Norris Flowers was 12 years old when he launched his life-long career in the tourism industry.

Fifty-five years later, he’s seen a lot—but never anything like the pandemic crisis of 2020.

“We couldn’t have picked a worse time for this to happen, coming out of winder doldrums when businesses are down and looking forward to the busy summertime,” said Flowers, president and CEO of Destination Gettysburg. “For this to hit in March when we’re starting to crank up, and it’s instantly all shut off? I’m running out of adjectives, but it’s devastating.”

The pandemic was indeed a rude awakening, after a surprisingly promising start to 2020.

Continue reading “Vacation, Staycation: Pandemic travel trends include outdoor recreation close to home,” TheBurg, August 2020.