Vacation Industry,
Las Vegas Area Courses Affected

TravelGolf.com Staff Report

LAS VEGAS, NV-- (SEPT 18, 2001) - With the number of injured, dead, and missing on the rise in New York City and Washington D.C., and the country mounting a $40 billion war effort against terrorism, thoughts of the golf and travel industry's future vitality have faded almost completely into the background.

If and when the U.S. is able to complete a successful campaign against the perpetrators of the Attack on America, thoughts will return to restoring some normalcy to citizen's lives. Then - and only then - will Americans be able to reprioritize recreational events such as Major League Baseball, college football, and golf.

Eventually, American peacetime industry will have to come to grips with how the horrific events of September 11 will affect the way they do business, and perhaps more importantly, the impacts the Attack on America will have on profits.

Already, the country's airlines and insurance industries have come under intense financial pressure that could force a number of companies into bankruptcy. As the stock market reopened on Monday morning, the several airlines saw dramatic drops in their market value. The golf and travel industry is closely tied to the airline industry.

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Las Vegas and its golf courses are frequented most by vacationers, with a high percentage of them arriving in the area via planes. Given the recent events, and the subsequent caution of Americans to board planes, could lead to negative effects for the local golf markets.

"As Americans test the waters in terms of flying and visiting large cities like Las Vegas, golf courses should see a decline in play," said Robert Lewis, President of TravelGolf.com, publishers of LasVegasGolf.com. "As for the long term, as national comfort level increases over time, the Las Vegas golf courses, as well as hotels and other vacation related industries, will begin to see a rise in customers."

Before the attacks on September 11, the golf industry was already suffering from a lagging U.S. economy that has resulted in decreased rounds played. Given the circumstances, it is unlikely that the economy will rebound this year.

"The entire travel industry, including airlines and hotels, is going to be hurt, both because of increased caution and the continual struggle of the economy," said Lewis.

TravelGolf.com publishes 24 online travel and golf publications including MichiganGolf.com, ScotlandGolf.com, OntarioGolf.com, MyrtlebeachGolf.com, GolfOhio.com, GolfCarolina.com, GolfFlorida.com and GolfArizona.com.