Visitors Mean Business to Local and State Economies

Barbara Marrett from the Visitor’s Bureau shares this note about tourism…

Washington State Legislature is poised to support permanent funding for tourism promotion

Here are a few facts about San Juan County and Washington State that not everyone knows:

• Tourism is the fourth largest industry in San Juan County and Washington State
• Washington in the only state in the U.S. that does not have a robust tourism promotion program
• We’ve been losing our share of the tourism pie – to other states – since our legislature closed the state tourism office in 2011

We are poised to fire up this economic engine again. This week representatives from the San Juan County Council and the *San Juan County Visitors Bureau will be joining tourism industry representatives from all over the state in Olympia. Our goal?  Ask our congresspersons to support bills that would allow our alluring state to tell its story once again, by creating a program to raise $7.5 million in promotional funding.

When visitors are drawn to Washington they discover the Islands as well. The former state tourism office was a powerful partner to the San Juan County Visitors Bureau, sending us media leads, maintaining a film and photo library for us, archives and much more. Their support has been greatly missed.

In 2013 (the latest year with economic data available), visitors infused 171 million dollars into the San Juan County economy. Locally, visitor spending increased in 2014 based on a 16.6% jump in county lodging tax. Although county figures are positive, thanks in a large part to the Visitors Bureau promotional efforts and a strong economy, statewide tourism spending slowed in 2013 and is expected to have slowed in 2014, as well.

There is light at the end of the tunnel for the state, however. The *Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) is making a final push toward re-establishing a robust statewide tourism marketing program. This time it will be different, the state will not be able to sweep funds and the new industry-supported, private, non-profit funding mechanism will be unlike any other in the nation. All funding will be generated by the visitor industry itself (not just the lodging industry) through assessments and voluntary contributions.

Look around. What would the Islands be without performing arts centers, museums, farmers markets and gorgeous galleries? Imagine our parks lined with houses instead of open for all to enjoy.  Many of the places islanders have come to cherish are present, in part, due to their appeal to visitors and are also strongly supported by visitor dollars – money infused into the economy with little acknowledgement. It makes great businesses sense to support the WTA in promoting this amazing state we call home.

*The San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau is the county’s, behind the scenes, official destination marketing organization representing over 350 island businesses. Mostly funded by lodging tax paid by the visitor, it also receives business membership dues. The bureau’s job is to entice visitors through advertising campaigns, maintaining a robust website and social media programs, actively soliciting travel stories and media coverage.  www.visitsanjuans.com/events/history.

** WTA is a 501(c)6 organization established by industry stake holders with the sole mission of sustaining Washington State destination tourism marketing. To find out more about how assessment will be structured and managed:  www.watourismalliance.com.

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