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CNN Live Saturday

Company Sells Tours to Ground Zero

Aired March 02, 2002 - 17:24   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: It's both sacred ground and a tourist attraction. Since September 11, people have made their way to downtown New York to see the devastation firsthand. But now, the visits have moved to a new level. A packaged tour company has begun offering walking tours of ground zero as part of its New York City vacation packages. CNN's Hillary Lane went along on one of the group's sure to be controversial visits.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When we're right in the immediate area of ground zero, I will not be speaking out of respect for what happened there, and so that you can pay your respects, your prayers, your tears. You can take a few minutes to look.

HILLARY LANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With this promise and a couple of pointers about riding the New York subway, a small group of visitors heads to what is fast becoming the most controversial tourist site in the country. While the tour nods at other downtown landmarks, the Woolworth building, the Stock Exchange, city hall, ground zero was the draw.

SHAILA GREEN, TOUR PARTICIPANT: It was part of the vacation package. So when we found out that this was part of it, we jumped on it. I mean, I don't think that we would have had the time to really do it on our own, to figure it out, how to get down here, get the right passes, all of that that we need to, so we seized the opportunity.

LANE: Opportunity the tour operators saw, too.

BARRY TENENBAUM, PRESIDENT, NYC VACATION PACKAGES: Our clients by e-mail and phone are telling us they want to come down here. They want to do this. So we feel as though we're fulfilling a need not only for our clients, but also for the city of New York.

LANE: True, the city has been encouraging tourism, trying to boost the economy downtown. But some worry about profiteering. Such as Sally Regenhard, who lost her son Christian in the building's collapse. He was a firefighter. She now heads a group promoting skyscraper safety.

SALLY REGENHARD, VICTIM'S MOTHER: I think it leads -- it's just part of the concern about the commercialization of this tragedy. Whether it's selling trinkets, hats, pictures or whatever, and now having these guided tours.

LANE: The tour operator says he just covers his costs and does not actually make money on the tours. But business has been down, and this might help.

TANENBAUM: We investigated the perimeter, and we've looked for the best views.

LANE: And if it's not a concern yet, it soon may be that visitors get correct information about the devastation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many total buildings went down? Seven. All seven of the World Trade Center buildings.

LANE: Not exactly. Five buildings collapsed. The other two were damaged, but are still standing.

(on camera): Just a few blocks away is a public viewing platform set up and operated by New York City. It is usually crowded, and its existence has been highly controversial since it was set up late last year. Tickets here are required, but they're free.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're going to have to ask you to move along. We have other groups coming.

LANE (voice-over): The view here is different, many might say better, but groups are not allowed. Tour participants can pick up tickets and return later in the day. Most do, because this is why they came.

Hillary Lane, for CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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