Climate Change And Its Impact On Ski Industry Tourism Essay Essays

Climate Change And Its Impact On Ski Industry Tourism Essay Essays Climate Change And Its Impact On Ski Industry Tourism Essay Essay Climate Change And Its Impact On Ski Industry Tourism Essay Essay This essay negotiations about the presence of clime alteration and its impact on ski industry which is dependent activity on conditions conditions. Global heating has been considered as a mega hazard and it has a inclination to be lasting and therefore it is highly complicated to mensurate its results. As Nicholls ( 2006 ) mentioned, clime alteration is today strongly accepted by many universe s scientists and authoritiess as an issue of enormous dismay for the people worldwide. This essay considers different theoretical accounts of possible impacts of planetary warming on different parts of the universe. Steyger and Mayers ( 2008 ) said that since the 1990s the likely dependance of snow touristry to climate alteration has received greater watchfulness in the media. Increasing figure of writers focus on this affair every bit good as on the adaptation schemes of ski resorts. This paper demonstrates that planetary heating is a job which forced bulk of ski resorts all over the universe to react to endure alterations in order to last. Essay negotiations about options that are available to ski resorts and brings on the treatment of their use and their effectivity. Ski resorts all over the universe are likely to see a loss of snow consistence and that is why supervising of ski parts has to be more witting when it comes to future of snow conditions in their geographics country. Global heating s impact on ski industry Models of projected results of planetary heating Climate every bit good as the natural environment associated with conditions alteration can probably to impact alfresco leisure and touristry. Businesss linked to skiing industry are mostly exposed to the projected impacts of planetary heating because skiing is an activity dependant on clime conditions. Bricknell and McManus ( 2006 ) considered that it is one of the first and the most visibly wedged industries by the hazard of planetary warming worldwide. Folland et Al ( 2001 ) as mentioned in Moen and Fredman ( 2007 ) stated that one-year snow cover degree in the Northern hemisphere has decreased by about 10 % since 1966 and besides that old decennary was wetter and warmer compared to the anterior 30-year period in whole Europe. Global heating has already affected and will most likely carry on with impacting physical and natural systems all over the universe. As Moen and Fredman ( 2007 ) refered to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC, 2001 ) , the expected effects of pl anetary warming include a proposed encouragement of globally averaged outside temperature by 1.4 to 5.8 A ; deg ; C between old ages 1990 and 2100 which would besides perchance take to sea flat rise of 0.88m globally. ZAMG ( 2007 ) as cited in Breiling s and Charamza ( 1999 ) found out that because of planetary warming the line of usual snowfall steadiness will raise by about 150 m of height per 1 A ; deg ; C of warming. For better image, low attitude ski resorts are those below 1800-2000 m and therefore, the bulk of ski resorts in the universe. Not to advert Breiling s and Charamza s ( 1999 ) appraisal that a 1 A ; deg ; C rise in mean temperatures with winter drouth may cut down the continuance of snow screen by 50 % at heights in scope of 1400 1600 m. For illustration, Moen and Fredman ( 2007 ) estimated that no more than 63 % of the full Swiss ski parts will be snow consistent one time a temperature rise by 2 A ; deg ; C, non to advert the impact in the worst instance and t herefore, in addition of temperature by 5.8 A ; deg ; C, taking to account IPCC s theoretical account. If we link these few findings together, we may reason that in the worst fortunes, the natural snow dependableness will lift by 870m of height by twelvemonth 2100 which would intend that ski resorts of height about 2000m may stop up with every bit much snow as heights in parts about 1000m today. Larsson ( 2003 ) concentrated his research on clime alteration adaptation in Canada and the findings are really similar to of those in Europe. He used theoretical account of McCarthy s ( 2001 ) research which estimated that planetary heating in Arctic land countries may go theatrical by twelvemonth 2080. Summer temperatures would increase by 4.0-7.5 A ; deg ; C, winter temperatures by 2.5-14.0 A ; deg ; C. These Numberss are even more. If these anticipations are about to be fulfilled, it would take to runing of permafrost, taking to dirty with condensed bearing capacity in ice rich countries and active parts of irregular permafrost. Additionally as he found out, the planetary heating effects may diminish periods of utmost cold and on other manus addition frequence of utmost heat in North America. Turning sea degrees and danger of rainstorm class, and therefore danger of coastal implosion therapy, fluctuations in timing, regularity and badness of deluging linked to rainstorms are li kely to go a world. Moen and Fredman ( 2007 ) mentioned that harmonizing to Mendelsohn and Markowski ( 1999 ) , planetary heating would most probably have an consequence on out-of-door leisure in three ways in the hereafter. These include handiness of leisure possibilities throughout longer summer seasons and shorter winter seasons. The comfort in general, satisfaction of leisure activities and the quality of the leisure experience. These sort of alterations will bring forth victors every bit good as also-rans as diverse kinds of outside diversion activities involve dissimilar climatic conditions. These results are though generalizations that may be applicable at corporate degree, whilst it would anticipate big territory and neighboring fluctuations between different touristry activities. All of the above findings are dismaying for winter touristry finishs and therefore directions of ski countries have to be really cognizant of possible impact of clime alteration on their ski musca volitanss as the snow is cardinal facet of ski touristry. Snow conditions as a cardinal factor Winter touristry is in many ways reliant on natural characteristics such as terrain, lift or perpendicular autumn. On other manus, even more important characteristics are upwind conditions, and therefore temperatures, airstream and snowfall. With lessening in snow screen, whatever the terrain or perpendicular autumn may be, it is about impossible to develop any ski chances. More writers agreed that snow screen is a cardinal variable for consumers to make up ones mind where to ski. Suggestions that impacts on planetary heating on winter touristry can be important are evident from research from different parts of the universe. For illustration, Fukushima et Al ( 2002 ) as expressed in Moen and Fredman ( 2007 ) formed the interactions linking air heat, rainfall, snow strength and the sum of skiers at seven different ski resorts in Japan. They found out that the figure of skiers decreased by 30 % when temperature increased by 3-C. Godfrey ( 1999 ) found out that one of the most of import facets act uponing finish picks of English skiers traveling to Canada is snow conditions. These findings strengthen an statement that snow conditions and snow screen may be regarded as the most of import factor for any ski resort. As discussed and illustrated before, the phenomenon of planetary heating may, and most probably will hold a immense impact on snow conditions in mountains and ski countries and therefore it will besides hold important influence on concerns of new every bit good as matured ski finishs. Majority of them started to experience impacts of planetary heating and they are seeking to happen solutions in order to react to endure alterations so they have better opportunity to last and maintain their concerns alive. The inquiry is, is all it possible even without non adequate natural snowfall? Adaptation by ski industry Artificial snow-making Steiger and Mayer ( 2008 ) concentrated their research on Austria s and Swiss s ski industry and stated that technically created snow is the most used change attack for remarkably hot winter seasons. Nicholls ( 2006 ) who researched clime alteration and its impact on out-of-door touristry in Europe said that cardinal technological change to snow absence is the execution of unreal snow-making installations. Moen and Fredman ( 2007 ) considered that the most general version to snow-deficient winters in Sweden is besides unreal snow-making. The pattern of snowmaking is progressively characteristic for the Australian ski industry excessively ( Bricknell and McManus, 2006 ) . Snowmaking may be used non merely to act upon ski season continuances but besides to cut down snow changeableness throughout the season. This is viewed as an insurance policy for get the better ofing the undependability of seasons and covering with the possible impacts of clime alteration. Snowmaking could be conside red short to medium-term version attack, non merely for low height ski finishs but every bit good as for financially strong year-around resorts at higher heights ( Nicholls, 2006 ) . For case, in Austria about 60 % of the ski countries are covered by unreal snow-making installations ( FSO, 2007 in Steyger and Mayer, 2008 ) . But the distribution of snow-making can non be related to planetary heating as tendencies in touristry, position, and competitory advantage are important characteristics. Steiger and Mayer ( 2008 ) said that ski resorts are forced to construct up snow-making capablenesss with cost for their fiscal strength as warm winters are going more common than in the yesteryear. However the possible aid of this machinery to the practicableness of winter touristry finishs have yet to be formed by research workers as the important outgos are linked with this step. For case, about 27 % of ski resorts in Switzerland have a decreased hard currency watercourse already and most do non look to be feasible without aid ( Seilbahnen Schweiz 2006 in Steiger and Mayer, 2008 ) . Elsasser and Burki ( 2002 ) and Scott et Al. ( 2003 ) as described in Nicholls ( 2006 ) , stated that snowmaking comfortss are dearly-won to assemble and preserve, and need important sums of H2O and power to work. For that ground, many of the little and in-between scope ski resorts would non hold adequate money for the execution of such engineering. Use of snow-making engineering In readying for the skiing season of 2006-2007 the Austria s Tyrolean ski industry invested EUR 55 million in snowmaking, with EUR 270 million in overall investings even though, the past winter seasons had brought sufficient snowfall yet at lower lifts ( Tiroler Tageszeitung 2006 as illustrated in Steyger and Mayers, 2008 ) . This points out that while the operators observe clime fortunes as on a regular basis excessively bleary and unsure, they are good cognizant of planetary heating and are seeking for version schemes. Besides, medium-term investing schemes are non tailored, as there is a batch of assurance in the betterment capacities of snowmaking machinery with a clear perceivable hole between conditions alteration and economic investing stages ( Mayer et al 2007 in Steiger and Mayer, 2008 ) . As they mentioned, while the hapless winter seasons at the terminal of the 1980s sparked unreal snowmaking in Tyrol, extra distribution was non related to endure capriciousness and planeta ry heating scenarios. On other manus, there is inclination to provide even of course snow consistent ski resorts in high height countries higher than 2000m or in even 2500m with snow-making comfortss. These lifts may be regarded as of course snow consistent even in pessimistic planetary heating scenarios. As they said, snow-making comfortss can be besides used as publicity instrument to be a magnet for tourers, to construct repute and to keep monetary values higher than it would by and large be. These resources could possibly be used in more sustainable manner than merely unneeded use of H2O wealth and other hurts of snow guns. Snow-making guns are non needfully used in order merely to do ski inclines useable for longer period of clip. Main enthusiasm for the alone diffusion of snowmakers are that snowmaking should procure tourer capacity ingestion, overseas telegram auto companies grosss, and images of resorts in which domestic every bit good as international ski competition go on . Furthermore, it ought to vouch wide environment for learning and exerting of winter athleticss. How is planetary warming related to diffusion of snow-making installations? Austria s instance is different as there are many high-level ski resorts but Bricknell and McManus ( 2006 ) interviewed CEOs of three different ski resorts in Australia on this issue. CEOs assured that snowmaking engineering may assist to contradict jutting clime alteration impacts. The Chief executive officer of one resort suggested that, under planetary heating, snowmaking conditions may be unaffected or even improved because drier colder darks are good for snow-making which would help the long term viability of the industry. The Chief executive officer of 2nd resort noted that snowmaking is a necessary investing regardless of the possible impacts of clime alteration due to current consumer demands on the industry. CEO of 3rd resort nevertheless, argued that planetary heating could hold important impact on unreal snow-making as this engineering still depends on clime conditions and therefore it still would non needfully get the better of the issue. Global heating and unreal snow-making Global heating may act upon snowmaking in few ways. Decrease in natural snowfall would necessitate more snowmaking ; addition in mean temperatures would diminish the length and sum of possibilities and hike the disbursals of doing snow ; and fluctuations in rainfall may straiten the H2O supply for snowmaking ( Scott et al. , 2006 in Moen and Fredman, 2007 ) . Analysiss in North America have exposed that unreal snowmaking can significantly decrease the pessimistic results of clime alteration but merely if the temperature stays adequately low ( Scott, 2006 ; Scott et al. , 2006 in Moen and Fredman, 2007 ) . Nicholls ( 2006 ) stated that unreal snow-making demands certain climatic milieus, as for illustration minimal temperatures to be met and therefore, this system may in several fortunes be prohibited beside the addition in warmth related to the planetary heating. The most of import thing about snow-making is that snow guns and their use are limited by conditions conditions ( Steiger and Mayer, 2008 ) . High-quality snow can be accomplished with snow creative activity get downing below -6 A ; deg ; C at mean humidness. On top of that, snowmaking conditions are prejudiced by heat and wetness ; if the air is wetter, lower temperatures are required. With recent snowmaking tools snow can be produced below -5 A ; deg ; C. Fliri s ( 1974 ) conditions tabular arraies as expressed in Steiger and Mayer ( 2008 ) show a strong connexion between -2 A ; deg ; C day-to-day mean temperature and -6 A ; deg ; C daily lowest temperature ( Nicholls, 2006 ) . Days making the threshold of -2 A ; deg ; C day-to-day mean temperature are defined as prospective snowmaking yearss with best snowmaking conditions. Additionally, snowmaking is merely considered realistic if it can poise out the loss during snowmelt. Therefore for bulk of low-level ski resorts this scheme does non piece up the issue of planetary heating for long term and they have to get down to look for other strategic options in order to get the better of the jobs of extremum season shortness and falling visitant Numberss as a consequence of clime alteration. Moen and Fredman ( 2007 ) adopted from Burki et Al ( 2003 ) some other adaptation schemes ski resorts may see. Apart from snow-making, resorts could concentrate on different activities in order to carry through consumer demands and to last on competitory concern market. Slope development and operational patterns At active ski countries, incline enlargement changes consist of: incline contouring, landscape gardening, and the defense mechanism of glaciers. Contouring or flatting ski inclines could be preparing inclines in the summer season to extinguish stones or bush flora, to cut down the snow astuteness needed to run and stand for a cost economy attack for snowmaking ( Scott and McBoyle, 2007 ) . Land contouring can besides be used to capture snowmelt and exceed up snowmaking armored combat vehicles during the winter. Strategic placing and planting of tree screen can capture traveling snow and to some extent somberness ski inclines, which would cut down snowmelt and snowmaking demands. Additionally to the accommodation of already runing skiable environment, the enlargement of new skiable terrain in climatically privileged sites is by and large cited as an change to climate alteration. The development of north confronting inclines, which retain snowpack thirster, is one scheme excessively. A s Scott and McBoyle ( 2007 ) realised, more writers agreed that enlargement of ski countries into higher lifts, with by and large more dependable snow screen, where a longer ski season is possible, seems to be one of the cardinal clime alteration version schemes considered by ski country operators in the European Alps. Thirty six ski countries in Austria were expecting mandate to develop their operations into higher lifts in 2002- 2003. Wolfsegger et Al. ( ) as illustrated in Scott and McBoyle ( 2007 ) said that spread outing to higher lifts was the 3rd most favorite planetary warming version pick by Austrian ski country directors, after snowmaking and sharing snowmaking costs with the adjustment industry. Nicholls ( 2006 ) besides agreed that scheme of development of higher height ski resorts is option that tends to be of favor for bing ski resorts. Large ski corporations over smaller, family-owned concerns tend to utilize this scheme. Although, such betterments would show a host of ecological and safety concerns which the industry would necessitate to cover with in order to continue the industry in a feasible attack. These comprise bigger force per unit area from new production every bit good as improved waste creative activity. Besides due to mountain terrain or tallness this scheme is in many instances impossible. Other option is to collaborate or spread out into countries with more dependable snow which may on other manus diversify income construction of resorts. Scott and McBoyle ( 2007 ) said that high lift mountain environments are peculiarly sensitive to disturbance and resistance from the populace and environmental groups may present a important restraint on this version sche me in some locations. Marketing inducements and new merchandise developments Bricknell and McManus ( 2006 ) suggested that many resorts use scheme of flexible ticket pricing policy and therefore cut downing ticket monetary values in order to pull more skiers. Scott and McBoyle ( 2007 ) mentioned that ski companies have already begun to experiment with inducements or warrants to get the better of skiers reluctance to book a ski vacation because of unsure snow conditions. In the winter of 1999-2000, for illustration, the American Skiing Company promised visitants to its six New England part ski resorts a 25 % decrease on their following holiday if the ski country failed to open 70 % of their ski tallies during the Christmas-New Year vacation period. Warm temperatures that season forced three of the six resorts to pay clients discounts ( Keates, 2000 in Scott and McBoyle, 2007 ) . Another scheme could be to develop non-snow related activities in winter or to go all season finish as more picks could pull more tourers and it could convey other benefits. All twelvemonth round touristry could be developed by supplying clime independent touristry such as conference or educational touristry. Nicholls ( 2006 ) mentioned that the edifice of conference comfortss combined with the part of a wide assortment of outside leisure activities during the seasons may supply resorts with a balanced, changeless beginning of gross that is less dependent on conditions conditions. On other manus, the enlargement of such replacements needs an primary ballad out of financess which may travel beyond the capablenesss of smaller ski concerns. Over the past three decennaries, many ski countries in North America have diversified their operations beyond traditional ski activities to include the proviso of skiing and snowboarding lessons, adjustment and retail gross revenues ( Scott and McBoyle, 2007 ) . The Economist ( 1998 ) referred to the change of major ski resorts in North America from ski countries to winter subject Parkss, as the Disneyfication of the winter athleticss industry ( Scott and McBoyle, 2007 ) . Non-skiers represent an of import market at ski resorts. Williams and Dossa ( 1990 ) estimated that 20-30 % of visitants to ski resorts in Canada did non ski during their visit ( Scott and McBoyle, 2007 ) . They besides pointed out that in season 1974-75, lift tickets stood for about 80 % of net incomes for the usual ski country in the US. Nowadays, lift tickets stand for non even than half the net incomes, as other activities have risen in significance. Therefore to diversify the market and besides to diminish th e force per unit area of demand on ski lifts, this scheme seems to be really supportive for bing ski resorts with capablenesss to make so. Many ski resorts have made significant investings to supply surrogate activities for non-skiing visitants. For illustration snowmobiling, skating, dog sled-rides, indoor pools, wellness and health watering place, fittingness Centres, squash and tennis, games suites, eating houses, retail shops and many others. Moen and Fredman ( 2007 ) agreed, developing options to skiing during winter is good recognized scheme to get the better of falling visitant Numberss into ski countries ; nevertheless he pointed out, that it is besides debatable as many of these options are reliant on snow conditions or ice-covered lakes and therefore dependant on clime conditions. All twelvemonth round touristry The most promising scheme in order to wholly get the better of the jobs of planetary heating may be to develop all-year unit of ammunition touristry. Furthermore, offset pessimistic fiscal effects as of planetary heating, such a scheme would every bit good hold optimistic public effects on conventional winter finishs as seasonal unsimilarity in employment chances are bridged over. A figure of ski resorts have farther diversified their concern operations to go four season resorts , offering non-winter activities such as golf, boating and white-water rafting, mountain biking, parasailing, horseback equitation and other concern lines. At many larger resorts, existent estate building and direction has besides become a really of import beginning of gross. On other manus, as Bricknell and McManus ( 2006 ) stated, the development of summer touristry needs long term readying in order for them to develop grasp in this market. The resorts will hold to postulate with each other and with summer finishs such as coastal locations, which would be in many instances really tough, particularly where coastal summer touristry takes topographic point. The enlargement of touristry into the summer season in sequence to back up or to trade snow touristry may besides direct to environmental struggles. Activities that resorts may desire to advance, such as motorcycle equitation and Equus caballus equitation, could accidentally leak out into parts of saving where they are out. These sorts of activities are besides known to decline environmental issues, such as eroding and the spread of alien species. If these signifiers of touristry addition in popularity, the transporting capacity for these mountain finishs must be re-evaluated to embrace their possible impacts. Role of public sector The public good feature of clime alteration creates complicated challenge for fiscal and political organisations. The deficiency of an unchanged conditions is non connected to turning monetary values and is non needfully measured to the top valued consumers. To keep well-organized policies, inputs from fiscal appraisals of planetary heating impacts are indispensable. Such financially feasible steps consist of direct economic impacts to the economic system every bit good as benefits to the subscribers. For case, Scott et Al. ( 2002 ) as described in Scott and McBoyle ( 2007 ) used disbursement records to present estimate of the possible economic impacts from g oobal heating on skiing in Canada, whilst Richardson and Loomis ( 2005 ) calculated the effects of clime on motive to pay to see Rocky Mountain National Park. Many writers put some attempts to put an economic value on planetary heating impacts to touristry and outside leisure. For illustration, as Scott and McBoyle ( 2007 ) said , Meier ( 1998 ) approximated the cost of planetary heating for the 4 season touristry in Switzerland at USD 1.1 1.4 billion by the twelvemonth 2050. Scott and McBoyle ( 2007 ) said that better conditions prediction would do available an enhanced foundation for hazard appraisals and tactical concern picks, every bit good as the timing of seasonal gaps or when to get down unreal snowmaking. Negotiations with ski operators in eastern North America propose that the industry does non soon use seasonal prognosiss in their operational decision-making and substantial sweetenings in calculating accurateness would be necessary before these merchandises would accomplish a degree of realistic value for the ski industry. Some ski operators yet think about five to seven yearss prognosiss as excessively untrusty for operational decision-making and applied prognosiss from different states or classified services alternatively of governmental prognosiss ( Scott and McBoyle, 2007 ) . Announcements to the community through the media could be a farther facet of prediction that could be improved in some countries. Ski operators on occasion have advers arial interaction with a figure of neighbouring media for the ground that of what they recognise as inaccurate exposure of conditions conditions and prognosiss that they disagree be them concern ( King, 2005 in Scott and McBoyle, 2007 ) . Government support to the ski industry has taken topographic point in the assortment of discounted energy costs, long-standing rentals of communal lands and substructure supports, but the industry has non gained from the sorts of endorsing plans offered to other climate-sensitive trade sectors such as for illustration, patron crop insurance for the agribusiness sector. In the hereafter, skiing based touristry economic losingss consequential from unpleasant clime fortunes may be equal for authorities concern and support in some instances. Government engagement in the ski industry s chance could possibly take a figure of signifiers. Direct engagement could come throughout fiscal aid, cover support or selling proposals. Ultimately, authorities policie s linked to set down and H2O usage, and energy and gross disbursement could impact skiing operations positively. Government fiscal aid for snowmaking was greatly supported by Austrian ski country directors, whilst authorities aid for fiscal losingss because of hapless winters was merely to some extent supported ( Wolfsegger et al, 2005 as demonstrated in Scott and McBoyle, 2007 ) . Decision This essay discussed the job of planetary heating and its projected impacts on ski industry all over the universe. It demonstrated that clime alteration is loosely accepted as a mega hazard, peculiarly for concerns dependant on conditions conditions. Numerous ski resorts, particularly those that are established at lower lifts could confront serious jobs if climate alteration prognosiss are about to be accurate in the hereafter. Among limited supply of downhill ski resorts, coupled with an bing high demand for the activity, it would perchance take to yet other singular addition in monetary values and environmental force per unit areas. Ski resorts have several scheme options to see when it comes to job of non sufficient snow cover in their geographics country. Some tend to utilize unreal snow-making installations, some purpose to diversify their concern portfolio by offering a new merchandises and developments of new touristry attractive forces. The most promising scheme to get the better of planetary heating job, as regarded by few writers, was to go an all-year unit of ammunition touristry finish. However, all of these adaptation schemes tend to travel manus in manus with the issue of sustainability which should be taken more earnestly as all developments take topographic point in highly sensitive environments. The essay demonstrated that adaptation schemes are progressively used already by ski resorts in many parts of the universe and that sometimes these are non even related to planetary heating. The most normally used adaptation schemes are non without ecological and fiscal costs. Water use from natural H2O organic structures can lesser H2O strengths and influence fishing detrimentally. Power demands are high as good and reciprocally linked to warmth, and will therefore prolong higher outgo the warmer the temperatures get. By agencies of this type of upset of demand to ski parts with higher height, ecological tonss upon the nearby environments would be enlarged. This paper merely reasonably points out issues that come along with new developments and enlargements of ski parts and these should be further discussed and analysed.

Celebrating Columbus Day

Celebrating Columbus Day The second Monday in October is designated in the United States as Columbus Day. This day commemorates Christopher Columbus first sighting of the Americas on October 12, 1492. Columbus Day as a federal holiday, though, was not officially recognized until 1937. Early Commemorations of Columbus The first recorded ceremony commemorating the Italian  explorer, navigator, and colonizer  in America was in 1792. It was  300 years after his famous first voyage in 1492, the first of four voyages he made across the Atlantic with the backing of Spains Catholic monarchs. To honor Columbus, a ceremony was held in New York  City and a monument was dedicated to him in Baltimore. In 1892, a statue of Columbus was raised on New York Citys Columbus Avenue. The same year, replicas of Columbus three ships were displayed at the  Columbian Exposition  held in Chicago. Creating Columbus Day Italian-Americans were key in the creation of Columbus Day. Beginning on October 12, 1866, New York Citys Italian population organized a celebration of the Italian explorers  discovery of America. This annual celebration spread to other cities, and by 1869 there was also  a Columbus Day in San Francisco. In 1905, Colorado became the first state to observe an official Columbus Day. Over time other states followed, until 1937 when President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed every October 12 as Columbus Day. In 1971, the US Congress officially designated the date of the annual federal holiday as the second Monday in October. Current Celebrations Since Columbus Day is a designated federal holiday, the post office, government offices, and many banks are closed. Many cities across America stage parades that day. For example, Baltimore claims to have the Oldest Continuous Marching Parade in America celebrating Columbus Day. Denver held its 101st Columbus Day parade in 2008. New York holds a Columbus Celebration that includes a parade down Fifth Avenue and a mass at St. Patricks Cathedral. In addition, Columbus Day is also celebrated in other parts of the world including some cities in Italy and Spain, along with parts of Canada and Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has its own public holiday on November 19 celebrating Columbus discovery of the island.   Critics of Columbus Day In 1992, leading up to the 500th anniversary of Columbus sighting of the Americas, many groups voiced their opposition to celebrations honoring Columbus, who  completed four voyages with Spanish crews on Spanish ships across the Atlantic Ocean. On his first voyage to the New World, Columbus arrived in the Caribbean islands. But he mistakenly believed that he had reached East India and that the Taino, the indigenous people he found there, were East Indians. In a later voyage, Columbus captured more than 1,200 Taino and sent them to Europe as slaves. The Taino also suffered at the hands of the Spanish, former crew members on his ships who remained on the islands and used the Taino people as forced laborers, punishing them with torture and death if they resisted. The Europeans also unwittingly passed on their diseases to the Taino, who had no resistance to them. The terrible combination of forced labor and devastating new diseases would wipe out the entire population of Hispaniola in 43 years. Many people cite this tragedy as the reason why Americans should not be celebrating Columbus accomplishments. Individuals and groups continue to speak out against and protest Columbus Day celebrations.