Baltimore tourism takes a tumble
The still tense atmosphere in Balltimore is beginning to scare away visitors with high volume convention business being hit the hardest.
Tom Noonan, president and CEO of Visit Baltimore confirmed a number of cancelations already with the likelihood of more to follow, despite a relatively quiet night Tuesday.
The Door and Hardware Institute canceled its CoNEXTions convention at the Baltimore Convention Center from April 29-May 1.
It had bookings for 2,500 hotel nights for more than 2,000 delegates.
"At the end of the day, they felt that the current situation left them no alternative," said Noonan.
The American Heart Association also scrapped plans for a two-day event taking place at the Hilton Baltimore starting today.
More than two dozen major conventions in Baltimore are planned this year due to be attended by 206 000 people, with an estimated economic impact of $138 million.
Violent protests erupted in the city after the funeral of Freddie Gray, who died in police custody.
With a curfew in effect, restaurants and entertainment venues are taking a hit and popular visitor attraction such as the Science Center and the National Aquarium remain closed.
Southwest Airlines, the biggest carrier at Baltimore-Washington International Airport cancelled 10 early flights on Tuesday citing safety concerns for employees and passengers but is expected to operate a full schedule today.
"One of the things growing in the area has been the tourism aspect and nothing puts off tourists more than riots and curfews," said Daraius Irani, chief economist at the Regional Economic and Studies Institute of Baltimore’s Towson University.
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