KDRV Staff
 
April 30, 2009
 
ASHLAND, Ore. --- There is discussion over whether health officials should advise people to stop traveling due to the swine flu, and if that happens, Southern Oregon tourism could suffer.
 
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival brings thousand of people to the Rogue Valley every year.
 
"Between 85 and 90 percent of our audiences travels an average of 300 miles to come here, so if they decide not to be part of a crowd in Ashland, then our attendance would obviously drop precipitously, and it would have a huge impact not only on our organization, but on the town and the region," says Executive Director of OSF Paul Nicholson.
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not asked people to stay away from crowds at this point.