North Olympic Peninsula tourism and marketing leaders say a new state-funded study showing healthy growth in the region’s visitor industry will drive attention to the need to boost promotional dollars.
The Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development’s Business and Tourism Development Unit study, released late last week, shows substantial growth in Clallam and Jefferson counties during the past decade.
The report describes the economic effects of travel to and through Washington state and its 39 counties from 1991 to the start of 2002.
One of the notable findings in the report: Total direct travel spending in Clallam County rose from $92.4 million in 1991 to $133 million in 2002.
In Jefferson County, total direct travel spending climbed from $55.9 million in 1991 to $80.4 million in 2002.
“It’s obviously good news that tourism dollars have gone up in statistics,” said Russ Veenema, Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce executive director, of the report’s findings.
“But it’s also discouraging because we could be doing so much better.”
Veenema raised the point that Washington is ranked 48th among states in government spending in support of the tourism industry.
Nancy Borino, Port Townsend city marketing director, said she believed information in the state study would prove useful in future joint marketing of the North Olympic Peninsula.
