A recent report, made to both the Branson/Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District (TCED) and the Branson Board of Aldermen by the Branson/Lakes Area Convention & Visitors Bureau said that, “2006 was outstanding in terms of visitation, occupancy, and tax revenues.” The report went on to project that, although 2007 will not match the “double-digit growth” of 2006, it will be a strong year.
To an Ole Seagull, this is an indication that Branson’s constantly evolving and changing “product” of providing a great family entertainment experience to its visitors is being effectively marketed and is bringing millions visitors to Branson. Whether or not that is putting more of those millions of visitors into a particular business, i.e. hotel, show, attraction, restaurant, retail establishment, etc. is a function of how effectively that particular business is competing with everything else that Branson has to offer.
The Ole Seagull, like everyone else, hears the rumors about how, in terms of Branson’s visitors, Branson is having a good year or a bad year, business is up or down, etc. Folks, rumors aside, the “science” shows that Branson had one of its best years ever in 2006 and is poised for an even better year in 2007. Does that mean that every business sector and every business within each sector did well in 2006 and will do well in 2007?
Absolutely not! But it does mean that every business in Branson had access to millions of visitors spending enough to set sales and tourism tax collection records. Some businesses might say, “But Seagull, my business was down in 2006.” That might very well be the case but it’s not because there’s not millions of visitors coming to Branson who are spending enough to set new sales and tourism tax collection records. Could the reason for the lack of success of an individual business be as simple as the fact that, for whatever reason, those millions of visitors are patronizing other businesses?
Where else in this country, perhaps the world, can a person go where there is the variety of things to see and do that is available within as small a geographic area as there is in Branson? From a business perspective that is both a blessing and a curse because there is always something competing for the limited time and resources of Branson’s visitors.
As an example, if a family of four is spending their time and money sharing a wonderful entertainment experience at Silver Dollar City from about 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today then they are not shopping, boating, eating, seeing shows, playing miniature golf, going to museums, or doing anything else anywhere else during that period of time. On the other hand, if that same family chose to spend their time and money sharing a wonderful entertainment experience shopping, boating, eating, seeing shows, playing miniature golf, going to museums, etc. at a place other than Silver Dollar City during that period they would not be at Silver Dollar City.
“Now that’s pure genius Seagull, what’s next, are you going to tell us that if that same family is eating the lunch buffet at the Golden Coral tomorrow that the chances are pretty good that they won’t be eating lunch at any of Branson’s other excellent restaurants tomorrow?” Of course not, it’s just been said, but that’s the hang of it. From shows to museums; specialty, craft, art shops, and retail stores to Branson Landing and discount Malls; golfing, fishing, boating, restaurants, and attractions, etc. there’s a constantly growing and evolving choice of things and businesses competing for the business of the millions of visitors coming to Branson.
Even as each of those millions of visitors to Branson must make a choice as to how, when and where they will spend their time and money while in Branson, each of Branson’s businesses must create a need or desire on the part of those visitors to want to make their business part of that visitor’s Branson experience. Those who do so will be competitive and have an excellent chance of enjoying success and the vast majority of those who don’t, regardless of the reasons or excuses why, won’t.
