Bring Showcase Businesses to the Welcome District

   I've argued, you know, that land around airports traditionally is underutilized, going for industrial parks and such, instead of being used to greet tourists, to throw a welcome party, and to showcase your state. Too much noise from the airplanes? With the potential of land near the airport, it seems we should simply overcome that by sound-proofing the buildings and going ahead to utilize the land for its highest value.

  I've argued that Utah yet has enough undeveloped property around its airport to be able to have such a welcome zone, such a showcase district.

  I've suggested some tourist-worthy businesses be included in the district. There might not be room for many, but save some space for some. One argument for doing so, is that large corporations -- often flying their people between different offices and flying in clients and visitors -- might appreciate being located right near the airport. That would especially be true if the whole district was attractive, entertaining and could serve as a hosting site, a welcoming place for their visitors, offering entertainment ranging from (clean) comedians and singers to American Indian and (modestly clothed) Polynesian dancers.

   Having such a site available could be a selling point should we want to attract large corporations -- and of course we want to. So, why not do this? No other city I know of does this, so we would have a selling point no other city could offer. 

   And, we could also invite those businesses to be part of the tourism. If we had a Boeing, for example, some tourists would easily be enticed to visit it. 

   I would also seek out smaller, novelty businesses, businesses with tourist appeal. Perhaps Amano, an international-award-winning chocolate maker in Orem could be persuaded to open a spot in the airport zone, displaying their chocolates and telling their story and the story of chocolate, and showing how chocolate is made.

   If you have something worthy, you should market it. Businesses are often worthy of tourism, and placing your showcase businesses in a tourism zone would be a win-win, benefiting them as well as this city and state.