With summer approaching, tourism officials are promoting Oregon’s wilderness and recreational opportunities. As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, they’re also trying to alleviate fears over wildfire season.
In 2017, wildfires inflicted a $51 million loss to Oregon tourism. Several shutdown popular sites like Cougar Hot Springs and the Multnomah Falls Lodge.
Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon, says after back-to-back years of catastrophic wildfires, they’re getting their message out ahead of wildfire season.
“Travel Oregon’s produced a video called “Living with Wildfire,” Davidson tells KLCC. "We want our visitors to know that fire is a naturally occurring part of our environment. But there are also things they can do to bring about a decrease in those as well.”
Andy Vobora of Travel Lane County adds even when a fire’s out and cleaned up, businesses – like those near last year’s Terwilliger Fire – are still feeling the economic effects.
“Those businesses need to see our visitors again, and so we want people to get out and go visit those places," says Vobora. "Help them get back on their feet because those times are really tough on those small businesses.”
Copyright 2019, KLCC.
