The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-03-28
PROSPERITY IN
FLORIDA TO Be
LARGE FACTOR
Smoky Park Expected to
Set a Record for
Visitors

Basing their belief on the axiom
that a good winter season in Flor
ida forecasts a good summer sea
son in Western North Carolina,
business and civic leaders her,
predict that more tourists VIII
come to Hendcrsonville this year
than in any year since 1929.
From Jacksonville to Miam! anG
Kew West. through the ridge coua-
try of Florida, and along IN" We
coast, come reports Of "Secon'
boom" that is expected to be re-
Elected here, the implication be-
ing that if Floridians have q pros
porous season they will IN turn
come to the high, cool mountain
region of North Carolina for their
summer vacations. Miami and st.
Petersburg particularly overflow
cd with tourists. and since these
two cities annually send hundreds
of people to HendersOnvilln their
prosperity especially is taken as
a good omen.
Western North Carolina held Its
own in 1888 in the tourist trade
in comparison with other tourist
regions despite numerous ObSta-
Giles, the greatest of which was the
Worlds Fair in Chicago. How
ever. last years business slipped
slightly below that of preceding
year. Almost every resort in the
country suffered as result of
competition of the Chicago expo
sition. Even California showed
decline in volume of tourist bust
ness. An eight per cent decrease
was noted in national park travel
in the west but the Smoky Noun
tains National park had an in
creased number of visitors. With
only four exceptions, 27 travel re-
sort areas in 20 different states
reported tourist business dropped
off from eight to 40 per cent in
volume and from 26 to 80 per
cent in revenue during 1888.
The bank holiday dealt severe
blow to spring business in this re-
gion last year. The number of Wis
itors who generally stop over en-
route to their homes after winter
ing in Florida was greatly de-
creased by the homeward trek re-
suIting from. the bank holiday.
But now the situation is chang
ed, and here are the signs point
ing to a better tourist business for
1884 as outlined by a writer for
the Asheville Cltizen-Times after
making a special trip to all parts !
of Florida:
FLORIDA has clearly demon
strated that national recovery is
well begun. that people are trav-
elling again and spending money !
again.
2-The Great Smoky Mountains
National park will become a real
ity this summer and open for the
public. For some years past the
park has been great talking
point but almost entirely for the
dreamy future. Last year 35O,OOO
persons visited the Great Smokes
before they were anything like
ready to receive them. This new
national park is easily the great
est tourist attraction this region
has ever had and one of the out
standing ones in the land.
3-Americans are very definite
" doing their travelling in Amer
lea this year. Tourist travel to
European resorts has practically
stopped because of unsettled con-
ditions, not to mention actual
dangers, in foreign lands.
4-Western North Carolina is
an old, well established and well
advertised summer tourist region.
Thousands will come here without
solicitation or encouragement.
Many, many more thousands can
be induced to come with just
little boosting.
5-ThiS region will not suffer
as greatly from the World Fair
this year because it is the general
opinion that the exposition will
not draw the crowds it did last
year.
6-The banking situation has
been stabilized.
Although it is hardly pos
sible that the S16,OOO,OOO nation
al park-to-park highway will be
ready for use this year, it will
bring this section valuable public
ity as the plans develop and as
information is given the public
concerning this project.