Time for regional tourism collaboration

I know that many of our readers are against any kind of regional effort. We have argued now for months about the RDA (Regional Development Authority) and the RTA (Regional Transportation Authority) and whether NIRPC (Planning Commission) and the RBA (Bus Authority) and NICD (basically the South Shore) are working efficiently and in our best interests.

Now comes a proposal, floated last year by some Porter County tourism board members, that the boards of Lake and LaPorte and Porter counties meet to look at combining forces into one powerhouse tourism board for the region. There is no doubt that the staff of Porter County's board would fight this effort. And of course the current county council in Porter County is aligned against any regional effort, even if it saved money, they've even ordered the tourism board to give tourism dollars to some county facilities to help balance their tight budget.

So, I'll ask what the Times asks: should we look at possible collaboration, or throw this the way of all regional efforts and walk away?