SHAMPOO FOIL MAPPED ALKA SELTZER JERGINS DRY SKIN LOTION 99c 0i 89e GRAIN FED BABY BEEF CHUCK STEAK LB. FRESH MASA TENORZED VEAL CUTLETS KMCLESS LOIN TIPS BONELESS CLUB STEAKS 15c 1.99 1.89 2.29 LEAN GROUND ROUND FLORIDA Avocados EACH 3 MINUTE TREASURE CHEST OATS 3 16 OL PKG. FROZEN POTATOES JUTS FROZEN ORANGE JUICE LIUrs REG. OR PINK LEMONADE UP.

WHOLE A 2 49c 4 6QZ. CMS fl. 2 JiS 29c 4. CANS 20 01 DDC BAG. FRESH CALF LIVER LB.

BUT BCEF ARM ROAST 1.29 BAIT BCEf CHUCK ROAST FIRST CUT PORK CHOPS 1.19 CENTER QTT PORK CHOPS 1.49 PURE PORK PAN SAUSAGE LB. LA. KILN DRY YAMS ALLPUIPOSE Potatoes LB. FRESM PORK ROAST 98c BttAOCD BEEF FRITTERS KOtmMQ ALL MEAT FRANKS RORMMO BACON LB. JUV 69c a.09 BABY BEEF T-BONE ntSHTGUS Carrots IUIY RED TEXAS I 5 BABY BEEF SIRLOIN STEAK LB.

NEW CROP NAVEL ORANGES.