SKAMANIA COUNTY PARTICIPATES IN TOURISM DAY 2009 - OLYMPIA

On Monday, March 9, 2009, more than 250 tourism industry professionals from Tacoma, Spokane, Bellingham, Yakima, Vancouver, Seattle and many other communities across Washington, including Skamania and Klickitat counties, converged on the state capitol to tell legislators “Why Tourism Matters”. Local participation from the Columbia River Gorge included Mark Zoller, owner of Zoller’s Outdoor Odysseys in BZ Corners, Jerry Stockwell owner of Husum Highlands Bed and Breakfast in Husum, Dave Griffin and Kristin Wood from Skamania Lodge, Leroy Anderson, owner of Timberlake Campground and RV Park in Home Valley, Mayor Tom Payton and his wife, Lavonne, from North Bonneville and Casey Roeder, Executive Director of the Skamania County Chamber of Commerce.

The effort inaugurated the statewide roll-out of the Why Tourism Matters public outreach and advocacy campaign which will convey the importance of tourism by way of advertising, online content, public relations and cooperative communications. The day’s activities included a press conference on the steps of the Capitol building. Industry professionals also met with their state legislators. The contingency from Skamania and Klickitat counties spent time with Senator Jim Honeyford-R and Representative Bruce Chandler-R. The message received by the elected officials was not to reduce monies for tourism during the budget cutting process.

The campaign website at www.whytourismmatters.com features the latest tourism statistics for the state and many communities, industry news and links to national initiatives. Much of the website is dedicated to profiles of tourism industry professionals, or “tourism ambassadors”, who work on the front lines and serve as the industry’s face of tourism.

The publication of the annual Dean Runyan Associates’ report on Washington State Travel Impacts once again reflects the significant impact that tourism plays in Skamania County. Travel spending rose to $58.7 million in Skamania County in 2007, an increase from $55.9 million in the previous year. Skamania County has realized the largest growth in travel spending over the past 15 years of any county in the state. “Statewide visitors spent $15.7 billion last year and generated $1 billion in state and local taxes. Tourists support nearly 150,000 jobs and generate $4.3 billion in earnings”, reported Katherine Kertzman, president of the Washington State Destination Marketing Organizations (WSDMO).

Washington state’s core of private sector destination marketing organizations competitively market their respective cities, counties and regions to leisure travelers and meeting and convention groups. Largely non-profit economic development agencies, these convention and visitors bureaus and chambers of commerce work in tandem with the Washington State Tourism Commission and Washington State Tourism office to jointly position the state as a premier travel destination. Direct visitor spending benefits hotels, retailers, restaurants, attractions, transportation services and other businesses and supports jobs throughout the state.