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What is this?
Missing riverboats will likely hurt business
Published Wednesday, January 7, 2009
NATCHEZ — Riverboats have been a part of Natchez since the late 18th century, but now they are gone.
And the effect on the local economy could be major, tourism officials said.
RiverBarge Excursions Lines recently announced all 2009 operations have been curtailed, the Delta Queen has been decommissioned and the American Queen didn’t have any bookings beyond 2008.
“It’s definitely going to hurt,” Tourism Director Connie Taunton said.
Natchez Pilgrimage Tours Director Marsha Colson said the combined visits of the queens totaled 41 times in 2007 and 28 times in 2008.
“That’s a lot of business,” Colson said.
The profits garnered mostly by the city were from sales tax, Taunton said.
Since meals were served on the boats, and they only docked during the day, no money was spent on restaurants and hotels.
“What is really going to hit us and hurt us is in shopping,” Taunton said.
And shop owners realize that.
“I think it’s going to have a big impact,” said Sarah Roberts, co-owner of Seasons Home Décor and Gifts. “I think pilgrimage is normally good for us, but that only comes twice a year and the boat was coming pretty regularly.
“Without the boats, that’s going to put a damper on us.”
Owner of Natchez Antiques Ricky Smith expects a large drop in revenue.
“It’s very detrimental to us,” he said of the boats no longer coming. “Never did a boat dock that I didn’t do several thousand (dollars in business) the day they were here.
“On a small business that’s a big impact.”
Brenda Zerby, co-owner of Moreton’s Flowerland, said her shop historically has gotten a lot of traffic from the riverboat tourists.
Moreton’s has been open for 35 years, and Zerby said the 70s and 80s were the best times for riverboat tourism.
“There were lots and lots of businesses that did see a generous portion of their sales with people from the boats,” she said.
She said if the had stopped coming in their heyday, the economic effects would have been massive.
“At this point, compared to 15 years ago, it would be much more,” Zerby said.
But still, she said the effects will be noticeable.
Smith said he expects he could lose between $10,000 and $25,000 a month during the high traffic months.
Owner of Sun, Moon and Stars Erin Meyer said the riverboat tourists will be sorely missed.
“We do need them,” she said. “I wish they were still traveling.”
Taunton said this is not the first time the city has braced for the loss of the American Queen and the Delta Queen.
Majestic America Line owns both queens, and two years ago it halted its operations, Taunton said.
“We definitely saw a drop (in revenue,)” Taunton said.
What happened a few years ago is the same situation that is currently taking place with Majestic America Line, Taunton said.
The company is for sale.
“We’re hoping that someone will see the value, buy the company and get the boats back on the river,” Taunton said.
For the Delta Queen, however, it’s going to take an act of law.
Its wooden hull violates the Safety of Life at Sea Act of 1966. However, it has always been exempt. The exemption finally ran out Oct. 31., and the boat has been indefinitely decommissioned.
For Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, a decline in home tours is inevitable, Colson said.
Colson said the RiverBarge tour would bring boatfuls of people who would tour three or four antebellum homes.
Visitors would be entertained onboard by the Holy Family Choir and even head over to the Natchez Association for the Preservation of African-American Culture museum.
The queens would have a three-house tour and each boat would have at least 80 people, Colson said.
“For NPT alone it’s a significant impact,” she said.
Not only was the revenue it brought in beneficial, but the word of mouth exposure was invaluable, Colson said.
Colson said tourism officials are concerned about the loss of the boats.
“We’ve been real worried about that,” Colson said.
RiverBarge officials have stated if the economy climbs back up, tours will resume.
Taunton said she hopes that will happen soon.
“I definitely think that’s going to be a major factor in them coming back,” she said.
Smith said he isn’t holding out hope than any of the three boats will come back.
Comments
Posted by been_there (anonymous) on January 7, 2009 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Duh? To say the missing riverboats will hurt business in Natchez is a MAJOR UNDERSTATEMENT. Its a travesty! Its like a death in a family. To those who do not own businesses in Natchez this,of course, will mean nothing. There will be posts by some applauding their demise, saying they are glad that this part of the Mississippi River's history is gone forever. Its just so sad. I know that poor old Captain Leathers, who's buried in the City Cemetery must be rolling over in his grave.
The greed and stupidity of the last two owners of the Delta Queen Steamboat Co. has done them in, along with Hurricane Katrina. The Mississippi Queen is being dismantled ,even as we speak, and sold for scrap by the marine company who was "restoring" her in N.O. because the Majestic American Line owes them so much money.
Ricky, Brenda & Erin, you are in my prayers. I know its going to be hard for you to make ends meet. Lets pray someone with smarts buys the America Queen and returns her to the River. And I hope that the River Explorer comes back along with many other tourists or poor Natchez is going to die.
Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on January 7, 2009 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
DEAR "BEEN THERE", Thanks so much for your kind words. You're right, there will be those who applaud this tradgedy. People have no concept that when all 3 boats were stopping in Natchez, sometimes twice a week, that's over 1600 people in downtown Natchez!!! I've already had someone question the dollar amount I calulated. When i showed them, they understood. We will certainly make it due to our wonderful local shoppers. They have been very loyal and we appreciate that more than most will ever know.
Now, let's all get going and spread the word of Natchez.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on January 7, 2009 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Altho' I love the past and all the remembrance, I have to wonder if this is enough to wake Natchez up to face the future which is TODAY. I sincerely doubt it. I feel sorry for those in business today that depended on the tourist trade and I would never even think of gloating on their loss but it is time to put on your thinking caps and come up with futuristic ideas that will save Natchez. There is room for both, the past and present, if only you will accept it. Now with the loss of the boats you will have to face it. Either get with the times or close your doors. It's your option.
Posted by been_there (anonymous) on January 7, 2009 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hi, All this just makes me ill to think about what is going on in Natchez. And lets not forget how wonderful it was to have the bus loads of people that used to come from the U.K. Since Katrina, they don't come because they either started in places like Nashville (they love country music) and would wind up in N.O. or vice versa. Now they are afraid to go to N.O. The average person just does not realize what Katrina did to Natchez. Or just won't admit it. True, we were not physically hurt, but economically its a disaster. I pray that the local people will continue to support the local shop owners. I just wish the powers-that-be would have advertised that Natchez was not damaged in Katrina. We actually had people call and ask if we had picked up our debris and/or were we still flooded. Someone really dropped the ball there. God Bless America and God Bless Natchez! They both need it.
Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on January 7, 2009 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"DESTINY", We are with the times. I don't know what you expect us to "accept". Tourism doesn't support my business in whole by a long shot. If you read my comment, you will see that i have a wonderful local client base. It's always nice to have the "gravy" that the tourists bring. And, why is it "us" that have to face it; why not "you"..or better yet, "all of us".
The boats were only a small part of our visitors. If you would get involved, talk to the "TOURISM GURUS" that we seem to have more than enough of and encourage them to push motor coaches. I actually had one of the gurus tell me that motor coaches are dinosaurs. When i opened in 1991, we averaged 35 motor coaches a day in Natchez during Pilgrimage. Noone was complaining then. Stores, restaurants, hotels, etc. We now have several very nice hotels, so now any of the umpteen people we have in the industry should work on filling them up. And last but not least; we WON'T be closing our doors.
Posted by corvett40 (anonymous) on January 7, 2009 at 8:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When International Paper closed its doors it was Bad for Natchez. Sometimes we dont get what is best.I don't see a problem with wood floors in a river boat It's in water..''
I know it will hurt your business in the long run. You may need to read the book "Someone Moved My Cheese".The people from IP had too......It will help some.
Posted by Bobaloo (anonymous) on January 7, 2009 at 9:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
according to Presby, mankind as we know it, is doomed anyway. It's the middle of the end.....
Posted by been_there (anonymous) on January 9, 2009 at 7:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOVENATCHEZ , I can still see the buses lined up for over a block at the old Canal Street Depot when NPT was still in there. It was the perfect spot for shops. Then they moved and things went down hill from there. Condos! Ugh! They are still not occupied. Now just thinking about it makes me sad. Not to mention the buses parked outside the Eola.
Destiny, Its quite evident you have never owned a business.If you ever owned and ran your own business you'd know that you put your life's blood & love into it. Not to mention all of your hard saved cash. Closing it would be like death or giving up a child. If you have a gift/tourist oriented shop, there is not much more you can do than be that type of shop. The whole reason for opening that type of shop was because Natchez was a tourist town. One cannot throw all of ones stock in the river. Most of us do not have a fairy godmother who will swoop down and give us more money to open another type of business. What do you propose, change ones shop into a hamburger stand? I think not! Believe me we have accepted what has happened. But we do not have to like it! And the question is, have the powers-that-be accepted it or awakened from their slumber to realize what is happening? I think not. They have been in denile, sitting there doing nothing. If they would have advertised that Natchez was aok, after the hurricane, perhaps things would not be in the shape they are in. I hate to keep rehashing this, but its sooo true! LOVES you are so right, someone has to get the message out that Natchez is still on the map and lets fill up all the hotels.
corvett40, Yes it was bad that IP closed, but again I say, Natchez will never get big industry to come back to Natchez, its not on an Interstate, plain and simple. And while it may not bother you that the DQ has wooden floors, believe me if a fire breaks out on an old boat like this, there will be a LOT of people with more than a problem on their hands. I was one of the ones who years back wrote letters to Congress to "Save the Queen" I adore the DQ. But it appears now that Congress does not want to give her a reprieve again. And what in the world are you talking about with that "cheese" book?
It just amazes me too that the ND has just now gotten the "light" to come on in their heads that loosing the boats is going to hurt business! Duh ND, give me a break? How did you finally come up with this brilliant idea all of a sudden? There have been a lot of us screaming about this since the first article appeared in the ND.
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