SeaWorld Critics Missing the Big Picture
By Reint Reinders
Despite the extensive contributions made by SeaWorld to our regional economy, quality of life and international reputation as a premier visitor destination, a small but vocal group of detractors continues its quest to thwart the attraction’s well-meaning efforts to ensure its ongoing success for the benefit of San Diego’s visitors and residents alike. In fact, it appears this group won’t take “yes” for an answer.
The City Council said yes to SeaWorld’s enhancement plan on July 10. Previously, so did the Mission Bay Park Committee, Design Review Committee, Park and Recreation Board and San Diego Planning Commission. Yet critics keep looking for ways to say no, the latest being to wildly claim that SeaWorld’s fireworks cause environmental and health problems.
What these critics are missing is the big picture – San Diego needs SeaWorld and other major attractions such as the Zoo, Wild Animal Park and Legoland, to name just a few. These attractions serve not only our visitors, but also contribute significantly to our economy and the quality of life for all San Diego residents.
Tourism Industry Continues to Suffer
The economy was softening well before the tragic events of September 11. Our tourism sector, San Diego’s third largest industry and vital to our region’s economic well being, was dealt a devastating blow by the terrorist attacks. The industry, and its key components continue to suffer as a result of the continued uncertainty facing our economy.
While there are signs of a nascent turnaround – hotel occupancies are starting to trend up – it is a fragile and tenuous beginning. In other areas – such as attractions, where attendance is down compared to last year – the picture is not yet brightening.
SeaWorld is no longer having a record year, which it was on track to do before September 11. And since then, it has welcomed more than 100,000 military, police and firefighters and their families who have been admitted for free. There are guests at SeaWorld, but not the equivalent revenues.
Air travel is down and airlines are going bankrupt. Layoffs are rampant. Even in the absence of any unforeseen events, it will be next summer before our tourism industry is likely to return to last year’s levels. And that has ripple effects throughout the local economy.
With hotel occupancies down, city revenues from transient occupancy tax are down. In San Diego, we rely heavily on those revenues to finance a host of public services of primary benefit to locals. With travel and tourism down, fewer dollars flow into our economy through local hotels, restaurants, attractions and retail outlets. The combined effects of a recession and the uncertain post-September 11 climate make it clear – the tourism industry is still in harm’s way.
That’s why we need to support, not detract from, this industry and its many important components. I am not asking reasonable people to stop having reasonable dialogue with reasonable questions – I am simply asking those with such questions to take a bigger view and to weigh all the facts.
Some Perspective on Fireworks
While the issue is bigger than fireworks and even bigger than any one attraction, the current debate over SeaWorld’s fireworks is important. The issue is whether any impact is significant enough for us to (1) worry about and (2) do something about.
Do fireworks pollute the water in Mission Bay? In Florida, a scientific study found no significant environmental impact of fireworks on a body of water. Consider the specifics. Disney World and EPCOT Center set off 2,000 fireworks shows in the decade between 1982 and 1992 – an average of 200 shows a year. The shows were over a small lake with absolutely no water flow in or out, and thus no flushing action.
If fireworks shows had an environmental impact, surely it would show up under these circumstances. Yet none was found.
SeaWorld's new master plan caps its shows at 150 a year – far fewer than Disney – over a much larger body of water with significant flushing action. The chemistry of fireworks hasn’t changed (except that SeaWorld eliminated plastic casings in 1992 in favor of biodegradable, papier-mâché casings), yet critics don’t believe the Disney World study is relevant.
What about air pollution? Existing studies strongly indicate that fireworks are not a significant source of air pollution in San Diego. There is no perceptible effect even after the numerous and sustained Fourth of July shows.
The regulatory agencies – California Air Resources Board and local Air Pollution Control District – say fireworks is a non-issue because it falls within the recreational fire exemption and because it is a short-lived event.
Disneyland in Anaheim stages fireworks shows about as frequently as SeaWorld, under the same state regulations, and has not been identified as a problem. One would have to conclude that SeaWorld’s fireworks are not a problem either. And SeaWorld is committed to working with the City of San Diego to assure the community of this.
In fact, the study cited by a SeaWorld critic in front of the San Diego City Council also showed no environmental impact. That study examined the multiple Fourth of July fireworks shows in western Washington state and found that even more numerous and longer shows wouldn't violate stringent air quality standards.
Let’s Take “Yes” for an Answer
Critics of SeaWorld are grasping at straws and I find it disturbing.
Our region’s leaders know that we must strike a balance between supporting industries that provide for our prosperity and the valid concerns of our citizens. That balance demands dialogue and keeping the bigger picture in mind.
Our region’s chronic naysayers have a long history of raising unwarranted concerns to a level where they obstruct the potential for continued progress and prosperity. I hope that history doesn’t continue to the detriment of one of San Diego’s most vitally important industries.
Reint Reinders, CHA is President and CEO of the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau.
