Salem, volunteers worked together during shutdown

The 16-day partial federal government shutdown couldn’t have come at a worse time for Salem, which in October typically sees a quarter of its annual visitors, who generate millions of dollars for the local economy.

When the shutdown began on Oct. 1, the Salem Visitor Center, which is run by the National Park Service, was locked, leaving the city scrambling to meet the needs of visitors. The downtown center not only helps visitors explore Salem, but also serves as an information hub for other destinations in Essex County, said Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll.

Acting quickly, the city worked with Destination Salem, a partnership funded by the city and local businesses, and set up a temporary information booth to help visitors navigate the city. The booth welcomed 13,000 visitors during the shutdown, Driscoll said.

Among the casualties of the government shutdown in Salem were public restrooms. To remedy the problem, the city provided port-a-potties near the closed National Park Service restrooms.

In place of park rangers, who were not permitted to work during the shutdown, the city put out a call for volunteers. Driscoll said that more than 50 people signed up on the first day. After a quick orientation, volunteers were dispensed around the city in popular tourists spots.

“The people of Salem come together when there’s a crisis,” Driscoll said.

Despite the closure of National Park sites, Driscoll said most of the city’s popular attractions were still open. The city used websites and social media to get the word out that the city was ready for visitors during the shutdown.

Driscoll said it was too early to know how much of an effect the shutdown ultimately had on tourism this year, but the large number of visitors they saw at the temporary information booth was an encouraging sign.