Tourism industry officials are not going to come out and say it directly - part of their job is to project an optimistic outlook.

But there's no question that many of them are worried about the impact high gas prices will have on business this summer. And given the more than $80 million that the tourism industry pumps into the Cayuga County economy annually, that concern should be shared by government leaders, as well. A healthy tourism season is vital for the local fiscal picture.

There's no question that gas prices above $4 per gallon are forcing plenty of people to cut back on travel, and when they do travel, they're looking to keep closer tabs on how much they're spending. To mitigate the damage that can cause to the local tourism industry, it's going to take a concerted effort on a number of levels.

That effort, of course, must start with the industry itself. Area attractions, dining establishments and hotels have generally done solid work promoting each other, but this year they'll need to employ better coordination than ever. We encourage businesses to seek out opportunities for partnering, perhaps teaming up for more discounted packages.

It would also be to everyone's advantage to see if a few gas station operators might be interested in working on some deals.

The state last week announced a promotion with a number of hotels throughout New York that will be offering a free third night's stay. Those kinds of programs should be explored on the local level, as well.

Local government must also look to help out, and that starts with Cayuga County. The county is actually getting extra revenue as a result of the higher gas prices since the Legislature repealed a previous gas tax cap. It makes financial sense for legislators to direct some of those extra funds at marketing efforts.