Where's the Great River Road?

Abstract

Dating back to 1938, the concept of a transcontinental Great River Parkway along the Mississippi River was
developed by 10 river states in the early days of automobile-based tourism in the USA. Based on state and industry issued
tourism economic data, this paper argues that tourism is unable to revitalize such a major waterway. The Great River
Road appears overstretched and underdeveloped. Actually, tourism never was an important part of the economy mix
along the Mississippi River as it is a major waterway primarily offering a working landscape. This is exclusive of such
consumptive use of the landscape tourism favours. Despite its significant cultural asset, the Mississippi Great River Road
has suffered from the lack of adequate funding. The gradual shift of the travel industry from a road-based transportation
system related to fixed natural and cultural assets to an air-based transportation system associated with a capital intensive
urban amusement and entertainment industry helps explain the relative decline in small river cities visitations, and the
concentration of the travel industry in a handful of disconnected river cities.