By Staff Writer | Sedona.biz

(Sedona, Arizona) - For most Sedona residents, the response to that question is a resounding: "We don't want to grow!"

But growth is happening.  Just look around at the luxury hotels, art galleries, and spa resorts, and the answer seems simple: tourism.

More than four million tourists visit Sedona each year.  Although a Brins Fire or an over flowing Oak Creek can put a temporary damper on travel here, overall visitor growth remains healthy. 

To keep the pace strong, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce recently announced a partnership with the Scottsdale Chamber to cross promote day trips to tourists to each city.  But how many jeep companies can Sedona have?  How many hotels and restaurants?  And should Sedona be so reliant on tourism?  Recently, the City of Sedona discussed different ways to diversify the town's economic base (more on that later).

What about the growth prospects for businesses that serve the Verde Valley's residents?  By some estimates the population in the Verde Valley will more than double by 2050.  For Sedona, however, city estimates are that its population will top out at 17,000 by 2020 based on the land available for home construction from less than 10,000 right now.  While 2020 may seem far away it's less than 15 years.

This population growth will come from retiring baby boomers (55% of the country's 76 million baby boomers, those born between 1946-64, say they will move when they retire), Phoenix residents looking for vacation homes (since 1995, the Greater Phoenix area has grown 39% or by 1 million people) and people seeking a moderate climate and relaxed lifestyle; so Sedona residents will have ample opportunity to provide goods and services to an increasing population. 

But the Verde Valley's resources are limited and much of it is located in national forest land that can't be developed.  Already there is fighting between Prescott and the Verde Valley over water rights to the Verde River.  Prescott recently announced its intention to build a 30-mile water pipeline from the Big Chino sub-basin.

There is one virtually untapped source for growth, however, that is both environmentally friendly and has almost unlimited potential:  the internet.  Did you know that the Sedona Chamber of Commerce websites receive more than 750,000 visitors a year?  How about the travel site Sedona.net?  According to its media kit, Sedona.net along with its sister sites receive over 4.5 million visitors annually!  With those type of statistics, there is a huge opportunity to deliver a vast array of internet services to these millions of "eyeballs."

Recently, the City of Sedona discussed making Sedona a "wireless" town.  The City sees the internet as a "green" way to diversify and grow Sedona's economic base.

So, if you currently live in Sedona, or plan to move here, and you want to get involved in a business that will grow, it should be in tourism, town services, or the internet.

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