Mount St Helens
Press releases
News Release February 9, 2010
State Tourism Industry Offers its Support in Olympia
Legislative Priorities Include State Convention Center Expansion, Preservation of the State Tourism Program Budget and Lodging Tax Fund Reinvestment in Tourism
OLYMPIA, WASH. – Today some 200 tourism industry professionals from across Washington will convene in the state capitol to advocate for a $14.2 billion industry that supports nearly 150,000 jobs, contributes nearly $1 billion in local and state tax revenues and ranks fourth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) produced in Washington.
Tourism matters, according to the preliminary 2009 Travel Impacts Report released today by the Washington State Department of Commerce and Washington State Tourism. Industry professionals will meet in Olympia to explain Why Tourism Matters - clad with namesake buttons from the public awareness campaign launched last year. The contingent of destination marketers, hoteliers, tour and transportation leaders and representatives from many other businesses across Washington will meet one-on-one with legislators to discuss basic funding and infrastructure improvements that will keep Washington from falling behind in a competitive tourism marketplace.
The industry’s legislative agenda includes support for continued funding for the 2009-2011 Washington State Tourism budget; use of existing funds to continue studies on the proposed expansion of the Washington State Convention Center; opposition to House and Senate bills that would raid and dilute local lodging tax funds that have traditionally served as critical reinvestment in the state’s tourism industry (Section 11 of HB 2650, Section 11 of HB 3179 and Section 5 of SB 6164); and, opposition to action on a newly-posted Senate bill that, if passed, would not only deplete basic tourism funding but seriously undermine the state tourism industry’s competitive marketing position (SB 6118).
“We understand that our legislators face enormous pressure to dig our state out of this financial crisis,” said John Cooper, President of the Washington State Destination Marketing Organizations (WSDMO). “We’re in Olympia today to pledge our support. If a foundation of industry growth is maintained, tourism can produce quick economic benefit. Tourism can create and sustain jobs. The direct spending and tax base contributions of out-of-state visitors can be part of the solution.”
The Why Tourism Matters public outreach and advocacy campaign, which launched last year in Olympia, conveys the importance of Washington’s tourism industry by way of advertising, online content, public relations and cooperative industry communications. Visit the campaign website at www.whytourismmatters.com.
Today’s state initiatives coincide with national advocacy efforts, which include: support for the adoption of the Travel Promotion Act designed to keep the U.S. competitive in the global tourism marketplace; promotion of travel safety and security; and an industry-wide campaign to counteract the harmful political rhetoric and sensationalism that is influencing the unnecessary cancellation of corporate meetings and events across the U.S.
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 visitor bureaus and chambers of commerce work in tandem with the Washington State Tourism Commission and Washington State Tourism office to 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.
About WSDMO:
The Washington State Destination Marketing Organizations Association (WSDMO) is an independent, non-profit trade association advocating tourism investment and promotion as economic development. The mission of the WSDMO is to enhance the awareness and influence of the tourism industry and to serve as the single unifying voice for all of Washington State’s destination marketing organizations and tourism industry.
Contact: David Blandford Washington State Destination Marketing Association (206) 461-5806 / cell: (206) 713-8314 dblandford@visitseattle.org