Salem was founded by local fishermen in 1626 and is famous for its witch hunts and persecutions. The most famous of these was the 1692 witch trial that saw over 200 people imprisoned, with 21 innocent men and women executed and several others dying during the tragedy. Salem is now a popular tourist destination during the Halloween season.
"We can't go out to shop or go to the doctor. There are too many people on the streets, leaving the house is a battle and returning home is a nightmare," a Salem resident told the Boston newspaper.
In the third week of October alone, the small city of 43,350 people welcomed about 101,000 tourists per day. This has helped the service and tourism industries in Salem grow rapidly. However, most of the businesses here feel exhausted because they have to operate continuously without any time to rest.
Salem City Overcrowded
Kieran O'Neill, 55, of Salem, co-owner and operator of Olde Main Street Pub, agrees that the increased tourist numbers have many positives. In particular, small businesses have the opportunity to regain revenue and make more profits, making up for lost time during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"From a business perspective, this is a huge growth opportunity. However, we need to adjust our resources accordingly so that we don't get overwhelmed," said Kieran O'Neill.
“As a business owner, I’m excited. As tourism grows, locals can get frustrated with the influx of tourists,” Crowley, founder of Witch City Walking Tours, said, grateful for the opportunity to expand his company to 24 employees. The company offers walking tours, which Crowley developed himself in 2014.
Business in Salem is booming thanks to the influx of tourists.
Kate Fox, 52, executive director of Destination Salem, the city's office of tourism and culture, pointed out that the influx of tourists has benefited some businesses, like restaurants and service shops, but other businesses are still struggling.
“I get feedback from businesses every year that they are struggling because locals can’t get in to use their services. I heard of a beautician losing clients because they couldn’t see her in October,” Fox said. “There was a jewelry store downtown and his clients didn’t come in to shop in October.”
Businesses that rely heavily on tourism are starting to struggle. Kieran O'Neill laments the constant staff shortage. Fox and her company have been running campaigns to encourage suburbanites to shop in the city. Destination Salem will guide the less touristy times. But this October, almost every day in Salem is a festival.
Bad traffic
In October, the influx of tourists meant Salem ran out of parking. Mayor Kimberley Driscoll said in a statement sent out over the weekend that people planning to visit Salem that day should park on the MBTA Newburyport/Rockport line and travel to Salem by train, as all parking lots and garages were full.
Matthew Phillion, a 20-year Salem resident, said tourists often ignore messages like that. He said the city has been issuing advisories like this for years, but people ignore them.
Salem is crowded since October, the city recommends not driving.
Crowley said her company sent similar messages via text and email to everyone who signed up for the tour. They recommended arriving three hours before the tour started and taking public transportation or parking at shuttle stops instead of driving into town, but not everyone listened.
"Salem is a small town. We have a freeway system, but it's very far away. People in Halem can't go shopping or go out in an emergency. Every road, every sidewalk is blocked," O'Neill said.
Local people's problems
The influx of tourists has left locals stranded in their homes, with many complaining that they can’t get downtown during the month of October. Alexis Lambert, a longtime Salem resident, said he can’t walk his dog and tries not to leave his house on weekends, especially when driving.
Overcrowding of tourists makes it difficult for Salem residents to work.
"Salem is not Disney World. It's a small town with a long history and can't afford to have so many tourists," said Kyle Dolan, who has lived in Salem since childhood. Tourists see Salem as a full-blown theme park. However, unlike Disney World, the city still has many locals who live and work there.
The "Witch City" began to transform into a tourist city in the 1970s and 1980s. The city's creepy history is related to famous witch hunts. This turned Salem into one of the world's largest Halloween venues.
