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- Location
- Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, USA
The area I grew up always had a tourist faction, since it was settled. However, at one time it also had a strong agricultural industry, a manufacturing base in two nearby cities, and a military base in another nearby city. All of these were in commuting distance (about an hour to an hour and a half). The manufacturing base left before I was born, the military base left when I was a teen, and the agricultural base was leaving throughout my childhood.... with vast tracks of land completely abandoned.
That leaves tourism.
When it was a substantial part of the economy, it was ok. It always had been, and there was enough other industry to wade through the cyclical nature of summer, fall, and winter tourism, with summer being the big season. Instead everything became forward facing, to grab the tourists attention. Now you're either in the tourist industry or a survivalist or a bit of both.
It's inauthentic to the extreme.
That leaves tourism.
When it was a substantial part of the economy, it was ok. It always had been, and there was enough other industry to wade through the cyclical nature of summer, fall, and winter tourism, with summer being the big season. Instead everything became forward facing, to grab the tourists attention. Now you're either in the tourist industry or a survivalist or a bit of both.
It's inauthentic to the extreme.