West Coast officials tell tourists not to worry about fires

SAN FRANCISCO – Alarmed by as much as $20 million in lost tourism revenue in July due to visitors’ fear of wildfires, California’s state tourism agency said Thursday that it is teaming up with Oregon and Washington state to reassure tourists it’s safe to visit.

The states formed the West Coast Tourism Recovery Coalition to remind tourists that the fires have hit mostly rural areas and thus will likely not affect their vacations, despite recent blazes that have clogged skies with smoke.

“As we shift into crisis recovery mode, competition takes a backseat,” said Caroline Beteta, president of Visit California.

In a survey by the tourist agency, about 11 percent of 1,000 travelers polled said wildfires prompted them to cancel their trips to California in July, a $20 million loss in that month alone, she said, noting tourists are dissuaded by fire images. Nearly half said they would choose another state to visit, given active wildfires.

But officials from the three states stressed that less than 1 percent of land in the three states has been affected by fires.

Hospitality businesses in and near California parks, such as popular Yosemite National Park, are still reeling from a three-week closure during the park’s peak visitor season. The park reopened Aug. 14, and the fire that threatened Yosemite Valley is fully contained. In nearby Madera County, officials estimate they’ll lose $10 million this year due to the prolonged closure of a main artery into the park.