|
Tourism in Numbers!
Visitor spending
$15.2 Billion
Tourism related jobs
143,800
Visitor tax revenues
$992 Million
Source | Dean RunyanTravel Impact Study 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earlier this month the Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) held its 2nd Annual Tourism Summit in SeaTac. Over 400 people from across the state took part in the day-long event. In this edition of Tourism Today, WSDMO members share their feedback from this valuable conference. For more information on WTA visit watourismalliance.org |
The important message that came from the event was the need for us to find a viable long term funding option to sustain the tourism industry.
With neighboring states and provinces spending anywhere from $10 million to $50 million each year to attract visitors we will lose market share.
That means people will lose jobs, community economies could suffer and the State will lose important general fund tax revenues. As the fourth largest retail industry tourism matters to Washington! |
Visit Spokane was humbled and honored to win Volunteer Organization of the Year at the Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) Summit. The Visit Spokane team believes our state-wide tourism partners MUST work together to make sure visitors know "Washington is open for business." With tens of millions of marketing dollars being spent by our neighboring destinations in Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia, Washington can't afford to sit idle. As an industry, continued support of WTA is critical as tourism leaders develop a long-term, sustainable funding model for tourism promotion in Washington. We heard the message clearly at the WTA Summit, Washington can't match the promotion dollars being spent by other states, but some dollars are better than no dollars! |
Visit Bellevue Washington 
It is important for all of Washington to speak with one voice to the rest of the country and the world to attract visitors to our amazing state. Once Washington has their attention then it is up to Bellevue (and every other community and attraction across the state) to make visitors aware of all of their options within our state.
As a supporter of Washington State Tourism, Visit Bellevue Washington is helping to increase the size of the pie for all of us. With our neighbors in Oregon and Idaho spending $10 Million and $7 Million respectively and British Columbia spending over $45 Million to market themselves to travelers, we have work to do. |
The WTA Summit drove home just how important tourism is throughout Washington State as an economic driver. Here in the Vancouver USA region, visitors spend $375 million annually, support 3,720 jobs, and generate $5.6 million in local taxes. Tourism-related employment is interwoven in our economy and the local hotel housekeeper, restaurant waiter, and so many others, rely on visitors for their livelihood. In such a vital industry, it is crucial that we continue to work towards promoting our state and our regions as the amazing destinations they are. |
Roger Dow's presentation on the potential growth of foreign travel to the United States really illustrated how important it is for the Washington Tourism Alliance to have the funding necessary to leverage the marketing opportunities that exist with the U.S. Travel Association. It is critical that the State of Washington position itself as the gateway for the emerging foreign travel market.
|
Tacoma Regional CVB 
The 2012 Washington Tourism Alliance Summit was a great opportunity for networking and connecting with tourism leaders from across the state. Since forming, the WTA has allowed DMOs and CVBs from all over Washington to be a part of many great opportunities that otherwise wouldn't be available without the organization's help. For example, the WTA helped make it possible for the Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau to attend the upcoming International Pow Wow Conference. The WTA has not only made these opportunities more affordable, but it helps give Washington state as a whole a better presence at events targeting our key markets and customers. |
The presentations at the Washington Tourism Alliance Summit held on April 5th was both energizing and disheartening. As a fledgling organization, we certainly have a long way to go. WashingtonState's tourism industry is down - but definitely NOT out. I was excited to learn of the many discussions and research that the long term funding committee has had. To know that many of the industry's business sectors are at the table discussing how best to proceed with a funding and organizational model that will serve us all was very uplifting. Volunteer leaders have stepped up to the plate in a big way to support committee work from marketing to fund raising, membership to social media. I'm proud of the response from the industry - individuals who have rolled up their sleeves and organizations that have put up big dollars to advance the cause.
But when you consider our primary competitor's budgets, it certainly seems like a 'David and Goliath' battle. British Columbia, Canada; $65 million; California; $51 million. Oregon and Montana; $10 million and $9 million respectively. Research and experience has shown that without a strategic marketing program, our tourism sector will shrivel. As the fourth largest industry in Washington State, our state economy cannot afford a hit to this sector. |
San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau
One of the speakers reminded us that each Washington household would pay
$400 more in taxes each year without the tax revenue generated by the travel and tourism industry. And according to the U.S. Travel Association, each U.S. household would pay $1,000 more in taxes without the tax revenue generated by the travel and tourism industry. Each Washingtonian just saved $1,400 thanks to travel and tourism!
|
Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau
For the four executives representing Pacific County and the Long Beach Peninsula, the WTA Summit was educational, inspirational and motivational, as well as a great opportunity to reconnect with peers and colleagues. In addition to recounting WTA year one successes, it offered a solidly founded positive outlook for the future of tourism within Washington State and the country at large. Worth recalling is Roger Dow's comment "Tourism is the front door to economic development." |
Kitsap Peninsula VCB
The Kitsap Peninsula VCB thanks supporters from our region who took the time to attend the WTA Annual Summit and let government and business leaders know that tourism does matter to our state and local economy. The speakers were inspiring and made it clear that joining together to sell the entire state and its regions is the key to creating a strong and effective statewide organization and sales program. Congratulation to Susanne Fletcher and the WTA Board on its first anniversary and continued success. The Kitsap Peninsula is proud to be a part of the Washington State experience! |
|
|
|
|
