Page 6
THE BATTALION
FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1979
Prof says work costs to be cut
Leisure travel won’t decline
As petroleum prices climb, Texans will make concessions in their
work expenses to protect their leisure travel, predicts a Texas A&M
University tourism expert.
Dr. Clare Gunn, who has conducted tourism research for 30 years,
said Americans simply value their leisure travel so highly that they
will adjust their work travel to budget for personal trips.
Some economists predict skyrocketing gasoline prices will put a
significant dent into the American people’s willingness to travel.
Gunn countered that there is no evidence of less travel last year or so
far this year, despite leaping energy costs and inflation.
It is personal priority preference, Gunn said. Most people view
personal travel as independence, and will go to great lengths to pro
tect it, he said.
There are also the economic aspects: Tourism is big business in
Texas.
According to the latest figures from the U.S. Travel Data Center,
tourism in Texas is a $6 billion industry, generating a $1.3 billion
payroll, 227,000 jobs and more than $241 million in state taxes and
$58 million in local taxes.
Gunn considers the latest rounds of proposed energy conservation
measures, part of which call for weekend closing of gas stations, as
discriminatory and economically unsound.
Any legislation that affects personal travel and travel-related indus
tries has an economic multiplier effect, he said. That is when gov
ernments begin to manipulate the tourism industry, there are tre
mendous repercussions outside that industry.
The effect can be devastating locally, Gunn said. He said a jn
many Texas counties don’t even realize how dependent they
the tourist dollars.
In Harris County, tourism expenditures total more than $1,21
lion, with a payroll of $265 million, 46,000 jobs, some $47 millioj
state taxes and $12 million in local taxes, according to the U.S,I®
Data Center.
In Bexar County, home of San Antonio and the Alamo, towii
pumps in more that $479 million, with a payroll of $119 milliml
19,000 workers. It generates $19 million in state taxes and $4,8s
lion in local tax revenues.
On economics alone, Texas needs the tourism industry, Gunnsi
But there are the personal benefits to consider also, he said,
“It’s certainly not simple,” Gunn said. “There are no easy aim*
I think it will be a long time before we see any depression in
travel industry, no matter what the fuel situation is for the momei
“I don’t know what the economic limit is because so manypey
are, at heart, willing to make great concessions to protect theirp
sonal travel,” he said.
Gunn said a downturn in the travel industry might cause]
use more local recreational facilities.
However, he said this is unlikely, considering the increasedsopli
tication of today’s travelers. Air travel was up markedly in the
year alone, but the increase has not been at the expense of bus or
industries.
Kenyan studenh
to train at AirM
Spaghetti Dinner all you
can eat for 025
Comes with salad and garlic toast.
Every Sunday Evening 5-10
in the Aggieland Inn
The Republic of Kenya, in coop
eration with the Agency for Interna
tional Development, has contracted
with Texas A&M University to train
a select group of its students to ul
timately upgrade the developing na
tion’s livestock industry.
In the five-year AID-Kenya
Project, Texas A&M faculty, in con
junction with the Winrock Interna
tional Livestock Research and Train
ing Center at Morrilton, Ark., will
provide professional and technical
services for 18 Kenyan students
seeking advanced degrees in range
science, animal science and other
related studies. The Texas A&M
portion will cost $965,000.
The first class of six Kenyan stu
dents is scheduled to begin in Sep
tember, reports Dr. Terry
Greathouse, coordinator for interna
tional affairs.
Kenya, which is slightly sj|
than Texas, has in the pastil
shown a steady growth in ill y j
and agriculture. How f
Greathouse said, the Kenyan
ernment has made the decisia
its people need more expert I
livestock and other related aj I
tural areas. The result m |p
AID-Kenya Project.
“We are extremely
the new dimension the i||
Project offers the university,'
Greathouse. “The competitk |
international grants is verysti
Campus coordinator
project is Paul Creech, direct
the International Programs
Robert Hass of the Range Si
Department will serve asaca: [l]
coordinator.
GAYLAND
MOULDER
BOOKKEEPING & TAX SERVICES
INCOME TAX PREPARATION
4103 S. TEXAS
BRYAN PLACE
2 blocks north of Luby’s
846-4774
THE F-18 HORNET . . . NEW . . . FAST . . . YOURS TO FLY IF YOU QUALIFY! WE
CHALLENGE YOU AGGIES TO ASK US ABOUT IT!
The Marine Officer Selection Team will be available to discuss the Marine PLC Air
Program on April 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 in the Memorial Student Center. You may also
contact the Team at 707 University Drive (next to University National Bank).
The Marines
are coming.
NOW LEASING FOR SUMMER
AND FALL. OPEN WEEKENDS.
Barcelona
APARTMENTS
NEWLY REMODELED !
ALL UTILITIES PAID and...
Individual Heating and Air, Cable T.V.,
3 Laundry Rooms, Swimming Pool,
Security Guard, Party Room, and
Close to Campus. 693-0261
700 Dominik, College Station
Free markt
researcher
receive gra
B
PI
gre;
Sho
afte
'safe
sa«
,ned
and
Two Houston foundations J
committed $250,000 to Texas I
University’s Center for Edw ffl
and Research in Free Enterpn™
The Brown Foundation, Inc,
pledged $150,000 and die
Abercrombie Foundal
$100,000.
Robert M. Rutledge III, din I
of development, said the fa j
stallment of $50,000 has
ceived from each company
Abercrombie Foundation nil
its second installment this
said.
The initial grant from
Foundation is unrestricted, i I
means it can be used for curreal I
erations. The remaining $101
will be designated for specific I
poses by the grantor, RutledgB
ported.
The Free Enterprise Cents |
established two years ago by
from the Association of Forms!
dents to provide educational
search in free enterprise, tlie
nomic doctrine of permitting]: I
industry to operate under freef Hj
petitive conditions with a miiiisf®
of governmental control.
More than $1.5 million hast
contributed to the center
viduals, corporations and (a
dations.
re
rtiei
ien
iea
ssu
mr
inn
Beautiful Cedar Ridge
A Nice Place To Live
RENT BY THE MONTH
WE OFFER YOU
2 Bdrm Unfurnished, All Built-Ins including Dish
washer, Laundry Hook-Ups, $240.
Brand New Units Located on Pinfeather Rd. Just
North of Villa Maria. Convenient to TAMU &
the Bryan Golf Course, as well as the B-CS
Business & Industrial area.
BRY-CAL
A PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT CO.
846-3733 24 Hours
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION
AUSTIN-PLEASANTON