Food, Wine & Art economics

In the introduction to our Fall 2012 issue, we wrote about we we called “Food, Wine & Art economics.”

“Food, wine and art (which go hand-in-hand) are becoming a potent force in economic development in the Gold Country and Sierra,” we wrote. “They are providing economic diversity and growth.”

Now others are weighing in. “Rural tourism is a critical economic engine,” reads the latest article in PublicCEO.com, quoting the same study that we did.

“California’s natural wonders and landscapes — from Yosemite’s El Capitan to the rugged coastline in Big Sur – allow visitors to fulfill their dreams of hiking, rock climbing, wine tasting, camping and discovering charming towns and communities along the way. The global allure of these California experiences help to attract more than 200 million travelers to the Golden State each year, injecting more than $106 billion annually into our state’s economy.

“This is significant when you consider that tourism fills a critical role in diversifying and stabilizing rural economies. Rural areas in California are typically more vulnerable to economic pressures, so the influx of tourism dollars often is a significant source of revenue to support local businesses and jobs.

“The one-two punch of the Rim Fire and federal government shutdown created an extreme situation; nevertheless, the impacts to Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties show how important the travel and tourism industry – and the businesses that depend on it – is to ensure economic stability.”

The rest of the article is here.

(photo: Corey Rich)

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