NELSON ESCAPES LONELY PLANET BASHING - BUT NOT POT STEREOTYPE

While world-renowned travel guide Lonely Planet trashed Trail, Nelson
received better reviews but did not escape the stereotype as a pot town.

"The town's friendly laid back character is inviting. At any given time you
can hear people talking about spirituality or tofu," reads the company's
first guide to B.C.

"And that sweet smell in the air? Yup, you guessed it-Nelson is known
(unofficially, of course) for growing excellent pot."

Howard Dirks, manager of the Nelson Chamber of Commerce is concerned this
characterization of Nelson gives people the wrong idea.

"That's not why people come here and that's not why we enjoy living here,"
says Dirks.

He says Nelson's abundance of outdoor activities and beautiful scenery is
Nelson's greatest natural resource, not marijuana.

In fact, The Lonely Planet does mention some historic qualities of Nelson.

"The picturesque town nestled in the hillside boasts more than 350
carefully preserved and restored late 19th to early 20th century
buildings," says the guide book.

Despite this praise, Dirks says the marijuana connotation could turn off
prospective tourists or attract an undesirable element to the Heritage City.

"I would hope that their circulation is not that great," says Dirks.
"That's about as friendly as I can get."

The Lonely Planet publishes over 400 guidebooks on every continent and its
website attracts over one million viewers a month.

Dirks says a publication with a large readership has a responsibility to be
accurate.

"Its too bad that if its that popular and depended upon that they would not
be a little more positive in their write ups of B.C. communities," says
Dirks. "If you've got a large readership you have an extreme responsibility
to be accurate and positive."

The Trail Chamber of Commerce is fuming Trail was portrayed as "possibly
the most toxic place in B.C.," and are threatening legal action for its
claim that "...It's no wonder Trail suffers from an astonishingly high rate
of juvenile cancer."

A 1999 study indicated there is no elevated risk of cancer in the
community. Kitamat, Powell River and Port Alberni are also slagged by the
guide book. Other spots in the Kootenays fared better. Rossland was hailed
as a "gorgeous mountain town," and the Kootenay Pass near Creston was
described as "incredibly scenic."

While Dirks says Lonely Planet's assessment of some B.C. communities is out
of line, Joanna Maratta a board member on the Nelson Area Tourism
Association, thinks all the criticism of the guide book has been blown out
of proportion.

"I sympathise with Trail and Lonely Planet should get their facts straight,
but they have to take it with a grain of salt," says Maratta. "Trail should
just shrug it of and get on to the next thing."

She also doesn't think Nelson's portrayal as a marijuana mecca in Lonely
Planet is damaging to Nelson's tourism industry because the guide book is
aimed at a young demographic.

"Their comments are in line with the demographic they target," says
Maratta. "You have to take it within the context of the publication. I
don't think it particularly negative because It's geared toward a young
audience and a very specific type of traveller."

While Lonely Planet's portrayal of Trail maybe factually incorrect, Maratta
has no criticisms of Nelson's section because she says the information on
Nelson's most famous natural resource is not untrue.

"It's factual, it's true. says Maratta. "The people of Nelson shouldn't be
concerned. It gives our city some colour."


Newshawk: Herb
Pubdate: Mon, 11 Jun 2001
Source: Nelson Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Nelson Daily News
Contact: ndnews@netidea.com
Website: http://www.nelsondailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/288
Section: Front Page
Author: Arran Yarmie