tourism grad student network

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/reports/billionz.html
lists natural disasters in the US that had an impact of $1B or more.

If we had a good data base of state-level tourism spending for that time period we could do a nice interrupted time series model to estimate the impact of natural disasters on tourism. With 1030 observations (50 states X 26 years) there would be enough degrees of freedom to include state and year dummies (as well as macro-economic trends).

If interested, let me know.

Another topic that would be worthwhile to explore is tourism failure. Most models and case studies are based on, or assume, long term success. But most destinations don't become the next Las Vegas. While there is some literature on the failure of individual businesses there isn't much that systematically examines regions or destination areas that want tourism, take steps to develop tourism, yet fail in the mid to long run. If you're interested I can point you at a local destination that would make a great case study of tourism failure.

You may have seen the recent announcement that they have broken ground for a new Hilton in Baltimore. This development is being funded with $301 million in municiple bonds.
http://www.hotel-online.com/News/2006_Feb_17/k.BZG.1140194433.html

Needless to say, this is both controversial and not limited to Baltimore (see the $54 million hotel and conference center that opened in Trenton in 2002).

If you're interested in hotel development, the interface of tourism and public policy, etc. this would make a great research project.