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Growing our market to everyone’s benefit?
Editorial Feb. 16, 2008
We laud the initiative of a number of business leaders in putting together a new and improved economic work group, Coastal Vision 3000 Committee.
Their objective, “to grow our market to everyone’s benefit” by attracting more and better air service to a soon-to-be constructed airport on the Walton and Bay county line, seems good when viewed by itself.
However, in viewing the roster of “stewards” of this elite group, one thing jumped out.
Every one of the folks avowing to “improve our economy” is either a developer, Realtor or rental agent or is directly connected to one of the three.
One would think such a group would not only examine how we might collectively lure more folks to our area, but also at the consequences of growth.
But in their manifesto, this collective of business leaders did not address the question of infrastructure.
Where will we get the water for all these people?
How will we deal with all the wastewater and trash generated?
And once they get here in an airplane, how do they get from their resort home to their favorite restaurant? We have no mass transportation.
What roads will they drive on?
We don’t call it an island, but look closely at any map of South Walton. We are bordered on all four sides by water. The only difference in our area and Key West is that Key West is much smaller and more distant from the mainland. Everything we use to keep us alive and make us comfortable has to be brought in on an airplane or truck or through a pipe or wire.
The reason this group said it came together was to provide a cohesive basis to negotiate with the major airlines. Members said the airlines told them the Emerald Coast was too fractured in terms of being a tourist destination to sell as a getaway.
Does that mean the airlines have one representative that represents its other destinations, like Miami, Orlando or Maui?
Despite our concerns, the problem most people are having is the name they selected: “The Beach.”
Which beach? Blue Mountain, Panama City, Grayton, Pensacola? Or is it that 25 feet of sand in front of a rented condo?
We have reservations about this group along with lots of questions.
