Fewer visitors came to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2008. This report comes after glowing reports from the Cherokee Historical Association that the tribe was defying the odds of everyone around Cherokee, and even in Cherokee. The casino's profits were down, and it showed in the per capita disbursements to tribal members. Now the National Park Service reported a decline in visitation, something that comes as no surprise.I've stated before that I find it hard to believe that anything in Cherokee would be defying the economic odds. The two top tourist attractions, the national park and the casino, experienced declines in visitation. Cherokee businesses were closing their doors even during good times, and there isn't a single privately-owned business in Cherokee that wasn't negatively impacted by the economy (the One Feather's front page story of the tribal budget crunch is an indicator of this). But we're supposed to believe that Cherokee Historical Association attractions are bucking the trend.
The problem is nobody asks questions anymore, not even among the media, and they're the very ones who should be asking. We all know that the leadership of this tribe doesn't like questions, but that shouldn't stop us, especially when were handed a dung sandwich and told it's ice cream. Until we have leadership willing to be honest about what we're facing, we can't effectively deal with it. It's another symptom of a failing government.
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The CHA is pretty much in a world of non-truth regarding attendance at Unto These Hills. Ads say it has "tens of thousands" of attendees per year which simply isn't true. During its early years attendance indeed was tens and tens of thousands but during the 1990s/2000s recorded low attendance has plagued the attraction.
Let's say 2008 attendance was 20,000 for the season, an increase of 3% over 2007. That 3% represents slightly over 600 admissions per season; less than 70 per week; or apprx 11 per night.
Compare this increase on a per person advertising budget and it could represent several hundred dollars per guest. It cost more to bring 600 "new" admission than the admissions generated.
Also why did the CHA/Village decide to change open/close dates in 2009? Open early May which is a very, very slow time in Cherokee and close the attraction before the busiest week in the fall season?
Is CHA ready to have another "revision" of what was a premiere outdoor drama ready to satisfy the local culture directives rather than be a top notch historical production. Yes, historically correct but balanced with some wonderful theatrical offerings!
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