Fall and Winter Tourism in Springfield (Ozark, Branson: rent, home, tornadoes)

[hmartono]

I've just started a new job as a courier for airlines to deliver late luggages to passengers. The company has asked me if i'm interested in managing the Springfield branch of operations and i accepted the offer.

But thinking a bit more and talking to a few people, i realized Springfield is dependent on tourism and the fall and winter seasons might see the number of tourists decline sharply. As my income is dependent on the number of deliveries made, i've come to realize that moving to Springfield might not be a good idea.

So what i want to know, am i right to assume about the tourists number declining during fall and winter seasons? Or will the number of tourists stay the same year round? And the tourists that i refer will be those that are flying in from the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport.

I'm about 60% made up my mind to move, as I could really use the fresh start from Tulsa, Oklahoma. So any info is greatly appreciated.

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by hmartono

I've just started a new job as a courier for airlines to deliver late luggages to passengers. The company has asked me if i'm interested in managing the Springfield branch of operations and i accepted the offer.

But thinking a bit more and talking to a few people, i realized Springfield is dependent on tourism and the fall and winter seasons might see the number of tourists decline sharply. As my income is dependent on the number of deliveries made, i've come to realize that moving to Springfield might not be a good idea.

So what i want to know, am i right to assume about the tourists number declining during fall and winter seasons? Or will the number of tourists stay the same year round? And the tourists that i refer will be those that are flying in from the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport.

I'm about 60% made up my mind to move, as I could really use the fresh start from Tulsa, Oklahoma. So any info is greatly appreciated.

Springfield really is not dependent upon a huge tourism market, I don't think other than people visiting Branson. Since Branson opened it's own airport, the demand for air transportation through Springfield has lessened somewhat, although, I don't think it has made a huge impact.

If we are talking Branson here, then the tourism traffic does not fall off until after Xmas. February - April it is non-existent.

Springfield is the third largest city in Missouri. I would expect that business travel far exceeds tourism as a source of airline traffic. There are some major corporations that are home based in Springfield (Bass Pro, Prime Trucking, not to mention this is the national headquarters for the Assemblies of God Church). Except for the odd, insane ice storm that usually happens in January and/or February, I would say that the number of flights is fairly consistent.

The cost of living is so low here that if you are making more than...say....$50,000 you can live well (depending on your lifestyle, of course).

We do have those pesky spring tornadoes, but living in Tulsa, you are probably well acquainted with the sound of the emergency shelter siren!

20yrsinBranson

[Curmudgeon]

Fall is a gorgeous time in the Ozarks perhaps the best season of all, and draws people to the area to enjoy the relatively mild temperatures and colors. Winter may be slim-pickings as the weather can turn nasty with snow, ice storms, etc. and decidedly cold temperatures at times.

The airports should be able to give you history/forecasts of travel volume.

[dusky_beauty]

Most Springfield travel seems to be business related, you should be fine!

[firebll31]

Another aspect of the tourism travel is the people wanting to LEAVE Missouri during the winter for warmer climates. With Dallas being a major hub for flights to the Yucatan Peninsula and the Caribbean, I would think the Springfield airport would see a lot of that kind of traffic in Jan-March.
I know when the wind cuts through me in February, and I look up at a plane heading south, I sigh and think "they are probably headed for Cancun"!

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by firebll31

Another aspect of the tourism travel is the people wanting to LEAVE Missouri during the winter for warmer climates. With Dallas being a major hub for flights to the Yucatan Peninsula and the Caribbean, I would think the Springfield airport would see a lot of that kind of traffic in Jan-March.
I know when the wind cuts through me in February, and I look up at a plane heading south, I sigh and think "they are probably headed for Cancun"!

Many people also go West or North for skiing and snowboarding. Winter in the lower Midwest and upland South is always bad because temperatures are marginial, no winter greenery (few pine trees in most areas), and very little in the way of consistent snowpack and snowfall (way too brown for me).

[mrschilicook]

I think you would enjoy the area and the Springfield Airport seems
to be about as busy as the Tulsa airport (Tulsa is a favorite to use if your going west due to Southwest).

Tourism traffic does slow down into the area during the winter. Branson continues to draw visitors via the Springfield airport. The Branson airport
is heavily working to draw those same visitors into their airport, but for
some flights/areas, Springfield is still easier.

However, if you look at some of the airlines, the flights into/out of warmer climates increase. For example. One airlines only flies once per week to Las Vegas in the summer. During the winter, that increases to four flights a week. They have also added several flights to AZ, So. Cal., etc.

Generally speaking, I think one type of travel offsets another between tourist seasons. Like others have said...lots of people travel out of the area in the months that tourism slows down here.

[pams73]

And if you're a single person, you can live pretty well here for a lot less than $50K (I almost choked when I saw that number above). I make less than that, and I have no problems.

And I don't think most of our flights are tourism-based....we get a lot of business flights, and those don't really dwindle in the fall/winter.

[hmartono]

Thank you all for the info! I've decided to take the job and i'm moving next monday!

Going to try and rent a room near the airport for a couple of months, then i'll want to get my own place after i'm all comfortable and somewhat familiar with Springfield.

This should be fun! Thanks again to all who posted on this thread!

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by hmartono

Thank you all for the info! I've decided to take the job and i'm moving next monday!

Going to try and rent a room near the airport for a couple of months, then i'll want to get my own place after i'm all comfortable and somewhat familiar with Springfield.

This should be fun! Thanks again to all who posted on this thread!

Best of luck. Most of all, enjoy!