Fresno folks love the Central Coast. They can prove how much they care by staying away
Strolling along the bluffs at Montana de Oro State Park and watching waves crash over mussel-covered reefs.
Hiking to the top of Cerro Alto and taking in the panoramic view. Touring wineries and breweries in and around Paso Robles. Scarfing down the lamb burger at Big Sky Cafe in downtown San Luis Obispo.
These are a few of my favorite things to do while visiting California’s Central Coast. I’m sure you have your own. And if 2020 were a normal year, we’d probably be making plans for a weekend road trip.
But it isn’t, and we shouldn’t. Thousands of central San Joaquin Valley residents invading coastal communities for their own leisure and pleasure is a selfish, irresponsible act during the coronavirus pandemic.
That’s the message, albeit in a much softer tone, being put forth by San Luis Obispo County in a $9,000 social media marketing campaign targeting residents of Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield.
“While we love having you visit,” the online ads say in part, “now is not the time.”
Why would San Luis Obispo County discourage visitation from its biggest tourism market just before peak tourist season?
Because the more people that travel there from outside the region, the greater the chance they’ll spread COVID-19 and thus prevent the Central Coast from meeting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s benchmarks for allowing businesses to reopen.
Valley tourists, along with Cal Poly students and low population-wide immunity, were identified as the primary roadblocks in a county study, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reported.
“From the valley to the coast, let’s keep all of our families safe,” reads a county-sponsored Facebook post. “San Luis Obispo County is proud to be your home away from home, but right now staying home is the way to beat COVID-19. #staysafe #stayhome #flattenthecurve.”
Shelter in place in a hot tub
Is that a unanimous opinion? Sure doesn’t appear that way.
On Thursday, one of my editors received a media release from a popular Avila Beach hotel that essentially rolls out the welcome mat.
Under a headline entitled “Shelter & Recharge at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort,” Fresnans seeking a “safe respite” are encouraged to book a room and “enjoy the restorative powers of private mineral hot tubs.”
Soaking in 103-degree water 150 miles from home doesn’t meet my definition of sheltering in place, but it sure sounds nice.
I don’t blame hotels for trying to drum up business, even during a pandemic. Many of them are empty. Chuck Davison, CEO of Visit SLO CAL, told The Tribune that hotel occupancy this spring was a paltry 15% and at least half of the county’s 23,000 tourism workers are out of work.
Tourists flock to beaches
Clearly, a lot of people on the Central Coast are hurting financially — just like they are in the Valley. Yet county officials still want to curtail tourism, which speaks to the seriousness of the situation.
Do I expect San Luis Obispo County’s wishes to be respected? Not really. Large crowds, many of them from Fresno, flocked to Pismo Beach and Avila Beach during the recent heat wave. It’ll surely happen again once temperatures around here tilt toward triple digits.
Last year’s hullabaloo over remarks made by a Firestone Walker Brewing Co. employee notwithstanding, Central Coast residents are appreciative of their Valley neighbors and the tourist dollars they bring.
Now would be a good time to show we appreciate them as well. How? By staying away until things are safe. Those winery tours can wait.
This story was originally published May 15, 2020 at 10:40 AM.
