Event roster wiped out by coronavirus

SHAWANO — Tourism is a career field where people are encouraged to come into a community’s backyard, but the recent shutdown from the coronavirus has tourism officials instead saying, “Get off the lawn.”

Many restaurants are providing curbside pickup, since their dining areas have been closed by Gov. Tony Evers’ Safer at Home order, while others have shuttered completely for the time being. Big summer events, like Sun Drop Dayz in Shawano and Pulaski Polka Days, have announced their 2020 installments are canceled. Visitors with summer homes in the northwoods have been actively discouraged from making the trip up north for fear of spreading the virus.

“Wisconsin’s extended shutdown is proving to be punishing for the private sector, and it risks causing serious instability to our society,” Tom Diehl, president of the Association of Wisconsin Tourism Attractions, wrote in an open letter to other state tourism groups criticizing the governor’s order being extended to May 26. “Over 385,000 Wisconsin residents have lost their jobs in the last four weeks, with the entire loss coming from the 1.9 million private sector jobs in Wisconsin.”

Diehl also pointed out that while he believes any COVID-19 deaths are too many, “I believe that losing 385,000-plus jobs and experiencing huge business failures by keeping Wisconsin shuttered is not the way to go and will have devastating consequences, including negative health implications of those who remain unemployed.”

Watching the changes firsthand has been Patti Peterson, tourism director for the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce, who is usually flooded with calls at this time of year to find out what would make for a good day trip or extended visit to the area. With events canceling left and right, it hasn’t been easy to provide recommendations for the here and now.

“It’s been a huge change,” Peterson said. “It doesn’t feel logical to me, but we’ve had to tell people to dream now, plan now and travel later.”

She noted that not all events have canceled in the area. The county’s Independence Day activities — including events in Bonduel, Shawano, Tigerton, Clintonville and other locations — have not made any public announcements that they will not take place, even though other events in late July have already done so.

While events with set times are at risk, there are some general activities that could still attract visitors to the area. Peterson has spoken with potential visitors regarding the 350-plus barn quilts in the county, an activity that can keep the tourists in their vehicles but still give them something to enjoy as they crisscross the county.

“I’m encouraged by how we’re still on people’s radars and that they want to make plans,” Peterson said, noting that she still sends out local visitor guides on request.

Even though some restrictions are easing in Wisconsin — the reopening of golf courses being one example — Peterson has been wary about recommending specific events, as there does not seem to be an end date for when social distancing and other health-necessary rules will be abolished.

“It’s hard to keep up with sometimes,” Peterson said.

Despite the unknown and the uncertainty of whether some people will come out of quarantine eager to travel, “I think the future is still very bright” for tourism, Peterson said. People still love their traditions like pow wows, festivals and art fairs, she said, but it’s likely that the visitation will be from neighboring communities closer to Shawano County.

“I feel like people still want to come here,” she said. “That’s not going to change. It’s just going to be put on hold.”

Peterson predicted that day trips will likely be the norm for the foreseeable future.

“With the way air travel has changed, I think people may be doing more driving vacations, which is good for us, because we’re located in such a way where there are major highways that come through our area, so we’re easy to get to,” Peterson said. “We’re still positioned in a good way, being an easy-to-get-to destination and being near some larger cities.”

Another thing that the chamber plans to launch in the next few weeks is a website that would allow visitors and locals alike to purchase gift cards good for specific businesses in the area. Peterson said the cards can be used now or later, and that the purchases would help local businesses struggling to stay afloat.

“You just have to think outside the box,” Peterson said.

lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com