Tourist towns balance fear, survival in make-or-break summer

Published June 3, 2020 2:57 pm

CANNON BEACH, Ore. (AP) — As the coronavirus raced across America, the quaint seaside town of Cannon Beach shooed away the tourists it depends on.

The tiny vacation destination known for its iconic coastal rock formation made the “unprecedented" decision in March to try to keep the pandemic at bay.

Now, with summer looming and coronavirus restrictions lifting, the choices facing Cannon Beach are emblematic of those confronting thousands of other small, tourist-dependent towns nationwide.

They're struggling to balance their residents’ fears of contagion with economic survival. It’s a make-or-break summer in these vacation spots — and the future is still terrifyingly unclear.

Article Topic Follows: Oregon-Northwest

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The Associated Press

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