{"id":2458959,"date":"2020-05-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-29T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=326623"},"modified":"2020-05-29T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-05-29T06:00:00","slug":"roger-marolt-the-new-equilibrium-in-travel-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/roger-marolt-the-new-equilibrium-in-travel-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"Roger Marolt: The new equilibrium in travel costs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I felt a swell of anxiety and then, thankfully, it was punctured impotent by a bout of confusion. First, I read about the plan to carefully and cautiously open Aspen\u2019s tourist accommodations. Shortly thereafter the Chamber of Commerce unveiled a big, bold marketing plan to entice visitors to come here. It seemed like caution and then wind, a common capitulation to probable disaster.<\/p>\n

The grand reopening guidelines were humanely aimed like a bean bag at a bear intending to slow down the microscopic monster under our fingernails \u2014 keep patrons 6 feet apart, require face masks when not chomping or sipping, limiting capacities, wiping germs off buttons in elevators, discouraging nose-picking, washing hands afterward, etc. Then came details of the marketing plans shouting the words, and seemingly virus aerosols along with them, that all are welcome, the more the merrier, the only thing to fear is fear itself, which we will gladly mask-up and shove beneath the counter out of sight.<\/p>\n

I took a deep breath and felt a slight tightness in my chest and maybe a burning sensation in my tracheal tract, then glanced at my watch and realized it was only the daily bout of hypochondria flaring, right on schedule. A deliberate exhale and the seemingly contradictory plans suddenly made perfect sense. Through social-distancing requirements we are limiting the supply of what we have to offer. Through the marketing campaign we are drumming up demand. According to the textbooks, the shifts in these curves should result in fewer visitors paying higher prices.<\/p>\n

It could be a good economic answer for our resort community. We will be safer for fewer visitors from all parts of the infected world with those showing up paying an even bigger premium to be here. Less people, more money; it is enough to conjure up good memories of the \u201cuncrowded by design\u201d theme, except this time it\u2019s as intentional as it is purposeful. It could be the experiment proving once and for all that the \u201cright kind of people\u201d for Aspen are the ones with fat wallets. Rich people are essential for our economic and physical health. Mental and spiritual wellbeing are hypothetical icing on the devil\u2019s food cake; blueberry pie in the sky, if you prefer.<\/p>\n

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