Column: The future of recreation and tourism at Lake Tahoe southtahoenow.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from southtahoenow.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By Joanne S. Marchetta, TRPA
Although Lake Tahoe’s economy has facets like building trades, health care, education, and a growing number of gig and remote workers, to name a few the foundation of our region’s $5 billion economy is undeniably tourism. Equally apparent is that visitation is impacting Tahoe’s environment and our communities. To put it plainly, amazing places like this can be “loved to death.” After COVID significantly boosted participation in outdoor recreation last year, national surveys show that more than 60 percent of new participants say they expect to continue their outdoor activities post-pandemic. As tourism expands globally and the populations of northern California and northern Nevada continue to grow, the way outdoor recreation and tourism is managed here needs to change.
Guest column
Although Lake Tahoe’s economy has facets like building trades, health care, education, and a growing number of gig and remote workers, to name a few the foundation of our region’s $5 billion economy is undeniably tourism. Equally apparent is that visitation is impacting Tahoe’s environment and our communities.
Joanne S. Marchetta
To put it plainly, amazing places like this can be “loved to death.”
After COVID significantly boosted participation in outdoor recreation last year, national surveys show that more than 60% of new participants say they expect to continue their outdoor activities post-pandemic. As tourism expands globally and the populations of northern California and northern Nevada continue to grow, the way outdoor recreation and tourism is managed here needs to change.
Talking point: Reducing speed on SH5 is not the answer
16 Apr, 2021 06:00 PM
4 minutes to read
Regional leaders say reducing the speed limit to 80km on State Highway 5 is not the answer . Photo / File
Regional leaders say reducing the speed limit to 80km on State Highway 5 is not the answer . Photo / File
Hawkes Bay Today
No-one would dispute that safety on our roads is paramount, and that the tragic loss of life on State Highway 5 suffered by Hawke s Bay communities in recent years is a burden that s too much to bear.
Safety is the number one priority in our Regional Transport Plan out for consultation at present, and the focus of the Government s Road to Zero 2020-2030 Road Safety Strategy.
While most of the speakers at the hearing spoke in support of the plan, there were also a range of changes suggested. Several speakers said the plan did not go far enough, and called for an increase in the frequency of bus services, as well as an extension of the proposed 7am-7pm service time – in particular to accommodate early and late-shift workers. NELSUST spokesman Peter Olorenshaw said if the councils were serious about changing the way people approached transport “we must make buses more attractive than driving”. Other proposals spoke of the need for more express bus services, and the extension of bus services to North Nelson/Hira.