Grand Canyon Businesses Struggle Amid Natural Disasters, Yet Urge Tourism
The Grand Canyon, a natural wonder that draws visitors worldwide, is currently facing challenges from recent natural disasters. Last year’s Dragon-Bravo Fire and the flash floods this past August have significantly impacted local businesses dependent on tourism.
Stoney Ward, the general manager at Buckwild Hummer Tours in Tusayan, has reported a dramatic 50% downturn in his business, noting that many enterprises are in worse shape now than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ward expressed his frustration, sharing, “It’s literally killed all the businesses up here. I mean, we thought we were going to recover from the Bravo fires. Then things were starting to come back a little bit and we were starting to see some light. And then the flood came through.”
The August flood, which severely affected areas like Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch, has caused lodging on the South Rim to remain unavailable while repairs are underway. Ward emphasizes that the Grand Canyon is not closed, urging tourists to visit despite the temporary closure of South Rim accommodations.
“The thing is, it’s actually been beautiful out there. The tourism is way down right now, and we want to educate people this is like the best time of the year to come out,” Ward added, highlighting the current appeal of the less crowded park. The National Park Service anticipates that operations will resume around Thanksgiving, after the completion of construction on the water supply lines.
Meanwhile, other regional news highlights ongoing issues such as the inspection of Mexican Federal Highway 15 following reports of travelers being stopped for money, and the significant economic impact of the Cactus League on Arizona’s GDP Read More.
